You can do a good deed for Colorado’s forests with your Christmas tree purchase. Local trees, harvested in forest-restoration and wildfire-mitigation projects, are on sale through Christmas eve at tree lots along the Front Range. Some are purely commercial operations, others fund Boy Scout troops and conservation nonprofits. For details about how harvesting small-diameter trees for the holidays reduces risk of fire in our forests, visit coloradoforest products.org.
Here are some of the places marketing native trees:
Boulder County
Colorado Native Christmas Trees
3375 75th St., north of the intersection with Valmont Road, east of Boulder.
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, through Christmas eve. Large selection of trees and the chance to pet a reindeer.
James Creek Watershed Initiative
180 Main St., Jamestown.
Typically open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., daily through Christmas eve.
These trees come from land in the James Creek Watershed that is preserved under conservation easement. The project is a fuel-reduction program on the Forget-Me-Not claim, and a portion of the proceeds supports the nonprofit James Creek Watershed Initiative. These will be very fresh-cut trees. Most are spruce with some Douglas fir sprinkled in.
Nederland Boy Scouts
Nederland Mining Museum, 200 W. Bridge St., Nederland
Scouts man the lot afternoons and evenings through Christmas eve. There is an honor box at the lot for shoppers who visit when the scouts are in school.
Big M Trees
Southwest corner of 95th Street and Arapahoe Road, Lafayette
Northeast corner of 30th and Pearl streets, behind Pollard Motors, Boulder
Open evenings and weekends “when the lights are on” through Christmas Eve. Tree selection includes local Douglas fir and lodgepole, and white fir and balsam from southern Colorado forests.
Douglas County
Danny’s Christmas Tree
At the corner of Longs Way and South Dransfeldt Road, Parker.
Open 9 a.m. to at least 7 p.m. daily through Christmas Eve. The lot has white fir and piñon trees, some as tall as 15 feet.
Jefferson County
Luckylure Christmas Trees and Holiday Activity Center
5231 County Road 73, at Brook Forest Road, Evergreen.
Open Monday through Thursday noon-8 p.m., and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, until Christmas Eve or the inventory runs out. (Last year, they were done by Dec. 20.)
Warren Tech High School
13330 W. Second Place, Lakewood.
Open 8 a.m-5 p.m. through Dec. 16. Horticulture students sell trees, wreaths and other decorations made from Colorado forest products.
Larimer County
Boy Scout Troop 8
Estes Park Lumber, 7400 S. St. Vrain Ave, Estes Park
During regular business hours, through Dec. 16. Stop by 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday or 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and you can buy your tree from one of the kids who cut them.
Aspen Lodge
6120 Colorado 7, between Allenspark and Estes Park
Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Saturdays, and Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through Dec. 18. The lodge will give you a free hayride if you buy a tree. If you’re coming for the evening ride Saturday, call 970-586-8133 for a reservation.
