It’s time to plan for a holiday tradition in the snowy woods of Colorado.

The U.S. Forest Service has started selling permits for Christmas tree cutting in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests close to Colorado Springs and Denver.

“Whether this is your first time cutting your own Christmas tree or it’s been a family tradition for generations, it is a special experience that creates lifelong memories,” reads the top of a webpage at recreation.gov, which details the $20 permits for certain dates and areas along with rules and tips.

Those most familiar know to buy early when it comes to permits under the South Platte Ranger District, closest to Denver. Permits for the first day of tree cutting, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and other weekend days are sold out. At last check, some permits were still available for weekdays through mid-December around the Buffalo Creek and Sugar Creek areas.

No sellout applies to Pikes Peak Ranger District permits, which go on sale the Friday after Thanksgiving. Those are permits for parts of the forest west of Colorado Springs, around Woodland Park.

Limitless permits are also sold by the South Park Ranger District (around Lake George and Fairplay), the San Carlos Ranger District (around Cañon City and Westcliffe), the Salida Ranger District (around Salida and Buena Vista) and nearby Leadville Ranger District. For most of those areas, permits go on sale Nov. 17.

Another possibility closer to Denver is Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where 250 permits will be sold to names drawn from a lottery. Entries can be submitted through Nov. 15. Winners will be notified and charged $35 for the tree cut Dec. 6. More information at: tinyurl.com/382psny4

Front Range families might also opt for permits under the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, though harvesting is not allowed in the nearest Boulder and Clear Creek ranger districts.

Tree cutting overseen by Canyon Lakes Ranger District, in Larimer County, starts Nov. 22. The season starts earlier for Grand County’s Sulphur Ranger District.

Along with “lifelong memories,” the Forest Service has said Christmas tree cutting “improves forest health and reduces fire risk,” according to a past news release. “The permit system is designed to thin carefully chosen, densely populated tree stands that will benefit from having some trees removed. Cutting trees from designated areas will allow the remaining trees to grow larger while creating open areas that provide food for wildlife.”