THE KEARNS PROPERTY AT NORTH FORK ESTATES

Solitude without isolation in a natural setting of extraordinary beauty

“There aren’t a whole lot of rivers like the Virgin left in the coterminous United States. Not in the West there aren’t . . . In fact, the Virgin is the last of its kind: a free-flowing western river with its head in the sub-alpine clouds and its foot in the desert.
If it goes, there won’t be another.”  – Wilderness Magazine.

  Contact: jim@northforkestates.com

For a few discriminating seekers of solitude and natural beauty, the Kearns Property at North Fork Estates stands as one of the most attractive mountain get-away properties in the Southwestern United States. Located on the headwaters of the North Fork of the Virgin River in the cool pristine high country of Southern Utah, North Fork Estates is situated in between the awe-inspiring vistas and canyon mazes of Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. The Kearns Property, now being offered for the first time to the general public, makes up the heart of this only subdivision on the Virgin River upstream from Zion. Like the Virgin River running through it, it is a one-of-a-kind rarity in the Southwest. And when it goes, there won’t be another.
Click on photos to enlarge
All photos, except final 4 at bottom, are taken from the property.
Unit 1: Pasture Area Units 1 and 2 / Pink Cliffs Fire Bowl Unit 2 / Zion View Unit 2/ Strawberry Point View
Sandstone Thrones. Cabin / Unit 2 Wild Turkeys Fall Colors / East View
Seth Canyon Aspen Falls Fall Maple Leaves Aspens / Virgin River
 

The Kearns holding of approximately 300 acres (with water rights) is comprised of 125 deeded lots and parcels ranging from ½ to 50+ acres. These “owners stash” pieces include choice river frontage, great views and plenty of space to ensure privacy. Whether you are looking for a unique scenic high-country ranch, mini ranch, private hunting estate, or a peaceful family compound to be enjoyed and passed down to future generations—or just a beautiful mountain cabin hideaway, do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Investor and developer inquiries are welcome.

Virtually surrounded by world-class natural tourist attractions—Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase National Monument, Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon—the North Fork headwaters area remains surprisingly undiscovered and undisturbed by the millions of people who each year travel from all over the world to visit its majestic better-known neighbors. The setting of the Kearns Property at North Fork Estates is truly superb. Less than two miles upstream is Cascade Falls, the birthplace of the Virgin River, where cold clear waters tumble from a cave in the Pink Cliffs—colorful rock formations reminiscent of nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. Trout-filled Navajo Lake, nestled among abundant pines and quaking aspens, is three miles to the north (7 miles by county road). Navajo Lake amenities include three campgrounds, cabin and boat rentals, and a small restaurant and store at the rustic Navajo Lake Lodge. Several miles farther east on Highway 14, Duck Creek Village offers more extensive provisions, including gas, lodging, dining and even winter snowmobile rentals. Approximately 30 minutes north of Navajo Lake, the Brian Head ski resort is home to excellent summer mountain biking and some of the finest quality powder skiing in the United States.

 
Spruce Falls Creek Drive / Early Fall Aspens Zion Circle Maple North Fork Central Gorge
Unit 2 / Pasture / Pink Cliffs Spring View Late Summer Waterfall Unit 2 Lower Field / Summertime Unit 2 / Lower Field / East View
 

At an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet, North Fork Estates occupies an ecological transition zone characterized by incredibly diverse plant and animal life. A former National Park superintendent called it the most biologically diverse private property he had ever seen. Local flora include various species of conifers—ponderosa, spruce, cedar, juniper and fir among them—intermingled with oak, aspen, maple, and even some cottonwoods along several portions of the river. Smaller plant species are far too numerous to name, but provide a spectacular changing seasonal show of color, as well as ideal habitat for abundant wildlife—including plentiful populations of deer, wild turkey, grouse, native trout, and even a healthy community of horned lizards. Other notable but more reclusive local residents include elk, cougar, black bear, beaver, bobcat and porcupine. A large variety of bird species, both indigenous and migratory, can also be found at NFE. Recently, an extended family of the extremely rare and endangered California Condors took up residence south of North Fork Estates in the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, sharing the skies with soaring red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. The surrounding areas have long been a favorite hunting and fishing destination for residents of Utah, Nevada and California. Early Native American presence is evidenced in part by arrowheads and stone tools found on the property.
 
Aspen / Blue Sky Unit 1 / Winter Creek Crossing / Early Snow West Ridge Sunset
29 Unit 2 East Ridge Elephant Rock Avalanche Falls / Upper Gorge Hoodoo Formation / Unit 1 West Ridge Pink Cliffs / Bowl of Fire close up
Zion Cliff Wall Navajo Lake Navajo Lake Fall Colors Zion National Park / East Entrance Area
Zion Cliff Wall Navajo Lake Navajo Lake Fall Colors Zion East Entrance
 

On January 15, 2009 the United States Senate passed legislation making portions of the North Fork of the Virgin River (south of NFE) part of our nation’s Wild and Scenic River system. Less than ¼ of one percent of American rivers have been granted this status. In ongoing efforts to balance responsible land use and conservation, multiple organizations—including The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, American Rivers, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Grand Canyon Trust, and the Virgin River Land Preservation Association—have also supported the protection of this precious natural resource area. A regional director of The Conservation Fund commented that this upper North Fork headwaters area should have been included within Zion National Park’s original boundaries. In recent years, in partnership with other concerned groups, the United States Forest Service, through its Forest Legacy Program, has directed millions of dollars toward conservation of Zion North Fork area lands, including two projects bordering Kearns property on it’s north, south and west sides. In addition, two new projects are on their proposed list for the 2015 fiscal year.

The Kearns Property at North Fork Estates is accessed via the county-maintained North Fork Road, which connects Highway 9 and Zion National Park with Navajo Lake and Highway 14. Cedar City, home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, is a scenic forty-mile drive away. Another 50 miles south on Interstate 15 lies St. George, Utah, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Situated near a unique geological transition zone where the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mohave Desert all converge, the St. George area, with its magnificent weather, close proximity to national parks and recreation areas, world-class golf courses and low crime rates, has a well-deserved reputation as one of our country’s premier retirement destinations. Approximately an hour and a half farther down the road, and a world away, the bright lights of Las Vegas blaze into a desert sky.
©2015 North Fork Estates Contact: jim@northforkestates.com