Is it a balsam fir candle that smells so good? Or is it the five fresh-cut trees in one household? It could be both!
Multiple U.S. Forest Service districts across Colorado are offering permits for guests to cut down their own trees. Permits are $10 per tree, limit five trees per household, and must be purchased prior to chopping or sawing.
A small business north of Boulder is also offering a cut-your-own-tree plan, no permit required.
The trees in the national forest are native and are not as full as trees grown on a plantation or those found in commercial lots, so don’t be picky. Also, be aware that many Douglas fir trees have been damaged by Western spruce budworm, causing the needles on the tree to turn a rusty orange.
One free holiday tree permit is also offered to fourth-graders that have a valid 4th Grade Interagency Pass. The permit is courtesy of Every Kid in a Park initiative. These free holiday tree permits are only available at U.S. Forest Service District offices.
Some roads are cleared, some roads are not, so you may need to borrow your friend’s 4-wheel drive truck or check the weather and plan accordingly.
General dos and don’ts for people new to the lumberjack lifestyle:
DO:
Use a hand saw or ax to cut your tree. The work is part of the fun.
Take or scatter any unused portion of your tree. Use the remaining bits to make a wreath, or add to your holiday table piece.
Attach the permit to the tree you cut down in a visible location.
Only cut trees with a stump diameter of 6 inches or less and within 6 inches of the ground, below any live branches.
Bring straps, strong cord, tarp and work gloves for tree loading.
Cut in an area of excess trees — this is technically a thinning operation. Make sure there is another tree within 10 feet of the one you are cutting.
Bust out your flannel and your trapper hat.
DON’T:
Use a chainsaw. They are prohibited.
Cut any tree marked with blue paint or designated as a wildlife tree.
Let your pet run around. It’s dangerous. They must be leashed.
Ride your snowmobile or ATV and definitely don’t ride your motorcycle, all three are prohibited.
Just cut the top off, that’s rude.
Where to cut your trees:
Canyon Lakes Ranger District Christmas Tree Sale at Red Feather Lakes
Price: Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of 5 permits per person
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5162141
Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5339506.pdf
Dates to cut: Dec. 2-10. Permit sales start Nov. 27
Times to cut: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., plan to leave the area by 4 p.m.
You must have at least one of the following: 4-wheel drive, chains
Permits available at cutting area: Yes, but only on the weekend.
For weekday cutting permits must be obtained in advance from Forest Service offices in Fort Collins at 2150 Centre Avenue, Building E. (closed Wednesdays), or in Ault at 115 N. Second Ave.
Directions: From Fort Collins take U.S. 287, 21 miles north to Livermore. At Livermore turn left onto County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road). Follow Red Feather Lakes Road 16 miles and turn left onto County Road 68C (Boy Scout Road). Follow Boy Scout Road for seven miles. Signs or Forest Service personnel will direct you into the area.
Guests with permits can enter and cut their tree(s) down at anytime. Rangers and Smokey the Bear will be on location 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 9-10.
Fraser/Winter Park
Price: Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of five permits per person
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/arp/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5163516&width=full
Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd564702.pdf
Dates to cut: Through Jan. 6 in designated areas that are accessible only on snowmobiles or skis. Dec. 2-9 in the special Elk Creek Cutting Area, which will have a road plowed allowing vehicle traffic.
Dates that are staffed: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 – 9, when rangers will be around to help at the Elk Creek Cutting area.
You must have at least one of the following: 4-wheel drive, chains.
Permits available at cutting area: No
Permits are available seven days a week at Murdoch’s, Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce and Granby Ace Hardware.
Directions: From Fraser, travel west on County Road 72 to the cutting area entrance.
Guests with permits can enter on foot and cut their tree(s) down at anytime through Jan. 6.
A plowed forest service road will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2-9 to make tree hauling easier. Rangers will also be available to help during these dates.
Cutting trees starting at Winter Park ski area south of Berthoud pass is prohibited.
South Platte Ranger District (Buffalo Creek only)
Price: Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of five permits per person
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/about-forest/districts/?cid=fseprd519650
Dates to cut: Nov. 24 to Dec. 7
Dates that are staffed: Weekdays and most weekends
Permits available at cutting area: No, only available at Forest Service office, 19316 Goddard Ranch Court, Morrison. Call first — 303-275-5610 — as permits are expected to sell out.
Directions: Forest Service Road 550 to County Road 126. Four-wheel drive is not required. Guests with permits can enter on foot and cut their tree(s) down at anytime.
South Park Ranger District Holiday Tree Program
Price: Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of five permits per person
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5337307
Dates to cut: Through Dec. 24
Dates that are staffed: Weekdays and most weekends.
Four-wheel drive is not required.
If you wish to purchase your permit in person the Pike National Forest office at 320 U.S. 285 in Fairplay will be open seven days a week through Dec. 24. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.
Trees must be on the South Park Ranger District, refer to boundary map provided with permit as there is private land within the boundary. It is the permittees’ responsibility to make sure they are on National Forest. Pike maps are available for $10 at the Fairplay office.
Prohibited areas within the South Park Ranger District are:
Lake Recreation Area and Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area
Scenic areas and picnic grounds
Buffalo Peaks or Lost Creek wilderness areas
Campgrounds
Hayman Fire area
Pikes Peak Christmas Tree Cutting
Price: Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of five permits per person
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsm9_032551
Dates to cut: Nov. 27 through Dec. 15 with a permit
Dates that are staffed: Weekdays and most weekends
You must have at least one of the following: 4-wheel drive or chains
Permit Sales: The Pikes Peak Ranger District will be offering Christmas tree permits from Nov. 27 through Dec. 15 at the District Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Trees may be cut any time after purchase of permit through December 15.
Woodland Park: Permits will be available on site at the Woodland Park Middle School (600 E Kelly Rd.), east parking lot on Dec. 2 and 3, and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10.
Directions: Trees may be cut on National Forest lands just east and north of Woodland Park along the Rampart Range Road, No. 300. Follow the signs.
Trees are of various species including: Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce, and limber pine.
Your Neighborhood Christmas Tree Farm
Price: Blue spruce and Douglas fir: $10/foot. Scotch pine: $8/foot
Website: http://www.neighborhoodchristmastreefarm.com/
When: Dec. 2 -3 (or until all the trees are gone) 9 a.m. to dusk
Where: 4340 N. 13th St., Boulder.
Contact: 303-449-7532
Your Neighborhood Christmas Tree Farm is a choose-and-cut tree farm, no permit necessary.
Guests are able to choose and tag a tree Dec. 2 and 3 and then return later to cut it down. Saws provided. Christmas wreaths, small live potted trees and pre-cut trees are also available. Wreaths are only available from Nov. 24 to Dec. 15.
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