Quaking Aspen Firewood

Up in the mountains and across the northern states, Quaking Aspen, or "popple" as a lot of folks call it, is absolutely everywhere. It's one of the most abundant trees on the continent, which means you'll probably end up with some whether you planned on it or not.

At 13.7 million BTU per cord and 2,210 lbs dry, it's a lightweight hardwood that sits near the bottom of the heat rankings. Not terrible, but nothing to brag about either. Use the cord calculator to figure out how much volume you'll actually need, because the answer is "more than you think."

The good news is that splitting aspen is effortless. One of the easiest species I've ever put a maul through. The rounds practically fall apart. Smoke is moderate, sparks are few, and the fragrance is subtle. Nothing offensive about burning it at all.

Seasoning runs 6 to 12 months. Pretty standard stuff. One tip: aspen can develop a punky, almost spongy texture if it sits on the ground too long. Get it off the dirt right away and keep airflow around the stack. Don't let it rot on you.

Here's where I actually appreciate aspen: it's a great shoulder-season and campfire wood. Spring and fall, when you don't need maximum heat, it's perfect. The coals are surprisingly good for a wood this light, which sets it apart from similar low-BTU species. Just don't rely on it as your primary winter fuel. If you've got aspen in your area, you've probably also got Cottonwood, they're cousins, and cottonwood performs about the same. Mix either one with a dense hardwood and you'll be in good shape.