Permits are available by lottery to collect firewood generated from hazard tree removals within Rocky Mountain National Park. Firewood collection begins Friday, Sept. 20, and lasts through Friday, October 4, for east and west side firewood. Some locations will not be available for collection on weekends. A $20 non-refundable administrative fee will be charged for the permit to remove up to five cords of firewood on the east side. A $10 nonrefundable administrative fee will be charged for the permit to remove up to five cords of firewood on the west side. Up to 40 permits will be issued. Permit holders have no guarantee for a total of 5 cords since the collection of wood is on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who collect early will be more assured of the quantity and quality of available wood. Lottery winners for west side firewood should anticipate that Trail Ridge Road may be closed during the collection dates.
Firewood collection sites vary based on location of firewood and will be provided to lottery winners when they pick up their permits. In most areas the firewood has not been cut into manageable lengths and will require a chainsaw. Some areas will allow trailers and chainsaw use and others will not.
To sign up for the lottery for a firewood permit (one entry per physical address), please email the following information to ROMO_Firewood@nps.gov by Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 10:00 p.m. mountain time.
1) In the subject line of your email: Designate your desired collection area East or West, then your Last Name, then your First Name. Example: East, Smith, John
2) In the body of your email: Your Name, Physical Address and Phone Number
Names selected for the lottery will be posted on the park's website Friday, Sept. 20, at www.nps.gov/romo/parknews/lottery_results_firewood_permits.htm
Lottery winners can obtain permits in person with a photo I.D. and proof of physical address at the Backcountry Office adjacent to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center near Estes Park or at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center north of Grand Lake beginning Friday, September 20. Permits will be issued daily from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Payment must be made with cash in the exact amount or a personal check. Permits must be picked up within 48 hours of notification on the park's website. Unclaimed permits will be given to the next name on the list.
Wood is primarily lodgepole and ponderosa pine. Some of the wood was previously inhabited with mountain pine beetles but enough time should have elapsed to allow the beetles to exit the wood.
Permit holders will be authorized non-fee entry into the park for purposes of wood collection. To receive more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park's Information Office at 970-586-1206.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
