Pikes Peak Ranger District, 601 S. Weber St., Colorado Springs, CO.
Call: 719-477-4221 or 636-1602Permit Sales: The Pikes Peak Ranger District will be offering Christmas tree permits from November 30, through December 16 at the District Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits will be available on site at the Woodland Park Middle School parking lot on Dec. 5 and 6, as well as Dec. 12 and 13 from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. No mail orders will be accepted.
Cost: Permits are $10.00 per tree, with a limit of 5 permits per person. Cash, check, or money order. Sorry no credit cards accepted. All sales are final; no refunds will be given.
Cutting Dates: Trees may be cut any time after purchase of permit through December 16. REMEMBER TO ATTACH THE PERMIT TAG TO YOUR TREE AS YOU LOAD IT INTO YOUR VEHICLE. Be sure it is clearly visable as you leave the area.
Trees: Trees are of various species including: Douglas-fir, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine, Englemann spruce, and Limber pine. The trees are native and are not as full (or formed as well) as trees grown on a plantation or those found in commercial lots.
Cutting Your Tree: Cut trees no greater than 6 inches in diameter and as close to the ground as possible. Remove the entire tree, PLEASE no topping.
Area: Trees may be cut on National Forest lands just east and north of Woodland Park along the Rampart Range Road, #300, follow the signs. See map for exact boundaries and open roads.
Vehicles: Four-wheel drive vehicles or chains are required. Road accessibility will not be guaranteed. North end roads 325, 237, 348, 351, require 4-wheel drive and chains.
Prohibited: Chainsaws are not permitted; a handsaw or ax will be adequate. The permittee is responsible for knowing public land boundaries. The area will be well signed.
Recommended: Cutters need to be prepared for winter weather. Allow up to four hours for your trip.
Other Recommendations:
- Dress warmly for winter weather
- Have a full tank of gas
- Bring food, extra water, a shovel, a blanket, a first-aid kit and a warm drink
- Leave pets at home or have them on a leash at all times
- Take a rope and tarp to pack your tree home
Smokey's holiday tip for making your Christmas tree fire-resistant:
A dry holiday tree is a tragedy waiting to happen. As soon as you bring yours home, make it fire-resistant by following columnist Jack Eden’s recipe.
- 2 gals. boiling water
- 2 cups (one pint bottle) clear corn syrup
- 2 oz. wetting agent (available at garden shops), or 2 oz. liquid Woolite
- 2 oz. cider vinegar
- ½ tsp. Borax
- 4 oz. liquid chlorine bleach
Stir mixture well in a 3 to 5 gallon container. Make a fresh straight cut about 2 inches across the base of the tree. Then place the tree in the solution.
It will take about five days for the tree to absorb the mix. When you bring the tree indoors, use the mix in the stand at all times. (Home Mechanix, Dec. 1989)
Forest health is important, by removing these smaller trees you are contributing to the overall well being of the forest and reducing fire danger.
Persons cutting or removing trees from the National Forest without a valid permit are subject to a fine of up to $5000 and/or 6 months imprisonment!
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.
