Overview of Parlin, CO

Located 12 miles east of Gunnison at the confluence of Tomichi Creek and Quartz Creek, Parlin, Colorado, is a quiet, unincorporated community that serves as the heart of the region's ranching heritage. Sitting at the junction of Highway 50 and the road to Ohio City (County Road 76), Parlin is less of a town and more of a historic agricultural hub. It is a place defined by expansive hay meadows, weathered barns, and a pace of life that follows the flow of the creeks and the changing of the seasons.

Parlin appeals to the buyer who is looking for productivity and privacy. It is the destination for the cattle rancher, the fly fisherman seeking private water, and the buyer who wants wide-open spaces without being too far from the amenities of Gunnison. The real estate market here is dominated by acreage; you won't find subdivisions, but rather legacy ranches with senior water rights, smaller horse properties, and land bordering the **Gunnison National Forest**. It is a community for those who view land stewardship as a way of life.

The Ranching & Fishing Lifestyle

In Parlin, the lifestyle is inextricably linked to the water. **Tomichi Creek** and **Quartz Creek** wind through the valley, turning the high-desert landscape into lush, green ribbons of irrigated pasture. These waters are prized by anglers for their brown and rainbow trout, often fished right from the backyard. For the equestrian and livestock owner, the valley floor provides excellent grazing, while the surrounding sagebrush hills offer endless miles of riding on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

The community is sparse but connected. Life here revolves around agricultural cycles—calving in the spring and haying in the summer. Residents rely on **Gunnison** for schools (**Gunnison Watershed School District**), grocery shopping, and medical care, but they enjoy a level of solitude in Parlin that the larger town cannot match. The area is also a basecamp for hunters, with immediate access to **Game Management Unit 55**, known for its healthy elk and mule deer populations.

Landscape, Climate, and Community

Sitting at an elevation of 7,933 feet, Parlin experiences a classic high-alpine valley climate. Winters are long and can be intensely cold, with temperatures often dropping below zero, but the days are typically sunny and bright. Summers are spectacular, with warm days and cool, crisp nights that keep the meadows green. The landscape is a stunning contrast of the manicured, emerald-green hay fields against the arid, sage-covered hills and granite outcroppings that frame the valley.

The community is stoic, hardworking, and deeply rooted. Many of the families in the area have been working the same land for generations, creating a culture that values tradition and neighborly support. There is no commercial "downtown" in Parlin—just a post office and a few scattered buildings—which preserves the rural, working atmosphere. It is a place where the silence is heavy and the stars are incredibly bright.

Why Buy a Property in Parlin?

Buying real estate in Parlin is an investment in legacy and water. It offers the opportunity to own productive agricultural land with live water in one of the most scenic valleys in the Rockies. If you are looking for a property where you can run cattle, cast a fly rod in solitude, and watch the shadows lengthen across the Tomichi Valley, Parlin is your high-country homestead.