New Acres to Explore: Bartlett Mesa Ranch and Buck Ridge Ranch Acquisition

The Nature Conservancy has furthered its vision for regional conservation and recreation in northeastern New Mexico with the acquisition of Buck Ridge Ranch and the transfer of Bartlett Mesa Ranch, together creating a corridor of protected grasslands and wildlife habitat.

Looking east to Johnson Mesa, Bartlett Mesa has towering cliffs soon to be used in expansion of Sugarite Canyon State Park (Photo by NM Department of Game and Fish).

In March 2024, the organization finalized the purchase of the 1,430-acre Buck Ridge Ranch, located just outside Raton. This move builds on its earlier acquisition of the neighboring 2,224-acre Bartlett Mesa Ranch in 2022, strategically linking the two properties to safeguard biodiversity and wildlife corridors. The contiguous holdings could one day form part of a large-scale state park system stretching across New Mexico into Colorado.

Bartlett Mesa Ranch, originally purchased in 2022, was envisioned as an extension of Sugarite Canyon State Park. In late 2024, the Raton City Commission approved its transfer to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. By 2025, the property had been officially designated as one of the state’s Wildlife Management Areas, to soon be open to the public for hiking, wildlife viewing and hunting. Officials praised the acquisition, noting the area’s elevated grasslands, abundant wildlife habitat and connection to public trail networks. City leaders emphasized how outdoor recreation aligns with Raton’s economic goals, particularly given the area’s regional connectivity and natural beauty. More trails equal more dollars coming into the local economy.

The acquisitions reflect a broader vision: conserving a network of interconnected lands across state borders to bolster climate resilience, preserve native biodiversity and support sustainable rural economies. Collaboration with local partners, including the City of Raton and state agencies, has been central to this effort.

Maps of the Bartlett Mesa Ranch and Buck Ridge Ranch Acquisitions (Photo by Marty Mayfield Photography).

Maps show how Bartlett Mesa and Buck Ridge Ranch are poised to become a public-lands gateway linking the city of Raton to Sugarite Canyon State Park and Fishers Peak State Park in Colorado. Before these acquisitions, the region lacked a continuous corridor for wildlife and public recreation. At present, Buck Ridge Ranch has the potential to be given to the City of Raton to become a wide-open space park similarly to the City's Climax Canyon Nature Trail.

The high-elevation grasslands of the two ranches, often exceeding 8,000 feet, support an array of wildlife—including elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions and diverse bird species. Bartlett Mesa also includes seasonal wetlands, volcanic outcrops and cliff-top views into Sugarite Canyon. Together, the properties help ensure east-west connectivity between the plains and the Sangre de Cristo foothills, protecting both ecosystems and the species that rely on them.

On top of Bartlett Mesa Ranch facing south toward Raton.

For the community of Raton and surrounding Colfax County, the acquisitions are seen as catalysts for a recreation-based economy. Residents and city leaders believe the effort will preserve open spaces while creating opportunities for outdoor tourism and economic uplift. Public meetings and collaborative planning are in progress to determine land management strategies that balance habitat protection with public access, ensuring the region can sustain both conservation and recreation for the long term.

With the acquisitions of Buck Ridge and Bartlett Mesa Ranches, the Nature Conservancy and its partners have taken bold steps toward conserving grasslands, supporting wildlife, and inviting sustainable recreation in northeastern New Mexico. As more public trails emerge and land transfers complete, the region stands to become a beacon of conservation, climate resilience and outdoor tourism.

To discover the efforts that Raton is doing behind-the-scenes with The Nature Conservancy for Bartlett Mesa and the Buck Ridge Ranch, watch this video.