Golden Gate Canyon Opens 250 Christmas Tree Permits
Colorado's state park and national forests are releasing tree-cutting permits on staggered dates through November 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in National Parks
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Golden Gate Canyon State Park is awarding 250 Christmas tree-cutting permits by lottery, with applications open through Nov. 15. Colorado national forests are releasing their own permits on staggered dates from October through November.
Why it matters
The staggered release schedule and differing permit counts mean Colorado residents must track several deadlines to secure a tree. Forest Service officials say harvesting helps forest health by thinning smaller trees.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park will award 250 permits by lottery, with a $35 registration fee charged only to selected applicants. Forest Service tree permits cost $8 to $20 per tree depending on district, and the number of applicants competing for the 250 state park permits was not disclosed.
The players
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the state agency that manages the state's parks, wildlife areas, and outdoor recreation programs, including Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service is the federal agency that manages the national forests and grasslands, including the Pike-San Isabel, Arapaho and Roosevelt, White River, Rio Grande, and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests in Colorado.
The details
Lottery applicants visit cpwshop.com and select the Christmas Tree Draw tab before Nov. 15, and winners will be emailed afterward. Tree cutting at the state park takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while national forest permits are purchased at recreation.gov/tree-permits.
Timeline
Oct. 8: South Platte Ranger District permits went on sale.
Nov. 1: Rio Grande National Forest tree cutting becomes allowed.
Nov. 7: Sulphur Ranger District season starts.
Nov. 15: Golden Gate Canyon lottery window closes.
Nov. 16: Pike-San Isabel district permits and White River cutting begin.
Big Picture
Colorado's tiered permit fees across national forest districts follow the U.S. Forest Service's decentralized permit model, which lets each ranger district set its own cap and price. The Golden Gate Canyon lottery departs from that model by relying on a state-run draw rather than the federal recreation.gov system.
Residents who want a tree from a state park should enter the lottery before Nov. 15, while forest permits at recreation.gov are purchased on each district's own schedule. Budget $8 to $20 per tree for national forest permits depending on the district you choose.
The takeaway
Colorado's Christmas tree permits are released on different dates and at different prices, so checking each district's schedule early improves your chances of getting a tree. Review the deadlines and fees before applying.
What happens next
The Golden Gate Canyon State Park lottery window closes Nov. 15, and winners will be notified by email afterward. The state park tree cut is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks for Colorado's public land and recreation options.
More information
Purchase national forest tree-cutting permits through the Forest Service tree-cutting permit portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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