Cutting down your own Christmas tree while reducing the danger of wildfire in the San Juan Mountains? That’s what the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train is offering for the first time.
Officials at the San Juan National Forest said the agency deemed an area near Cascade Wye, adjacent to the tracks, as a potential hazard for fire.
So, the agency teamed up with the railroad, which will take passengers to cut down white firs and haul the Christmas trees back to Durango.
“We’ve identified an area where we need to thin the understory to help make the forest healthy,” said Ann Bond, of San Juan National Forest.
The train will offer service on Fridays and Saturdays in December. Permits to cut trees cost $8, plus train fares.
One tree can be cut per family, and 20-foot-tall trees is the limit.
Christian Robbins, marketing manager for the railroad, said the Christmas Tree Train hopes to start a tradition for families.
“Maybe they want to cut down their own Christmas tree, but don’t know how to go about that,” Robbins said. “We wanted to help folks that want to get that tradition started, and educate them how to do that.”
Both Bond and Robbins said if this year’s Christmas Tree Train is successful, there is the possibility of continuing the program in future years.
“We’re hoping to have several years worth of Christmas trees,” Bond said.