Description
Notice
Flat Ranch Preserve remains open for public use. However, the Visitor Center is closed until further notice. Please continue to adhere to social distancing recommendations for public health and safety and follow the guidelines to Recreate Responsibly. Stay a minimum of 6 feet away from individuals who are not part of your household. These guidelines are subject to change without notice.
Flat Ranch Preserve
At the headwaters of the Henry’s Fork River, the Flat Ranch Preserve lies within an area known as the Greater Yellowstone. This region is one of the last large, essentially intact systems on Earth; recognized globally for its geological and biological richness. Many species of wildlife roam across this awe-inspiring landscape as they travel between Yellowstone National Park, the Centennial Mountain Range and Central Idaho.
Recognizing that development of key valleys in this area would pose a threat to the Greater Yellowstone’s legendary wildlife, The Nature Conservancy purchased 1,450 acres of what is now the Flat Ranch Preserve in 1994. Through planned grazing practices, restoration efforts and thoughtful management, the Ranch has become a model that demonstrates how conservation practices can work for nature and people. It is a research and educational hub, community-gathering place and above else, a wildlife haven — frequented by elk, deer, wolves, bear and pronghorn. It is also home to one of the largest populations of nesting and brooding long-billed curlews in Idaho.
The purchase of Ranch marked the beginning of the Conservancy’s commitment to the Greater Yellowstone — a remarkable landscape that remains largely unspoiled, wild and irreplaceable. Its iconic wildlife, stunning scenery, and natural phenomena make the Greater Yellowstone one of the most celebrated places on Earth.
The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to keeping it that way.