Permits to cut Christmas Trees are now available online

The holiday season is a great time to honor long-standing traditions and maybe even start a new one like cutting your own Christmas tree. All you will need to cut your own tree is a small saw, some rope to safely secure it for transport and - of course - a permit.  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has simplified the process of purchasing a Christmas Tree permit by making them available on Recreation.gov.  Simply visit Recreation.gov, search for your favorite national forest, and purchase the permit online. Individual forests will provide cutting area maps, details about the types of trees that can be cut and other important details. 

Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit and can apply by entering the pass or voucher number at the time of purchase.

“We have heard concerns that cutting too many trees during the holiday season will have a negative impact on the region’s forests, but the opposite is true,” said Troy Heithecker, Regional Forester. “Cutting Christmas trees improves forest health and reduces wildfire risk. The permit system is designed to thin carefully chosen, densely populated, tree stands that will benefit from having some trees removed. Cutting trees from designated areas will allow the remaining trees to grow larger while creating open areas that provide food for wildlife,” he added.