Service Area Serving Colorado's San Juan Mountain communities.
Timberline Forestry provides wildfire mitigation, defensible space creation, forest health assessments, and premium beetle-kill firewood throughout the Rio Grande National Forest region of southwestern Colorado. Our primary service area covers South Fork, Creede, Pagosa Springs, Del Norte, and the surrounding communities of Rio Grande, Mineral, and Archuleta counties.
We’re based in South Fork. This isn’t a Front Range crew driving three hours to your property we work here, we know this forest, and we understand the specific fire and beetle conditions affecting properties in this part of the state.
Primary Service Area
South Fork, Colorado
Our base of operations. South Fork sits at the confluence of the Rio Grande and South Fork rivers at approximately 8,200 feet, surrounded by Rio Grande National Forest land with some of the highest concentration of beetle-kill and Douglas-fir beetle mortality in the region. We provide the full range of services here: wildfire mitigation, defensible space creation, forest health assessments, and firewood delivery.
Creede, Colorado
Creede and the surrounding Mineral County properties sit in a high-elevation river canyon where beetle-kill timber and standing dead fuel accumulation create significant wildfire risk. We serve private property owners, ranches, and vacation properties throughout the Creede area including the Rio Grande Reservoir corridor. All services available.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County properties fall within our primary service area. The forest conditions here — ponderosa pine mixed with spruce/fir at higher elevations — present distinct fire behavior and beetle pressures compared to the South Fork corridor. We provide wildfire mitigation, defensible space, assessments, and firewood delivery throughout the Pagosa Springs area including Highway 160 corridor properties and upper-elevation subdivisions.
Del Norte, Colorado
Del Norte and the eastern Rio Grande County corridor are within our service area. Properties at the forest interface north and west of Del Norte are eligible for the full range of services. Contact us to confirm travel feasibility for your specific location.
Monte Vista, Colorado (Limited)
Monte Vista is at the edge of our service range. We accept projects here on a case-by-case basis, typically for larger mitigation or assessment engagements that justify the travel. Firewood delivery to Monte Vista is available with a minimum two-cord order. Call to discuss your project before scheduling.
Extended Service Area
For larger projects, we will travel to the following areas. Extended service area work is typically subject to a travel supplement for smaller jobs; larger projects (half-acre or more of mitigation, or five-cord firewood orders) generally absorb the additional distance. Contact us to discuss.
- Lake City, CO Larger mitigation and assessment projects. Hinsdale County. Call to discuss.
- Antonito, CO Available for mitigation and firewood.
- Conejos County. Minimum order requirements apply.
Alamosa Area Firewood delivery with 3-cord minimum. Mitigation/assessment on larger properties. - Wolf Creek Pass Corridor Properties along US-160 between South Fork and Pagosa. Full services.
Not sure if your property falls within our service area? Call or send your address through the contact form. We’ll give you a straight answer.
Services Available Throughout Our Service Area
All of the following services are available throughout our primary service area (South Fork, Creede, Pagosa Springs, Del Norte):
- Wildfire Mitigation & Defensible Space: Wildfire Mitigation & Defensible Space Creation — strategic thinning, ladder fuel removal, and Zone 0/1/2 defensible space work around structures. Based on CSFS and NFPA 1144 guidelines.
- Forest Health Assessments: Forest Health Assessments — on-site evaluation of beetle activity, fire risk, and forest condition. Written report with a clear recommendation. Flat fee, no upsell.
- Premium Firewood Delivery: Premium Beetle-Kill Firewood — sourced from local mitigation projects, seasoned to under 20% moisture, delivered and stacked where you need it. $275/cord. Subscription options for STR operators.
- Commercial & HOA: Commercial & HOA Services — larger-scale mitigation, subdivision-wide defensible space, and firewood programs for property managers and homeowner associations.
Why We Focus on This Region
The Rio Grande National Forest has recorded some of Colorado’s worst beetle mortality over the past decade — Douglas-fir beetle, spruce beetle, and mountain pine beetle have all moved through this landscape. The 2024 Douglas-fir beetle surge concentrated specifically between South Fork and Creede. That’s not background context: it’s the reason this work matters, and it’s why we chose to operate here rather than competing in already-saturated Front Range markets.
We understand the specific forest types in this region — the spruce-fir at higher elevations, the ponderosa pine in the lower transition zones, the mixed-conifer stands on north-facing slopes. We know how fire moves through beetle-kill stands at 8,500 feet. That regional knowledge is not something you can import from a contractor based somewhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve properties inside the Rio Grande National Forest boundary?
We work on private property within and adjacent to the Rio Grande National Forest boundary. We do not perform work on federal land without an appropriate USFS permit or stewardship agreement. If your property is surrounded by national forest land, that’s the typical situation we work in — your private parcel, your responsibility, your decision. We can assess it and help you act on it.
How far will you travel for a wildfire mitigation project?
Our primary service area covers roughly a 60-mile radius centered on South Fork. That includes Creede to the north, Pagosa Springs to the west, Del Norte to the east, and the Wolf Creek corridor. For larger projects (half-acre or more), we will travel to Lake City, Antonito, and the Alamosa area. Contact us with your location and project scope — if travel makes the project unworkable, we’ll tell you that directly rather than quote you a price that doesn’t make sense.
Do you deliver firewood to vacation rental properties?
Yes, and we have a subscription program specifically for short-term rental operators. Our STR firewood subscriptions pre-schedule 3–5 cord deliveries across the season (October through March) so your property is stocked before guests arrive. We photograph the delivery for your records. Properties in South Fork, Creede, Pagosa Springs, and the Wolf Creek corridor are within our firewood delivery range.
I have property in ____. Can I get a quote before you confirm you serve my area?
Yes. Send your address and a brief description of the project through our contact form or call us. We’ll confirm service area within one business day and, for mitigation or assessment inquiries, can typically schedule a site visit within 5–10 business days. We don’t collect any payment information before confirming we can serve your location.
Ready to Get Started?
If your property is in our service area, request a free quote for wildfire mitigation or a forest health assessment — or order firewood for delivery.