Forest Products Industry (non Timber)
Fuelwood and transplant permits
Fuelwood and transplant permits cannot be purchased online. Post and pole permits, tribal permits, and commercial permits may also be available. Please contact your nearest district office for details and availability.
Christmas trees
Cutting a Christmas tree improves forest health. By removing the smaller trees you are contributing to the overall wellbeing 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 $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
For the Pike National Forest, which includes the Pikes Peak, South Park and South Platte ranger districts, permit sale dates vary, so contact your nearest district office for details and availability. Permits for South Platte Ranger District must be purchased online and are limited, so they may sell out.
For the San Isabel National Forest, which includes the Leadville, Salida and San Carlos ranger districts, permits are on sale November 15 through December 31.
Christmas Tree Permit
Whether this is your first time cutting your own Christmas tree, or it's been a family tradition for generations, it is a special experience that creates lifelong memories! This permit allows you to cut a Christmas tree within designated areas of the Pike & San Isabel National Forests.
These guidelines are for the Leadville, Salida and San Carlos Ranger Districts.
- $10 per tree permit (limit 2 per family)
- Permits may be purchased by mail, in person or online. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted at all district offices (Westcliffe and La Veta offices, cash or check only).
- Permit sales begin November 15th through December 31st
-DO NOT cut off the top of any trees. You may cut a tree up to 15 feet tall or 6 inches in diameter at the ground. Cut the tree at the ground and limb and scatter any unused portion. Please do not leave high stumps.
-DO NOT cut in any recreation areas (i.e. Lake Isabel, Turquoise Lake), timber sale areas, campgrounds, ski areas, wilderness or trailhead areas.
-Use an axe or hand saw only, chainsaws are not permitted
-Cut trees at least 50 feet from roads, trails or waterways.
-Attach permit tag to the main stem of the tree prior to transporting the tree.
-Please keep pets on a leash if you are near others.
Be aware of the following road restrictions:
Certain roads have seasonal closures that take effect on December 1st annually. For example: Lodgepole Flats near Leadville, Four Mile Travel Management area near Buena Vista, and Greenhorn area near Westcliffe.
Check with the local Forest Service office if you are unsure of seasonal closures. Please do not violate any of these closures.
The majority of Forest Service roads are not plowed. Forest Service roads will close once there is adequate snowfall, so snowmobile, skis or snowshoes will be needed in those areas.
Please check with the local office for current road information. Please do not tear up the road surface or leave debris on the road by trying to go beyond the plowed section.
These guidelines are for the Pikes Peak, South Park and South Platte Ranger Districts
- $20 per tree permit (limit 5 per family)
- Permit sale start dates vary, contact your nearest district office for details and availability.
- Permits for South Platte Ranger District must be purchased online and are limited, so they may sell out
- Be sure of the area you are purchasing a permit for. Be sure you are on National Forest lands and not private, state or other federal lands.
- Each permit has a unique number associated with it, so permits purchased through the Recreation.gov website must be printed to be valid.
- Visitors should display the printed permit on the dash of their vehicle on the day they visit the forest to cut their tree.
- Visitors must establish a Recreation.gov account to purchase a permit and may access their permit through their account at any time.
- The funds from tree permits purchased through the Recreation.gov system will go back to the participating Forest through Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) funding requirements.
- Fourth grade students with an Every Kid Outdoors pass can apply for a free Christmas tree permit through the online system with recreation.gov by selecting the option and then entering their voucher or pass number when prompted.