It is open season on Christmas trees in the National Forest in Summit County, with a few tips. Dillon District Ranger Adam Bianchi has these rules you must follow if you’re looking for your perfect tree:
- You can cut a Christmas tree anywhere on National Forest land outside the ski area campgrounds, the wilderness areas as well, so Carrigan and Eagles nest. Other than that, it’s free game.
- Douglas Fir, Sub-alpine Fir and Lodge Pole Pine are all fair game.
- Blue Spruce is the Colorado State Tree and is OFF LIMITS. They typically grow below 9000 feet in most valley bottoms and love water. So avoid them at all costs.
- NO tree topping – cutting down a tall tree and lopping off the top 10-15 feet or top 1/3 of the tree.
Bianchi says to find trees that are allowed to be cut, he likes Peru Creek just east of Keystone and Straight Creek near Dillon Valley to find the best tree. “Anywhere that there tends to be kind of north facing slopes by water, you tend to find the spruce and fir trees that people are after.”
He’ll be out tree hunting this weekend himself, although in a neighboring forest.
“I’m actually gonna go to the Bell Pass area and do it. You know, we’ve got great snow, so hopefully good.”
Tree permits are 10 bucks online or at the Ranger station in Dillon. They also have maps for where to go.