Core Days for Christmas Tree Cutting Begins Tomorrow.
This year we have decided to start a new tradition. We are going to cut down our own Christmas tree, our last new adventure for the year. I can envision our “Charlie Brown Tree” now.
If you have any suggestion that you want to pass along about the best places or if you have any tips, I would love to here them.
While researching places across Colorado I found the following information and thought it would be useful to share.
The Forest Service will open five Colorado, Front Range Christmas tree cutting areas on the Pike, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests beginning Saturday, December 3, through Sunday, December 11, 2016. Generally, most national forests in the Rocky Mountain Region offer Christmas tree cutting opportunities before and after the core dates.
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. The following are cutting areas on the Pike National Forest: Buffalo Creek, Rampart Range Road and South Park.
Click here to see a map.
1) Buffalo Creek (near Pine Junction):
Permits are available at the South Platte Ranger Station, 19316 Goddard Ranch Court
Morrison, CO 80465
Required: Permit to cut a tree; must choose specific cutting date
2) Rampart Range Road near Pikes Peak:
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
Required: Permit to cut a tree; tire chains or a four-wheel drive vehicle
3) South Park area near Fairplay:
Permits are available - South Park Ranger Station at 320 South Highway 285 in Fairplay Required: Permit to cut a tree
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.
Here are some of the guidelines for cutting your own Christmas tree according to the USDA Forest Service.
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) The 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
Good luck finding your perfect Christmas Tree!
