Christmas Tree Cutting Begins on National Forests
Release Date: Nov 28, 2014
Contact(s): Jane Leche, (303) 275-5349, Chris Strebig, (303) 275-5346
LAKEWOOD, CO – The USDA-Forest Service will open five Front Range Christmas tree cutting areas on the Pike, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests beginning Saturday, December 06 through Sunday, December 14, 2014. A $10.00 permit per tree is required before entering a tree cutting area with a limit of five permits per person. These permits are for personal use only.
“Cutting a Christmas tree in a national forest is a popular recreational experience for many people in the Front Range metro areas,” said Dan Jirón, Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region. “It gives them an opportunity to take part in managing their own national forests and is a great activity for getting children out into the natural world.”
Cutting areas on the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest:
· Fraser (near Winter Park)
o Permits are available – Sulphur Ranger Station, 9 Ten Mile Drive, Granby, CO; at Elk Creek tree cutting site during cutting period only; Winter Park Chamber of Commerce; the Ace Hardware in Granby; or by mail.
o Required: Permit to cut a tree; tire chains or 4-wheel drive vehicle
· Red Feather Lakes
o Permits are available - Canyon Lakes Ranger Station at 2150 Centre Avenue, Building E in Fort Collins, CO; Pawnee National Grassland office at 660 “O” Street, Suite A, Greeley, CO; Boulder Ranger Station, 2140 Yarmouth Avenue in Boulder, CO; tree cutting site on the weekends only during the cutting period
o Required: Permit to cut a tree; tire chains or a four-wheel drive vehicle
Cutting areas on the Pike National Forest:
· Buffalo Creek (near Pine Junction)
o Permits are sold out.
· Rampart Range Road (near Woodland Park)
o Permits available - Pikes Peak Ranger Station, 601 South Weber Street in Colorado Springs, CO; at the east parking lot of Woodland Park Middle School only on the weekends during the cutting period
o Required: Permit to cut a tree; tire chains or a four-wheel drive vehicle
· South Park area (near Fairplay)
o Permits are available - South Park Ranger Station at 320 South Highway 285 in Fairplay or by mail with a check or money order prior to tree cutting
o Required: Permit to cut a tree
o Recommended: Tire chains or a 4-wheel drive vehicle
For safety reasons, all tree cutting sites entry hours are from 8:30am to 2:30pm during the cutting dates.
Rules for cutting your own Christmas tree are simple:
1. Cut a tree with trunk size around 6 inches in diameter (strictly enforced in some areas – some local exceptions may apply)
2. Bring a handsaw to cut trees – no chainsaws allowed
3. Use of chainsaws, snowmobiles, ATVs, other off-road vehicles and cutting trees marked with blue paint are strictly PROHIBITED
4. Cut trees within 6 inches of the ground and below all live limbs-take the whole tree
5. All pets must be on a leash and under master control
6. No trespassing on private property
7. Be sure to keep Christmas tree in water when displayed or stored at home
Thinning stands of smaller trees by removing some as Christmas trees reduces competition among all trees, helps reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and promotes healthier growing conditions for the remaining forest.
For more information on Christmas tree cutting and directions to cutting areas please call the USDA Forest Service Visitor Information Services at the Public Lands Information Center (PLIC) at (303) 239-3838 or check the Forest Service website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/recreationfor details.
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