Free woodcutting opportunity at Wrights Lake Recreation Area

Free public fire wood gathering will again be available at the Wrights Lake Recreation Area on the Eldorado National Forest to this weekend, November 8-9. “This weekend’s weather forecast is favorable,” stated Richard Thornburgh, Pacific District Ranger. “We feel this is a perfect opportunity to continue cleaning up the area by allowing people to take home free firewood.” The Recreation Area was hit by a severe wind storm almost a year ago, causing more than 200 trees to fall. As part of the clean-up effort, the Forest Service has scheduled a series of woodcutting events which allow members of the community to cut and gather firewood in an area normally closed to fuel wood cutting. The gate will be open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and free non-commercial use permits will be issued on site.

The following rules will be in effect during the event:

Free Permit is for personal use only. No commercial wood gathering for resale will be allowed.

No early entry will be allowed.
Public not involved in the wood gathering will need to park outside the gate in the overflow parking area.
Wood cutters must remain on existing paved roads, pull-outs and spurs, and must not block roads, gates or closure barriers.
Only newly wind downed logs will be permitted for cutting. Older weathered logs must be left on site.
Woodcutters must check out and exit the gate prior to 4PM each day.
Members of the public not honoring these rules will be asked to leave.