Christmas tree cutting season has arrived in Colorado’s national forests, but you’ll need to do some homework before you go because each forest determines rules for where, when and how trees may be taken.

In the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests , which are jointly administered and stretch along the Continental Divide from Mount Blue Sky to the Wyoming border, permits are on sale through recreation.gov at a cost of $20 per tree. Recreation.gov charges a $2.50 service fee on top of that.

Permits must be secured in advance. Cutting in the Sulphur Ranger District, located in Grand County, is allowed now. In the Canyon Lakes Ranger District (Larimer County), trees can be taken beginning Saturday. The permit period for both runs through Jan. 7.

Rules governing allowable tree cutting

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