418 Ridge Road Ward Colorado property website

Facts & Figures

2,115 sq. ft. livable space,
+X,xxx in addt'l storage
.8 acre lot

Year built: 1992
Major upgrades: 2016, 2022

Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2.5

Oversized 2-car garage
Upgraded attic insulation and **floors TODO**
Large crawl space with addt'l storage

Heat: Gas furnace, modern woodfire stove and baseboard heat
New hot water heater 2022
All appliances included in sale (washer/dryer, fridge, etc)

Nearly 100 mile views as of 2022!
Wildlife haven
Borders a large conservation easement

Septic inspected and pumped 2024; no issues.
Water tested 2022; no issues.

Access to private community property with optional $10/mo HOA membership
Boulder County school districts

What I Love

418 Ridge Road is truly a special place. Over the years at this home, I've come to appreciate a lot more about it than I originally realized. Few other properties of the same size offer such a rich combination of terrain, vegetation, wildlife, views and more.

Home interior
Character of the land
Wildlife corridor
The views!
Proximity to trails, parks, +

Home interior

Everything else in this section is focused mostly on the exterior and higher-level aspects of the property, but it's absolutely worth mentioning everything about the interior that I love.

In a nutshell, I love the modern furnishings, the beautiful floors, the excellent windows/light, the fabulous large garage, the wonderful modern woodfire stove, the overall reliability, the large deck and the future potential. Life has been easy and comfortable at 418 Ridge in large part to all of the improvements and simple basics that are easy to take for granted.

Character of the land

My first impressions of the home were through a real estate website that, understandably, focused on price, facts, figures and interior pictures. I really liked what I saw, but in the hustle of viewing other properties in a fast-paced market – the discrete and beautiful character of the land didn't fully sink in until after I moved in.

Upon arriving at the property and seeing things from the road, the sheer number of old-growth ponderosa pines is an obvious and gorgeous aesthetic that dominates the eye. Consequently, the house itself is mostly obscured from view until coming up the driveway.

The undulating land steadily inclines up and away from the road until you reach the home – much farther away and above the road than what is typical in the neighborhood. The rich soil is very healthy and includes a fantastic mix of large ponderosa pines, quaking aspens, douglas firs, and healthy mix of other flora commonly found in the nearby national forest. The combination of natural grasses, wildflowers, rock outcroppings and gorgeous trees atop a gentle hill make for a fabulous setting for anyone who loves being immersed in nature.

Wildlife corridor

Another less-than-obvious aspect is that the property is situated along a natural corridor for wildlife. Thanks in part to the close proximity to Roosevelt National Forest, a large conservation easement that borders the property's western edge and large neighboring plots – a very high number of wildlife cross through the property while they graze, roam and migrate through the forest.

As mentioned elsewhere on this site, all pictures on this website were taken while physically on the property. Herds of elk, groups of moose, family's of deer, turkey and many others make regular appearances. Over time, it's become very clear that the natural shape of the surrounding land helps to funnel these animals through this area. Being able to watch all the animals from the comfort of home has been such an amazing experience. As an amateur wildlife photographer, it's such a treat to have so many viewing opportunities -- all with a warm cup of coffee and the comforts of home just a few steps away!

The views!

Before 2016, the small but simultaneously big views currently visible from the house were not possible at all. Because of how many more trees dominated the property at that time there was no way to see the ridgeline or down the canyon to the east. I absolutely love all the tall Ponderosa Pines, but I realized there was some big hidden potential just waiting to come out.

I decided to fell a single tree at first, and very slowly and methodically I began to take others down over the years. Now after strategically removing over a dozen trees, I've opened up a small portion of a very big view while maintaining the land's private character. It's now possible to clearly see down to Longmont and all the way to the eastern horizon for nearly 100 miles on a clear day! Great views of the nearby ridge are also now visible from the kitchen and eastern side of the home.

And, there is a much bigger view that is yet to be realized. In my opinion, there's a fine line between taking down too many trees for a bigger view, and sacrificing the privacy and character of the land. Strategic pruning of certain branches may be a great way to leave certain trees standing while also opening the view even further. Or, adding a rooftop deck would circumvent almost all the obstructions to the east. There's a lot more potential, but I'm thrilled with the big improvement as it is today.

Proximity to trails, parks, +

Unparalleled access to truly world-class outdoor activities. If you hike, run, ski, snowboard, 4x4, fish, hunt, bike or enjoy practically any other typical outdoor Colorado activity, then this location is hard to beat.

Direct-line distances from property: