Options for cutting your own Christmas tree in Larimer County

Here’s a roundup of Northern Colorado Christmas tree lots and places where you can cut your own tree. Be sure to check out our interactive “Find a Christmas Tree” map at northfortynews.com to help you locate the perfect tree.

Forest Service
The Cut Your Own Christmas Tree cutting area provided by the U.S. Forest Service near Red Feather Lakes will be open Dec. 1-9. The cutting area is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Permits are available at the site on Saturdays and Sundays, otherwise you’ll need to purchase a weekday permit at the Forest Service office at 2150 Center Ave., Building E, in Fort Collins.

Smokey Bear will greet people at the cutting area on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so make sure to pack your camera.

Chains or four-wheel-drive vehicles required. Remember, this area never runs out of permits. Last year approximately 3,100 trees were sold.

It can get cold while looking for your tree, so remember to dress for the weather. You also need the right tools to cut your tree. No chainsaws are allowed.

Location: From Fort Collins take U.S. Highway 287, 21 miles north to Livermore. At Livermore turn left on to County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road). Follow Red Feather Lakes Road 16 miles and turn left on to County Road 68C (Boy Scout Road). Follow Boy Scout Road for 7 miles. Signs or Forest Service personnel will direct you into the area. For information, email [email protected] or call 970-295-6700.

Ristvue Ranch
The cut-it-yourself areas on Ristvue Ranch burned during the High Park Fire, but staff at the ranch is cutting a limited number of remaining trees and will have them for sale at the ranch house. Open Saturdays only through Dec. 15. Hours: 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For info call 970-461-3034. Location: Ristvue Ranch, 1080 Davis Ranch Road west of Bellvue.

Beaver Meadows
Cut your own tree at Beaver Meadows Ranch Resort. Location: Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch, at 100 Marmot Drive in Red Feather Lakes. Email [email protected] or call 970-881-2450.

Boy Scout tree lots
Options closer to the city include Boy Scout Troop 83 Christmas Tree lot on East Mulberry Street at Lemay Avenue in Fort Collins. The Boy Scouts receive a portion of the proceeds from tree sales to help pay for summer camp and other activities. Sales will occur on weekdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sales end at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16. For information, email [email protected].

And Boy Scout Troop 87 will be selling fresh-cut Christmas trees on Dec. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LaPorte Presbyterian church, just west of Cache La Poudre school in LaPorte.

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Need help finding the right Christmas tree? The North Forty News’ interactive map shows locations for Northern Colorado fresh-cut tree lots and for places to cut your own tree. Most lots and tree-cutting areas open after Thanksgiving and stay open until the weekend before Christmas.

Add your own! If you’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you can add your tree lot to the map by clicking “add” button in the upper right hand corner of the interactive map.