13035 Branch Mountain Rd
Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Las Piletas Ranch · Land For Sale · 13,570.00 AC

Las Piletas Ranch is a spectacular 13,570±-acre, working cattle ranch situated in the hills that rise on the west side of the Carrisa Plain and teems with hunting and outdoor recreation. The landscape is a diverse topography of flat lands, unique rock formations, oak woodlands, canyons, and rangelands rising into the La Panza Mountain Range. One of the most extraordinary features of this Ranch is the presence of a large seasonal waterfall located on one of the creeks flowing through the property. Wildlife populations are abundant and include deer, bear, turkey, quail, wild boar and antelope. The area surrounding the Ranch is home to a resident herd of tule elk as well. Located in San Luis Obispo County, the property is easily accessed via county maintained road, about one hour east of State Highway 101 between Santa Margarita and McKittrick, with access to Interstate 5 being one hour east. Current operations involve a 1,250± acre lease to a local barley farmer while the owner maintains a herd of cattle. Historically, the ranch has run 350 cows on a year-round basis. Cattle equipment includes two squeeze chutes, two sets of corrals, and scales. Las Piletas Ranch is cross and perimeter fence and improved with numerous residences, cabins, barns and other agriculture buildings including sheds and equipment storage. Las Piletas Ranch is comprised of two, non-contiguous parcels connected by Bureau of Land Management land, currently under lease by the Ranch. The northeastern parcel includes 4,693± acres and the southwestern parcel encompasses 8,877± acres. The northeastern parcel’s topography is primarily flat and includes rangelands and farm ground. The rock formations along this northern front are particularly mystical and alluring. The terrain gradually steepens as it moves southwesterly across the property and there are a number of canyons descending from the La Panza Range into the ranch. The most predominate canyon is Piletas Canyon (for which the ranch is named), which is roughly in the middle of the southwestern parcel. Upper Piletas Canyon and Lower Piletas Canyon are segregated by a picturesque waterfall which plunges into a deep pool. Other canyons include Martinez east of Piletas and Buckhorn, which is located near the southeastern most region of the ranch. The five-acre lake is located at the base of Buckhorn Canyon. With the exception of the open rangelands and farmland in the north, the entire landscape of Las Piletas is graced with the presence of California’s iconic oak trees. The westerly boundary meets the Los Padres National Forest.