For Krista Bollinger and her family, the day after Thanksgiving is always set aside for a family ritual: Traveling to the mountains in a caravan with two of her brothers and their families to cut down Christmas trees.
They bring Thanksgiving leftovers and enjoy a smorgasbord from the back of a vehicle after the trees are cut. Out-of-town family members here for Thanksgiving come along for the expedition.
“The tradition of knowing the cousins will all be together as our families grow is a huge blessing,” Bollinger said. “Most of the time the little kids are on the big kids’ shoulders, they’re helping each other, and they love that.”
They work hard hunting to find just the right tree, too.
“You get to go off the trail and find a good tree,” said Bollinger’s oldest son, 11-year-old Isaac. “And you learn how to know which way you came from, to find your way back.”
If you’ve never cut a Christmas tree in a national forest before and want to give it a try, be aware that the trees often look a little scraggly compared to the bushy evergreens raised on farms and sold in the city. That’s OK with the Bollingers.
“The trunks are a lot thinner, there are not as many branches, it’s not as full,” said Bollinger, a resident of Golden who is a Jefferson County special ed teacher. “Most of the time you’re going to have one side that doesn’t have complete branches. But we like that. There’s just something so special, especially when the boys pick out the tree.”
And, lest tree-huggers object, the Forest Service says the thinning of forests that takes place through public Christmas tree-cutting reduces competition among trees, promotes healthier growing conditions, and reduces the risk of wildfire.
“By cutting the Christmas trees, the public is helping us maintain (taxpayer) investments as well as restoring the vigor and health and resilience of the forest,” said Brian Banks, district ranger for the South Platte Ranger District. “It’s definitely a symbiotic relationship.”
Here are some general rules, provided by the Forest Service:
- Cut a tree that is 6 inches or less in diameter (some local exceptions may apply).
- No chainsaws; handsaws only.
- Snowmobiles, ATVs or other off-road vehicles are prohibited.
- Some areas require four-wheel-drive vehicles or chains. Check with the area you are choosing.
- Cutting trees marked with blue paint is prohibited.
- Cut trees within 4 inches of the ground, below all live limbs; Take the whole tree with you.
- Pets must be on a leash with their owners (leaving pets at home is recommended).
- Stay off private property.
- Dress appropriately for the weather and the likelihood of tromping through snow.
- Observe designated entry times for the area you choose.
Here is a list of designated Christmas tree cutting areas on national forest lands within day-trip distance from Front Range cities:
Elk Creek (near Winter Park): This special cutting area will be open Dec. 1-8. Roads will be plowed for one-way traffic. Permits ($20) must be purchased in advance and attached to trees before cutting. Permits may be purchased online, at the Sulphur Ranger District Station in Granby, or at one of four other locations in the area. Four-wheel-drive vehicles or chains are required. To reach Elk Creek, take County Road 72 (Elk Creek Road) south, then southwest from Fraser. For the other locations where permits can be purchased, or to find other locations where cutting is permitted in that district, go to bit.ly/2rYzoXN, or call 970-887-4100.
Red Feather Lakes: Cutting in the Canyon Lakes Ranger District will be allowed Dec. 7-15. Permits ($20) can be purchased online or at the Canyon Lakes Ranger District office in Fort Collins. Smokey Bear will be on hand at the cutting area on weekends. Four-wheel-drive vehicles or chains are required. From Fort Collins, take Highway 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 7 miles. Information: bit.ly/2rYzoXN or 970-295-6700.
Buffalo Creek (south of Conifer): Many weekend days for this area and nearby Sugar Creek — a new cutting area this year — are already sold out, as well as Camp Fickes nearby. Weekday permits are still available for Dec. 2-6 and Dec. 9-13. Cutting is permitted through Dec. 15. The Buffalo Creek cutting area is located southeast of Pine Junction on County Highway 126 and Forest Service Road 550. Sugar Creek is along County Road 67 south of Sprucewood. Permits ($20) can be purchased at the South Platte Ranger District office, 30403 Kings Valley Drive in Conifer. Information: bit.ly/33bgcmy or 303-275-5610.
Woodland Park: Trees may be cut on national forest lands just northeast of Woodland Park along the Rampart Range Road and northwest of Woodland Park on Forest Service Road 357. Get a map when you purchase your permit ($20) at the Pikes Peak Ranger District office in Colorado Springs. Permits also will be sold at the Woodland Park Work Center on weekends in December. Information: bit.ly/2qpBVtV or 719-477-4221.
South Park: There are vast spaces in the Fairplay area where cutting is permissible, and the South Park Ranger District Christmas tree information page on the district website has a link to several maps with recommended cutting sites color-coded for the species of trees you will find in each area. Permits ($20) can be purchased at the South Park Ranger District office in Fairplay or by printing out a mail-in order form on the website and mailing the completed form to the district office. Map: bit.ly/335zc5R. Order form: bit.ly/2O8TxDq. Information: 719-836-2031.
White River National Forest: This is a vast area from Dillon to Rifle that includes the Vail and Aspen areas. According to this forest’s Christmas tree web page, cutting is allowed in most areas with the exception of designated wilderness areas, scenic byways, Glenwood Canyon, the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, commercial timber sales areas, recreation acres and ski areas, campgrounds, trailheads, developed sites and administrative areas. Trees may not be cut within 100 feet of any road or trail. Maps showing where Christmas tree cutting is allowed are available at all offices where permits ($10) are sold, and will be provided with permits along with a regulations list. In addition to Forest Service offices, private vendors that sell permits are located in Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Vail, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt, Aspen and Rifle. Information: bit.ly/2OtrSMg or 970-945-2521
