Leaves are falling and Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away, which means the season for cutting your own Christmas tree on public lands is fast approaching. If that’s a family tradition for you, it’s not too soon to start making plans.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park has opened the application process for 250 permits which will be awarded randomly. Applicants who have been selected will be notified by email. Applications must be received online by Nov. 15. There is no cost to apply, but providing a credit card number is part of the application process, and those who are selected will be billed $35 for the permit. Tree cutting is scheduled to take place Dec. 2 in a designated area on the Nott Creek trail.
“Not only is the tree cut a part of many Coloradans’ holiday tradition, but it also helps the park mitigate fire danger and thin the forest in a sustainable and thoughtful way,” park manager Todd Farrow said in a news release.
Permits to cut trees in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests will go on sale Thursday. Cutting will be permitted only in the Sulphur Ranger District in Grand County and the Canyon Lakes Ranger District west of Fort Collins. Tree cutting will be permitted in the Sulphur district beginning Friday. Cutting in the Canyon Lakes district will be permitted beginning Nov. 24. The cost is $20 per tree. Permits are sold through Rec.gov, which has a list of rules and suggestions for cutting.
In the White River National Forest, which encompasses a wide swath of forest land on both sides of Interstate 70 from the Continental Divide to Glenwood Springs and beyond, Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase on Rec.gov beginning Thursday. Permits also will be available for purchase at district offices, beginning Nov. 15. Trees cutting is permitted from Nov. 16 until Dec. 31. While you can purchase a permit prior to Nov. 16, cutting is not allowed until that date. White River will announce the price of permits this week.
More info will be available soon on national forest websites.
