Questions and answers
Christmas tree permit questions Straight answers with sources
Short answers to what people ask most, from the agencies' own pages. Your forest's page in the finder has its own dates, price and rules, and those are the ones that count.
The program itself
What is a Christmas tree permit?
A paper permit, usually with a tag, that lets your household cut a set number of trees for your own use on one national forest or BLM office, in the areas and sizes it names. The whole idea, explained.
From Pike-San Isabel National Forests, Eldorado National Forest, BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season) and Plumas National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Why does the Forest Service let people cut trees?
National forests are run for many uses, and the law lets the agency sell forest products. Its stated reason for tree permits is thinning: they "help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees."
From 36 CFR part 223 and Recreation.gov tree permits index, read Nov 11, 2026.
Is cutting a Christmas tree bad for the forest?
Not when you follow the rules, and it isn't a real fire fix either: forest staff say permits don't "make a dent" in the thinning that's needed. The honest answer.
From CapRadio, Ezra David Romero, Dec. 5, 2018 and Boise State Public Radio / Mountain West News Bureau via KNPR, Murphy Woodhouse, Dec. 21, 2023, read Nov 11, 2026.
How long have national forests sold tree permits?
Since at least the 1950s, and the Forest Service's Christmas tree files go back to the 1930s. In 1965 the Pike sold trees for $1 "regardless of size." A short history.
From Albuquerque Journal, Cathy Cook, Dec. 5, 2025 and National Archives, Cody White, Dec. 15, 2020, read Nov 11, 2026.
How many people cut their own tree on public land?
The Forest Service sold 312,168 Christmas tree permits in 2024, as the Albuquerque Journal reported the agency's figure. Nobody publishes a BLM total.
From Albuquerque Journal, Cathy Cook, Dec. 5, 2025, read Nov 11, 2026.
Does the permit money go back to the forest?
Pike-San Isabel says its Recreation.gov tree permit money "will go back to the participating forest." We found no national rule saying the same for every forest.
From Pike-San Isabel NFs Christmas tree permits page, read Nov 11, 2026.
Why did Lake Tahoe stop selling tree permits?
After more than 20 years, the Lake Tahoe Basin found most of the safe, legal spots near its snow-season parking "have been cleared of suitable trees." In September 2024 it paused the program "for several years" so the saplings can grow.
From LTBMU release via Tahoe Living with Fire, Sept. 19, 2024 and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (updated May 1, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut a tree on tribal land?
Not with a Forest Service or BLM permit. Some tribes sell their own; Navajo Nation Forestry sells "Christmas Tags." Forest, park or BLM land?.
From Navajo Nation Forestry Department, Permits, read Nov 11, 2026.
Is a real tree greener than an artificial one?
Usually, if you keep the drive short. The two published studies put an artificial tree's carbon break-even at 4 to 9 years and at about 20, and for a wild tree a one-way drive over about 6 to 8 miles tips it. Wild, farm or artificial?
From Dovetail Partners, Jim L. Bowyer et al., Nov. 19, 2018 and MSU Today, Bert Cregg, Dec. 11, 2018, read Nov 11, 2026.
What is the Capitol Christmas Tree?
A giant tree a national forest sends to the U.S. Capitol each year, every year since 1970. 2026's is a 76-foot Engelmann spruce from Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater. Every tree since 1970.
From Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Christmas Tree page, AOC blog, Jim Kaufmann, Aug. 13, 2026 with September editor's note and East Idaho News, Oct. 26, 2026, harvest story, read Nov 11, 2026.
The permit
Do you need a permit to cut down a Christmas tree?
On a national forest, almost always: federal rules forbid cutting a tree there except as authorized. The clear exception is the Chugach in Alaska, which allows one free tree per household with no permit.
From 36 CFR 261.6 and Chugach National Forest, cutting program flyer (flyer dated Nov 25, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I get a Christmas tree permit online?
Yes, for most forests. Recreation.gov lists 81 Christmas tree permit offerings, and BLM sells its own at forestproducts.blm.gov. You need a Recreation.gov account to buy there.
From Recreation.gov's tree permits page, BLM's online forest products permit store and Lolo National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Where else can I buy one?
Many forests also sell at ranger district offices, and some through local hardware stores, markets and gas stations. Not all: Kaibab and Pike-San Isabel's South Platte district sell online only. Call ahead, because offices keep short hours and vendors sell out.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), Kaibab National Forest and Pike-San Isabel National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
Do I have to print my Christmas tree permit?
On most forests, yes. "Permits MUST be printed to be valid," says the Rogue River-Siskiyou, and Pike-San Isabel says the same. BLM's store lets you download the permit but still says print it.
From Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Pike-San Isabel National Forests and BLM's online forest products permit store, read Nov 11, 2026.
What does it mean to tag a Christmas tree?
It means attaching your permit's tag to the tree you cut, usually to the trunk before you move it. Pike-San Isabel says attach it "to the main stem before transporting the tree," and some forests let you put the permit on the dashboard instead.
From Pike-San Isabel National Forests, Tonto National Forest and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
Where does the permit go while I cut?
On your dashboard, where Lolo, Lincoln, Eldorado and others ask for it. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache says leave it there "while harvesting and transporting your tree."
From Lolo National Forest, Eldorado National Forest and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Do I need cell service?
No, if you print the permit and the maps first. Expect none in the woods: forest after forest warns that service is spotty or missing.
From Eldorado National Forest on Recreation.gov, Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
What if the permit sells out?
Try a neighboring district or forest. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache says Heber-Kamas is likely to sell out and Evanston-Mountain View often has more. Remember a permit only works on the forest that sold it.
From Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on Recreation.gov and Plumas National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I get a refund if it snows or I can't go?
Usually not. Tonto gives no refunds "even if weather prevents you from reaching or cutting your tree," and White River, Prescott, Eldorado and BLM all say sales are final.
From Tonto National Forest, White River National Forest (updated Nov 10, 2026) and BLM's online forest products permit store, read Nov 11, 2026.
Do I need a Recreation.gov account?
To buy online, yes. Buying at an office or a vendor doesn't need one.
From Lolo National Forest, Chippewa National Forest news release (Nov 19, 2025) and Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
What it costs
How much is a Christmas tree permit?
On the national forests read on Nov. 11, from free to $20 a tree. Most were $5 to $10 ($5 at Mt. Hood and Lolo, $10 at White River and Eldorado, $20 at Pike). Each forest's page in the finder prints its own price.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), Lolo National Forest, White River National Forest (updated Nov 10, 2026) and Pike-San Isabel National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
Is there a fee on top?
Recreation.gov adds $2.50 per order on most forests. Buying at a district office or a vendor skips it.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026) and Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
How much is a Christmas tree permit in Oregon?
The two Oregon forests read on Nov. 11 charged $5 a tree: Mt. Hood, whose page still showed the 2025 season, and the Rogue River-Siskiyou. BLM's Oregon offices listed $5 too.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and BLM Oregon and Washington's Christmas trees page (no year shown), read Nov 11, 2026.
How much is a Christmas tree permit in Colorado?
The Colorado forests read ran $8 to $20: $8 on the San Juan, $10 on the White River and the San Isabel, $20 on the Pike.
From San Juan National Forest, White River National Forest (updated Nov 10, 2026) and Pike-San Isabel National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
How much does a BLM permit cost?
$5 a tree is common, at Bishop, Ely and the Oregon and Washington offices. BLM's $1 tree last winter was a one-season deal that ended Jan. 31, and Ely's 2026 notice is back to $5.
From BLM Bishop and Tonopah announcement (Nov 21, 2025), BLM Ely District announcement (Oct 1, 2026), BLM Oregon and Washington's Christmas trees page (no year shown) and Interior Department news release (Dec 5, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Is it cheaper to buy in person?
By the fee, yes: "No additional service fees are charged when purchased from a vendor or district office," says Mt. Hood.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I get a free Christmas tree permit?
Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass can get one free on the forests that honor it, and most do (the $2.50 online fee still applies). The Chugach needs no permit at all. How the fourth-grade tree works.
From Recreation.gov, "Cut a Tree for the Holidays from Your National Forest" and Chugach National Forest, cutting program flyer (flyer dated Nov 25, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
How do fourth graders get a free tree?
Get the Every Kid Outdoors pass at everykidoutdoors.gov, then enter the pass or voucher number on the forest's Recreation.gov listing or show it at a district office. Some offices want the student there in person.
From Recreation.gov, "Cut a Tree for the Holidays from Your National Forest", Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
How many trees can I get?
One to five per household on the forests read, and up to 10 per buyer at BLM's Ely District. Lolo and White River count per person, not per household.
From Eldorado National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), BLM Ely District announcement (Oct 1, 2026) and Lolo National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Where you can cut
Can I cut down a Christmas tree in a national forest?
Yes, on the forests that run a program and only in their marked cutting areas. Some programs pause, like the Lake Tahoe Basin's, and some open only certain districts.
From Recreation.gov's tree permits page, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (updated May 1, 2025) and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut a Christmas tree on public land?
On national forest and BLM land with a permit, in many places. Not in a national park: park rules forbid removing plants. State land depends on the state.
From Recreation.gov's tree permits page, BLM's online forest products permit store, 36 CFR 2.1 (National Park Service) and Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, via AK Fire Info (Nov 25, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut one in a national park?
