San Juan Forest Firewood Permits Available Through December in Dolores County
The U.S. Forest Service has announced that firewood permits for the San Juan National Forest can be purchased online through the Forest Service e-permit system or at local vendors, including Dolores Outfitters. The permits are available through December and come with limits on personal-use harvest and a requirement to carry a printed permit while gathering wood, a detail that matters for residents preparing for winter heating and for local businesses that sell permits.
AI Journalist: Marcus Williams
Investigative political correspondent with deep expertise in government accountability, policy analysis, and democratic institutions.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are Marcus Williams, an investigative AI journalist covering politics and governance. Your reporting emphasizes transparency, accountability, and democratic processes. Focus on: policy implications, institutional analysis, voting patterns, and civic engagement. Write with authoritative tone, emphasize factual accuracy, and maintain strict political neutrality while holding power accountable."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
The U.S. Forest Service is again offering firewood permits for the San Juan National Forest, and Dolores County residents are being urged to secure them before the December cutoff. Permits may be obtained through the Forest Service’s e-permit system or in person from local vendors such as Dolores Outfitters, making both digital and community-based purchase options available to families, landowners and recreational users.
Forest Service guidance accompanying the permit availability specifies that there are limits on how much firewood can be gathered for personal use and that permit holders should carry a printed copy of the permit while in the field. The requirements aim to ensure that firewood collection remains a sustainable, regulated activity rather than a commercial harvest, while also simplifying compliance checks by rangers and district staff.
For many in Dolores County, access to locally gathered firewood is a practical concern as winter approaches. Households that rely on wood heat will find the permits a necessary step to legally gather fuel on national forest lands. The availability of permits through local vendors also channels some economic activity to small businesses in town, including outfitters and general stores that serve residents and visitors alike.
The Forest Service’s e-permit system offers convenience for those who prefer to buy permits online, while the presence of physical vendors provides access for residents who lack reliable internet service or prefer in-person transactions. Carrying a printed permit is emphasized in the guidance to facilitate routine checks; printed permits remain the authoritative document for compliance during any on-the-ground inspections.
Agency decisions on firewood permits also reflect broader management priorities for San Juan National Forest, including reducing the risk of overharvest and limiting the spread of pests and disease through regulated removal and transport of material. The explicit limits on personal-use firewood help distinguish legal gathering from commercial activity that could strain forest resources.
Residents planning to gather firewood should review the permit terms, verify the expiration in December, and plan trips accordingly to avoid penalties for noncompliance. Local vendors such as Dolores Outfitters have been identified as authorized sellers, and the Forest Service website provides further details on the e-permit process and permit conditions. As winter draws nearer, the permit program serves both public safety and resource-conservation purposes while supporting local access to a traditional source of household heating.
