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Colorado ponderosa pines face risk across 600,000 acres

Drought, climate change and a small beetle are putting Colorado’s ponderosa pine trees at risk, with dead trees already visible along highways.

Clear Creek County Colorado DeskOctober 3, 2026
Colorado ponderosa pines face risk across 600,000 acres

Key takeaways

  • 600,000 acres of Colorado ponderosa pine are at risk.
  • Historic drought is contributing to tree stress.
  • Climate change and a small beetle are also identified as causes.
  • Dead gray trees already line some Colorado highways.

A large area at risk

About 600,000 acres of ponderosa pine in Colorado are at risk. The trees are being affected by a historic drought, climate change and a small beetle.

Dead trees along highways

The damage is already visible in some parts of the state. Gray, dead ponderosa pines line highways, showing the effects of the ongoing stress on the forests.

What the decline means

Ponderosa pines are a familiar part of Colorado’s landscape. Their decline changes the appearance of areas along roads and through forested communities, while the scale of the risk covers a large area of the state.

Drought leaves trees under greater stress, while climate change and the beetle add to the pressure described in the development. The result is a growing number of dead trees and a wider risk to ponderosa pine stands.

What to watch

  • Whether the area affected by dead or weakened ponderosa pines expands.
  • How visible tree mortality becomes along highways and in forested areas.
  • Any state or federal action addressing drought, beetles or forest health.

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