Christmas Tree Cutting Guidelines
It is our pleasure to offer the opportunity to cut Christmas trees on the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District this year. Please review the following information to ensure that your experience is a fun one: Ensure you cut your tree on National Forest lands. If in doubt, ASK ! Christmas tree permits will be available at $15.00 per tree for up to a twenty (20) foot tree. There is a limit of one tree per household.
We urge you to cut Subalpine Fir or Lodgepole Pine that are no larger than six (6) inches diameter at the base. Other species are difficult to regenerate and we would prefer that you leave these trees to grow, i.e., Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce.
Stump heights are to be cut at no more than six (6) inches from the ground. Permits (tags) are to be signed and trees are to be tagged prior to hauling off National Forest Lands. Trees may be cut throughout the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District (see map) with the exception of the following areas:
DO NOT CUT IN: Forest Campgrounds, Summer Home Areas, Private, State or BLM Lands,
500 feet radius of the Howard Springs Picnic Area
Big Springs Area
Wilderness Areas or Wilderness Study Areas
Harriman State Park
Within 200 feet of groomed cross-country ski trails
Forest Service cabins, lookouts, Porcupine guard station, Government housing areas
The weather can be very unpredictable and extreme at this time of year. Cross-country skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles can make traveling off of roadways much easier, as access into the woods is very limited. Snowmobile travel off of roadways is prohibited until Thanksgiving Day in areas closed to motorized use.
Remember to go prepared for your Christmas tree hunt. Equip yourself with a winter emergency kit, dress warmly and have fun. Your tree will be in fine shape for the holidays if you keep the tree trunk in a bucket of water indoors or packed in snow and wrapped in burlap outdoors. Keep your tree sheltered from cold winds and store in an upright position.
Happy Holidays,
Liz Davy District Ranger State Highway 87
CARIBOU-TARGHEE NATIONAL FOREST ASHTON/ISLAND PARK RANGER DISTRICT
Rd. 053 Christmas Tree Cutting Area Map
Red Rock
Rd. 024 - Sawtell Peak Road Gated in Winter Rd. 059 - Big Springs Loop Rd. 30 - Yale/Kilgore Road ±
Rd. 292 Y
Chick Creek Flat e l
. 291 l d o R eek k Cr n Chic w s t o n e
Rd. 167 N Green Canyon Island Park RS a
es t Rd. 120 - Bishop Mtn ccl i
E o 2 - . 11 Rd n a
Rd. 168 Rd. 161 - Baker Draw l
North Antelope Flat Rd. 315 P North Hatchery Butte a r H
a k t c
Rd. 317 h R S M R W R
e d c d r e d Little Butte y . e a
3 s . r .
F 5 n a m 0 o 1 i 2
r c F 9 8
d R Rd. 319 4 2 B E a i
l v High Point a y l -
s w s e
t r F a i
y s
h
S C
o r u e t R
h d e
A . k n 5 Rd. 163 te 53 Henry's lo Sheep p Falls le Fork F l at Winegar Hole Wilderness
on ins ob k R ee Cr Ashton RS
Rd. 582 - Cave Falls
State Highway 47 r n Rive Fall
Rd. 261 - Ashton/Flagg Ranch Road
Jedediah 0 y 2 Rd. 263 s Smith wa adow gh Me Hi yote Wilderness S. - Co U. 265 State Highway 32 Rd.
Bitch Creek
National Forest Boundary
Areas Closed to Christmas Tree Cutting
Includes Private, State, BLM, Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas, 0 1.75 3.5 7 Administrative Sites, Campgrounds, Summer Home Areas, Miles Harriman State Park, Big Springs Composite Area, or within 200 feet of designated cross-country ski trails.
bnedrow:revised 9/20/2017