Choose Outdoors Blog

Press release - Delta, Colorado, October 28, 2020– After over a year of planning, the time has come to harvest the 2020 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree — a 55’ tall and 25’ wide Engelman Spruce — from the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests.

The virtual cutting ceremony will take place within the GMUG National Forests and will include brief remarks by USDA Forest Service leadership, local elected officials and project partners. A livestream of the ceremony and cutting will be available on the GMUG National Forests Facebook page.

The cutting ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. MT. The tree will be cut using a STIHL MS 500i chainsaw and supported by cranes provided by Valley Cranes. The tree will be placed on a trailer provided by Hale Trailer before being transported off the forest by a Kenworth T680.

Once wrapped and secured, the tree will begin its journey to Washington, D.C., Nov. 10. The tree will visit 10 communities for a series of outdoor festivities hosted by local communities at fair grounds, schools, main streets, visitor centers, convention centers and retailers. Well-wishers will have a chance to take photos, sign banners on the sides of the truck, learn more about the GMUG National Forests and the great state of Colorado and more. Festivities are free and open to the public.

Safety of tour staff, event attendees and the tree are the top priority. Face coverings are required for all events and social distancing will be maintained. Along the way, we ask the public to be aware of the truck’s blind spots, wide turning radius, and longer stopping distances on the road so we can all arrive safely to our destinations.

*Subject to change. Monitor website at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com for the latest updates. Follow along online at and @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram.