Arapahoe County has added 939 acres to its 33,000-acre portfolio of open-space holdings, with a $1.1 million purchase this month of the Mule Gulch property 6 miles southwest of Byers.
Mule Gulch is a part of the West Bijou Creek drainage area in the eastern part of the county. Arapahoe County Commissioner Jeff Baker said the acquisition was a “rare opportunity to conserve a portion of the county’s agricultural heritage and provide unique recreation experiences for the public.”
The property will remain in agricultural production — namely winter wheat — until an inventory of its natural resources can be conducted and a master plan for the site completed. The property will then be open to the public for horseback riding, hiking, wildlife viewing, birding and picnicking.