No. Park rules prohibit "removing, digging, or disturbing" plants, and national parks and national forests are different agencies.
From 36 CFR 2.1 (National Park Service), read Nov 11, 2026.
What about BLM land?
Yes, in many areas, with a BLM permit from forestproducts.blm.gov or a field office. A BLM permit is "only valid on BLM-managed public lands." More on BLM permits.
From BLM's online forest products permit store and BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
What about state forests or state land?
It depends on the state. Alaska allows one tree per household on unrestricted state land, under 15 feet. Elsewhere, check your state forestry agency.
From Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, via AK Fire Info (Nov 25, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut in a wilderness area?
No. Every Forest Service and BLM page that addresses it rules out wilderness, and BLM also rules out wilderness study areas.
From Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season), Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026) and BLM Ely District announcement (Oct 1, 2026), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can you cut down Christmas trees in Michigan?
Yes, with a permit on the Hiawatha, which allows balsam fir and spruce only. Each Michigan forest's page in the finder says what it sells.
From Hiawatha National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Does my permit work on the next forest over?
No. "Plumas National Forest Permits ARE NOT VALID on the Lassen National Forest!" Monongahela's permits are good only in the district you bought for.
From Plumas National Forest on Recreation.gov and Monongahela National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Does a BLM permit work on Forest Service land?
No. Buy a Forest Service permit for national forest land.
From BLM Wyoming news release (Nov 19, 2021, archived) and BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut in a burned area?
Not in a fire closure. Arapaho-Roosevelt also asks you to avoid dead or burned trees and recently burned areas.
From Plumas National Forest on Recreation.gov, Eldorado National Forest and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
The rules on the tree
How tall a tree can I cut?
10 to 20 feet, depending on the forest: 10 on the Lincoln, 20 on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes and the Dixie. Your permit says yours.
From Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026), Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests on Recreation.gov and Dixie National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
How thick can the trunk be?
Usually 6 inches near the ground, where a forest sets a limit. Monongahela caps it at 4 inches at chest height.
From Pike-San Isabel National Forests, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Monongahela National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
How short does the stump have to be?
5 to 12 inches, depending on the forest. Six inches is the most common.
From Dixie National Forest on Recreation.gov, Mt. Hood National Forest (its page still shows the 2025 season) and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
How far from the road do I have to be?
50 to 200 feet, depending on the forest and the road.
From Pike-San Isabel National Forests, White Mountain National Forest on Recreation.gov and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut near a stream or lake?
Not close. Setbacks run from 50 feet on the Dixie to 450 feet on the Chugach.
From Dixie National Forest on Recreation.gov and Chugach National Forest, cutting program flyer (flyer dated Nov 25, 2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Which trees can't I cut?
It varies by forest: Colorado blue spruce on the White River, bristlecone pine on the Dixie, limber pine on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, hemlock and hardwoods on the Monongahela.
From White River National Forest (updated Nov 10, 2026), Dixie National Forest on Recreation.gov, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on Recreation.gov and Monongahela National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut the top off a bigger tree?
No. "Do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree," and Eldorado adds don't cut a larger tree to take only the top.
From Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026), Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests on Recreation.gov and Eldorado National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I use a chainsaw?
Not where it's banned, like Pike-San Isabel and White Mountain. Most forests just recommend a handsaw. What to bring.
From Pike-San Isabel National Forests, White Mountain National Forest on Recreation.gov and Lolo National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I cut a tree for someone else, or sell it?
No sale: "Trees obtained under the Christmas tree permit may not be resold." Eldorado's permits aren't transferable, and Plumas wants the permit holder there for the cutting and the drive.
From Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests on Recreation.gov, Eldorado National Forest on Recreation.gov and Plumas National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I dig up a live tree, or take branches?
Only where allowed. The Okanogan-Wenatchee allows a transplant if you fill the hole; Green Mountain and Finger Lakes forbids it. Tonto lets you take an armload of green branches and a few cones with your tree.
From Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Recreation.gov, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests on Recreation.gov and Tonto National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
The trip
How do I cut down my own Christmas tree?
Pick from a crowded stand, clear the snow, cut low with a handsaw, take the whole tree, scatter the branches and tag it before you move it. The full guide, step by step.
From Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026), BLM Klamath Falls news release (Nov 16, 2023, archived) and Pike-San Isabel National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
What saw do I need?
A handsaw is what the forest pages name, and some forests ban chainsaws. What to bring.
From Lolo National Forest and Pike-San Isabel National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
When should I go?
Early in the season, before snow closes the roads. Weekdays are less crowded. Be out before dark, or by 3 p.m. on the Arapaho-Roosevelt.
From BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season) and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, read Nov 11, 2026.
Do I need four-wheel drive?
The Arapaho-Roosevelt requires four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or chains. Most forests say carry chains, a shovel and a tow chain, because their roads aren't plowed.
From Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026) and San Juan National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
What if I can't find the cutting area?
Use the forest's cutting map and its road map (MVUM), carry paper copies, and don't trust GPS on forest roads. Call the district office for current access.
From Lincoln National Forest (updated Oct 30, 2026), Carson National Forest, motor vehicle use maps and San Juan National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I drive off-road to reach a tree?
No. Stay on the open roads and trails the road map shows.
From Eldorado National Forest, San Juan National Forest and Carson National Forest, motor vehicle use maps, read Nov 11, 2026.
Is the Avenza app still good for maps?
Not reliably. Since April 2026 the Forest Service can't update its Avenza maps, and an outdated one is pulled with nothing in its place. Download the current PDF.
From Carson National Forest, motor vehicle use maps, read Nov 11, 2026.
Do I need a Sno-Park permit?
If you park at a Sno-Park in Oregon, Washington or California in season, yes.
From Oregon Sno-Park permits (TripCheck), Washington State Parks Sno-Park permits and California State Parks SNO-Park program, read Nov 11, 2026.
Is it hunting season?
Often, yes. Wear bright colors; on the Monongahela in buck season, blaze orange of at least 400 square inches, or go another day.
From Monongahela National Forest on Recreation.gov, Tonto National Forest and BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season), read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I bring my dog, and the kids?
Pets are "discouraged," and one you bring must be on a leash. The whole family is welcome: keep everyone together, dressed warm and out of the woods by dark.
From White Mountain National Forest on Recreation.gov, Prescott National Forest on Recreation.gov and Tonto National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
Getting it home and keeping it
How do I tie a Christmas tree to my car?
Blanket on the roof, trunk to the front, tied at the bottom, middle and top to fixed tie-down points with strong rope or straps, then tugged hard from every side. Drive slowly.
From AAA, "Safely Transporting a Real Christmas Tree" (Dec 2019), read Nov 11, 2026.
Is it illegal to drive with something strapped to the roof?
Strapped is fine; loose is not. AAA says all 50 states make it illegal for things to fall off a vehicle, with fines as high as $5,000 in some.
From AAA, "Safely Transporting a Real Christmas Tree" (Dec 2019) and Washington RCW 46.61.655, read Nov 11, 2026.
How much should I saw off before it goes in the stand?
A fresh disk off the bottom: about half an inch says the National Christmas Tree Association, about an inch says Illinois Extension, 2 inches says NFPA.
From National Christmas Tree Association, care tips, University of Illinois Extension and NFPA's Christmas tree safety tips (2025), read Nov 11, 2026.
Should you put a real Christmas tree in water?
Yes, right away and every day: about a quart per inch of trunk width, and a fresh tree can drink a gallon a day.
From National Christmas Tree Association, care tips and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Does sugar water help a Christmas tree?
Extension experts say plain water is enough, and one calls additives an "old wives' tale." One forest page suggests sugar water. We'd use plain water.
From University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension, Curtis VanderSchaaf, Mississippi State University, in The Conversation and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
How long will a real Christmas tree last once cut?
About three to five weeks indoors with good watering. A tree you cut yourself starts fresh; a lot tree may have been cut weeks before it reached the lot.
From Iowa State University Extension, Curtis VanderSchaaf, Mississippi State University, in The Conversation and University of Illinois Extension, read Nov 11, 2026.
How do I keep it from being a fire hazard?
Keep it at least 3 feet from any heat source, water it daily, and turn the lights off when you leave or go to bed. A dry tree can burn in about 15 seconds.
From NFPA's Christmas tree safety tips (2025) and Lolo National Forest, read Nov 11, 2026.
What do I do with it after Christmas?
Recycle it through a local program or a state fish-habitat drop-off. Don't burn it indoors, and don't dump it on public land.
From NFPA's Christmas tree safety tips (2025), Kentucky Fish and Wildlife tree recycling, National Park Service, Chattahoochee River NRA (Dec 15, 2006) and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Recreation.gov, read Nov 11, 2026.
Can I burn it in my fireplace?
No. The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Iowa State warn of chimney fires. Two BLM offices suggest using old trees as firewood; we'd keep yours out of the house.
From Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Recreation.gov, Iowa State University Extension, BLM Wyoming's Christmas trees page (2025 season) and BLM Klamath Falls news release (Nov 16, 2023, archived), read Nov 11, 2026.
Written by More Than Just Parks from the agencies' own pages, read Nov 11, 2026. The permit you buy, and the map and rules printed on it, govern. Not a permit, not the agency.