I travel to Colorado every year to camp and collect trees. Next year I want to collect a nice older bent ponderosa pine. Google says western Colorado and along the eastern Front Range have a lot of ponderosa pines at 6,000ft to 9,000ft elevation. I have never been to these areas. Are these good areas? Does anyone have more info on specific areas to narrow this down? Thank you in advance! Picture is for reference of style I'm looking for only!
Want to Collect Ponderosa Pine in Colorado
- Thread starter Acroacres
- Start date
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
I collected Ponderosa and lodgepole pine on the front range just west of Ft. Collins. Rt. 14 west, then north of Rustic. Need permits from the Roosevelt National Forest.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I live at the southern extreme of the Front Range. There are certainly a great many ponderosa around here, but finding something that matches your shopping list that's also able to be safely dug is going to be quite the chore. The geology and climate around here makes collecting trees TOUGH. Further north it's not always quite as extreme just because they don't tend to have quite as extreme weather changes. West of the Continental Divide, I can't speak to as much.
@Colorado may be more in the prime territory there, and definitely has more experience with ponderosa than me.
Where are you usually going in Colorado that the western slope and Front Range are new to you? The eastern Front Range is the most populous region, essentially extending the 100 miles from Denver to Colorado Springs.
@Colorado may be more in the prime territory there, and definitely has more experience with ponderosa than me.
Where are you usually going in Colorado that the western slope and Front Range are new to you? The eastern Front Range is the most populous region, essentially extending the 100 miles from Denver to Colorado Springs.
Yes I definitely agree on the permits, it's a must have! Thanks for the info I ll look into that area!
I have family in the 4 corners area, so usually just into Colorado from New Mexico. This year we went to Chama, NM then went to South Fork , Colorado. I m asking now so we can plan something farther north.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Ah, well then that makes perfect sense to me now. LoL What timeframe are looking at?
Unfortunately I've had little opportunity to spend time down around there, so I can't directly compare the conditions where digging is concerned. I can absolutely say, though, that in this region you'll have to be very judicious about tree selection. In past conversations I've likened it to big game hunting; you'll spend allot of time looking, mostly for a shot you can actually make. The rocks around here, you only have a chance to collect 1 out of 100 good looking trees. I'm not saying you shouldn't try, just that you should be prepared to adjust your expectations.
In terms of jurisdictions, in my area you're closest to Pike and San Isabel National Forests, but a huge portion of the public lands are actually BLM. They tend to be harder to get ahold of, but well worth it given the proportion of land they manage, and how it's managed.
I might still have the contact info for the local BLM forester floating around here somewhere. I'll look around.
Yea as far as finding that nice of a tree I understand the odds are not high, but I m always optimistic! I guess a better way I could of said it is, the areas I have been don't seem to have the conditions to naturally make that sort of tree, but I d like to know where might. I agree with your analogy with big game hunting completely, but half the fun is the search! Time frame wise it's really up to me but usually really late summer early fall. The digging in that area isn't bad at all in most places, but I have definitely had to pass up trees cause I would of just killed it trying, so I have enough experience and respect to walk away. Any info you can pass on is greatly appreciated.
