Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests
Thunder Basin National Grassland

USDA Forest Service
Medicine Bow-Routt
National Forests,
Thunder Basin
National Grassland
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070
307-745-2300

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
307-745-2307

Introduction

You can cut your own Christmas tree on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests by purchasing a permit. Permits can be purchased at the following locations:

Laramie Ranger District (307) 745-2300, 2468 Jackson Street Laramie, WY Open Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 pm. The office will not be open on Weekends.

Bureau of Land Management Office (307) 775-6256, 5353 N Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY Monday-Friday, 7:45 - 4:30 pm.

Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District Saratoga Office (307) 326-5258, South WY HWY 130/230 Saratoga, WY Open Monday-Friday, 7:30-4:30 pm.

Bureau of Land Management Rawlins Office (307) 328-4200, 1300 3rd Street, Rawlins WY Monday-Friday 7:45 -4:30 pm.

Douglas Ranger District (307) 358-4690, 2250 E. Richards Street Douglas, WY Open Monday-Friday, 8 to noon and 1 to 4:30

The office is closed during the noon hour, on weekends and holidays. The Douglas Ranger District also sells Christmas Tree permits through the mail. Please call the above number for more information.

Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District (970) 870-2299, 925 Weiss Drive Steamboat Springs, CO Open Monday-Friday, 8-5.

BLM – Little Snake Resource Area Office (970)-826-5000, 455 Emerson St .Craig, CO. Open Mon – Fri 7:45-4:30

Yampa Ranger District (970) 638-4516, 300 Roselawn Street Yampa, CO Open Monday-Friday, 8-5.

Parks Ranger District Walden Office (970) 723-8204, 100 Main Street Walden, CO Open Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 pm.

Parks Ranger District Kremmling Office (970) 724-3000, 2103 E Park Avenue Kremmling, CO Open Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 pm.

Permits are $10 per tree with a maximum of five per household. Have your permit with you when cutting a tree, to be secured to the tree at the time of cutting.

Christmas tree cutting can benefit crowded stands of trees and if done properly will not create an eyesore in the woods. There are several species available in the area. We recommend subalpine fir and lodgepole pine. Engelmann spruce dries up and loses its needles considerably faster than the other trees.

History of Christmas Tree Cutting

Long before Christmas, Egyptians brought green tree branches into their homes on the shortest day of the year to celebrate triumph over death.

The first recorded decorated indoor Christmas tree was in Germany in 1521.

The earliest Christmas trees were decorated with apples, Communion wafers, foil, dolls, paper roses, and sweets.

Christmas trees were first lit with candles in the seventeenth century.

Charles Dickens referred to the Christmas tree in 1850 as a “new German toy.”

The first Christmas tree with electric lights was in 1882 in New York.

Cutting Practices

When cutting and removing Christmas trees, please observe these permit requirements. Failure to do so is a violation.

Each Christmas tree permit is for a single tree only. It cannot be reused, sale is final and non-refundable, and expires on the last day of the calendar year in which it was purchased.

Attach permit around the main trunk of the tree as soon as it is down and before leaving the cutting area.

Transport the tree so that the permit is clearly visible from the outside of your vehicle.

You must cut at least 100 feet from any road or trail and 200 feet from any campground, picnic area, trail head or scenic pullout. Please make sure you are on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests land.

Do not top trees by leaving the lower part of the tree standing. Leave only a stump less than 6 inches and cut below the lowest live limb. Take boughs from the lower section of the tree you cut, NOT from other live trees.

Do not cut trees greater than 20 feet in height or more than 6 inches in diameter. Scatter any trimmed branches.

Observe closures in your area, check with the local District Office.

Remember trees look smaller in the forest so bring a measuring device.

No Tree Cutting Areas

The following areas are CLOSED to Christmas tree cutting:

Thunder Basin National Grassland

Esterbrook Area, from ½ mi to 3 mi east of Esterbrook on Road 633

Joe Burney Memorial Overlook, do not cut within 200 feet of Road 633 from MBNF boundary south to cattle guard

Pole Mountain/Vedauwoo Unit (east of Laramie)
Snowy Range Highway (Hwy 130) do not cut within 500 feet of highway (see exception below)

Battle Highway (Hwy 70) do not cut within 500 feet of highway.

Bear River Corridor (900 Rd) do not cut within 300 yards of road

Fish Creek Falls Recreation Area

Steamboat Ski Area

Freeman Recreation Area

Sherman Youth Camp

Wilderness areas

Timber sale areas

Access is limited by snow to most areas of the district by mid-November. Be sure to tell a friend or relative where you are going to be cutting your tree and when you should be getting back. Have your safety items such as a shovel, snow chains, gloves, warm clothes, and water with you while cutting your tree. Don't forget your sharp saw!

The following areas are SUGGESTED for Christmas tree cutting (to help with fuel reduction in accordance with the goals and objectives of the National Plan):

Snowy Range Highway: from Centennial Visitor’s Center to Corner Mountain Trailhead may cut next to highway and developed sites, but not within developed campgrounds and picnic areas

Keeping Your Tree Fresh

Even if you cut your tree early, you can keep your tree fresh by cutting one to two inches off the base when you get home. Place the tree in a container of water and place it in a cool shady area. Check the water level often. Be sure that the tree is well supported and is away from fireplaces, radiators, television sets, or other sources of heat. Never use lighted candles or open flames near your tree and check all electric lights and connections. BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!

Recreation Enhancement Act

The Christmas Tree program is a Recreation Enhancement Act Project. Funds collected are retained on the Forests for management of the Christmas Tree program.