Every year, the Calgary Junior Forest Warden Society operates a “cut-your-own-tree” lot just off Highway 66 on the Powderface Trail, about 45 minutes west of Calgary. Each of the seven local clubs help operate the lot. This year it runs Saturdays and Sundays from November 30 until December 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Permits to cut a tree are $5 and sold onsite specifically for that location.
The trees are Lodgepole Pines and they are wild, which means they are not pruned so don’t expect them to be the perfect shape. There is a clever solution if you want a very full tree. You can cut down a maximum of three trees per person. If you see couple that you like, ask for a demo on how to make two trees into one tree.
Buy hot dogs and hot chocolate from the concession and warm up by the fire after cutting down the perfect pine.
Powderface Trail off Highway 66. For detailed directions and a map, visit ajfwa.ca