Did you know you can cut your own Christmas tree in Grand County?

Many people choose to buy a pre-cut tree from a farm or retail store for convenience, but cutting your own evergreen is a memorable and rewarding experience for anyone. 

Individuals can get creative with what kind of Christmas tree they decide to put up this year. For example, spruce and fir trees have the classic Christmas-tree look, while pine trees offer a more unique feel. Just make sure you don’t cut a blue spruce, easily identifiable by its bluish-gray tint.

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Whether you’re experienced or looking to create a new holiday tradition, here is where you can harvest your own holiday tree. 

YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch

The lodgepole pines at Snow Mountain Ranch make perfect trees for Christmas. The trunks grow straight, making them easy to place in a tree stand, and they have a fresh, natural pine scent.

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Participants can visit the programs desk and pick up all the necessary tools to cut down a perfect Christmas tree. Hand saws and twine are provided, but YMCA staff cannot assist with loading, tying down or transporting cut trees. 

Be sure to bring a tarp, towel or blanket to lay down on the top of vehicles to reduce the chance of paint being scratched. Shaking your tree prior to traveling will also ensure snow, ice and loose needles won’t fly off while driving.

The tree-cutting season runs through Dec. 18, and the cost is $29.

U.S. Forest Service 

Arapaho and Roosevelt and Medicine Bow-Routt national forests in Grand County issue tree-cutting permits. Tree-cutting regulations help maintain a healthy forest environment, and thousands of permits are sold annually, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.

To obtain a tree-cutting permit, visit Recreation.gov/tree-permits and find the ranger district in which you want to cut a tree. Permits can also be purchased in-person at select Grand County locations.

Each permit is $20, and cutting dates vary by harvest location. Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit, which is available through Recreation.gov with a $2.50 reservation fee. 

Trees must be for personal use, and permits from online sales must be printed and displayed on the dash of any amateur lumberjack’s vehicle. Tags purchased in person must be clearly displayed around the trunk of the tree before leaving the cutting area.

Cutting is prohibited in the Fraser Experimental Forest and Winter Park/Mary Jane Ski Areas. The Elk Creek Cutting Area will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Dec. 15, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

When harvesting, try to cut the tree as low to the ground as possible to reduce the chances of people tripping over the stump in the future.

Additional guidelines:

• Trunk size must be 6 inches or smaller in diameter
• Cut trees no higher than 6 inches from the ground
• No topping of trees
• No trespassing on private property
• Display permits visibly on the tree or dashboard of your car
• Dogs must be leashed

More information can be found at FS.usda.gov/arp.

Bureau of Land Management

Christmas tree cutting permits from the Bureau of Land Management are available for purchase online or at bureau field offices until Dec. 24.

Each permit is $6-$10, and different types of trees are available. Anyone cutting a tree is required to attach a haul tag to their tree after cutting. Maps showing where trees can be harvested are available at field offices and online. Permit-holders can cut a Christmas tree until Dec. 31.

The Kremmling field office is at 2103 E. Park Ave. 

How to take care of your new tree

Korey Lofy is the owner-operator of Grand County Arborist and cuts down his own Christmas tree every year with his wife. He calls the experience of cutting down a tree for Christmas “an adventure.”

“We always like to go for an adventure. It’s never the tree closest to the trail or closest to the road,” Lofy said.

Each year, they look for a tree with shorter needles and a thick canopy, because “they seem to hold onto ornaments a little bit better,” Lofy said.

As a certified tree expert, Lofy shared some tips for harvesting a perfect Christmas tree. Anyone who follows these tips will have a tree that stays green and healthy into the new year, Lofy promised.

• Make sure the tree is fresh-cut. Natural sap flow will attempt to close over any previous cut within about an hour of being cut, so remove the bottom inch of the tree before putting it into water.
• Keep the tree out of the sun and wind. Evergreen trees are always in a constant state of transpiration, where the tree releases oxygen and water vapor. This phenomenon is increased when needles are exposed to the sun and wind. Indoors, keep the tree away from sunny windows and heat ducts.
• Trees need water. Most tree stands will hold about 1 gallon of water, and trees will use about 2-5 quarts of water daily. A taller Christmas tree can use up to a gallon of water a day.
• Use anti-transpirant sprays. Wilt Stop, Wilt Pruf and Transfilm all keep trees green by helping to maintain moisture. These products work by leaving a waxy coating over the needles, essentially covering the areas that allow the plant to release water and oxygen.