You Can Now Pick Up Colorado Christmas Tree Permits

2024 seems to have flown by. The holidays are practically here, and it's time to start planning to pick out your family's Christmas Tree. Western Slope residents who want a live tree will find it hard to beat the deal offer from the U.S. Forest Service and the Grand Mesa, Gunnison, and Uncompahgre National Forests.

Read More: 10 Facts You May Not Have Known About Colorado’s State Tree

Cutting your own Christmas Tree from the GMUG National Forest is as easy as obtaining a permit to do so. This can be done in person or online for a fraction of the cost of buying a tree from a store.

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Purchase a Permit In Person

Christmas Tree permits can be purchased from either the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management offices in Grand Junction, Silt, and Montrose. Colorado residents are allowed 1 tree per permit, and 5 permits per household. Call ahead to make sure the field office you choose to visit is open.

Colorado River Valley Field Office: 2300 River Frontage Road
Silt, CO 81652. 978-876-9000. Permits $10

Grand Junction Field Office: 2815 H Road
Grand Junction, CO 81506. 970-244-3000. Permits $10

Uncompahgre Field Office: 2465 S. Townsend Ave.
Montrose, CO 81401. 970-240-5300. Permits $8

Read More: Exploring Colorado's Hidden Giants: The Bristlecone Pines

Purchase a Permit Online

Forest Service Tree permits are $8 and can be purchased online at Recreation.gov. Look for the permits tab above the search bar. Permit sales and cutting dates will be from November 14th, 2024, to December 31st. When you purchase a permit you'll be able to get access to maps that will show you areas where it is ok to select a tree.

Tree Cutting Notes & Reminders

You must have a valid permit to remove a tree from BLM and forest service lands. No topping of trees is allowed, and any stumps left behind should be no higher than 6 inches. The max height the permit allows for is a tree 20 feet tall. Trees should be tagged before leaving the forest/cutting area. Permits must be visible the entire time a tree is being transported.