SILT, Colo. - Permits for cutting Christmas trees on Bureau of Land Management lands are available in Silt at the Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 River Frontage Road.
Permits are $10 per tree and may be purchased Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Permits are for pinon pine or juniper. Christmas tree cutting is permitted on most BLM-administered lands within the Colorado River Valley Field Office with the following exceptions: wilderness study areas, Deep Creek along Coffee Pot Road, Thompson Creek Natural Area, and Garfield Creek south of New Castle. A map of these areas is available with the cutting permit.
New this year, all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit for their family through the White House Initiative “Every Kid in a Park." Fourth graders can download a paper voucher from the website www.everykidinapark.gov and bring it into the BLM office in Silt for a free permit.
The voucher will also get fourth graders and their families free admission into National Parks and many other federal fee areas.
BLM recommends bringing along a hand saw, rope or twine, extra food, water and blankets when you cut your tree. Tire chains, a shovel and emergency supplies are also a good idea.
For more information about Christmas tree cutting on BLM lands, call (970) 876-9008.
Permits for cutting Christmas trees on National Forest lands are available at Forest Service offices, which are also participating in the Every Kid in a Park program. For more information on National Forest permits, call (970) 945-2521.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management