Water and Winter Range in the Red Desert
Vermillion Creek Ranch anchors Midland’s southern winter grazing country with approximately 200 deeded acres, 2,560 acres of state lease, and the associated Vermillion Creek BLM allotment.
In this dry landscape, water determines how the land can be used. The unit includes surface water rights with a 1913 priority date, perennial creek access, natural springs, and a network of more than a dozen reservoirs across its deeded and associated grazing lands.
Approximately 8.75 miles of Vermillion Creek are accessible within the unit, including a quarter-mile of deeded frontage. Salt Wells Creek provides additional perennial water, with deeded land along the creek in Laney Canyon. These waterways and scattered water sources add habitat variety to the surrounding desert range.
Historically used for winter sheep grazing, the unit complements Midland’s higher-elevation holdings. Elk, deer, pronghorn, and sage grouse contribute to its recreational and conservation appeal, while portions of the unit fall within mapped sage grouse core areas.
Historic ranch structures, established road access, and livestock improvements reflect the property’s long agricultural use. Vermillion Creek offers an opportunity to continue that use while stewarding the water and open habitat on which both livestock and wildlife depend.
The Midland Ranch Unit 5: Vermillion Creek Ranch is a distinct and remarkable property offered for individual sale. Prospective buyers should be aware that it is also a key component of the legendary Midland Ranch, a legacy-scale holding of over one million acres which is being offered in its entirety. This larger portfolio represents a complete, year-round operation stretching from the timbered high country to the arid expanse of the Red Desert, encompassing world-class water rights, wildlife resources, and historical significance. While each unit stands powerfully on its own merits, the opportunity to acquire the complete Midland Ranch is a singular event in the western ranch market.
