$5 Christmas tree permits for Oregon’s national forests on sale now

The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on.

For those looking to bring home a real tree at an unbeatable price, $5 permits are now available for all Oregon national forests.

Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov. On the website, just search for the name of the national forest, like Willamette National Forest, and “Christmas tree permit.”

Permits are $5 each (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website). Each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits.

Some local businesses and some but not all U.S. Forest Service offices will also sell the permits in person.

Where should you go to get a Christmas from a national forest in Oregon?

The closest national forests depend on your location. For Salem or Eugene, you could head east to Willamette National Forest or west to Siuslaw National Forest. If you’re coming from Portland, the closest option is probably Mount Hood National Forest.

There are Christmas tree hunting maps open to download when you get a permit on Recreation.gov.

Things to know during your Christmas tree hunt

Here are some things to remember for a successful Christmas tree hunt.

Remember the rules: Each national forest has specific guidelines on which trees can be cut down and taken, so be sure to check out the forest’s rules online before cutting your tree.

In general:

• Do not cut on private land, wilderness areas, research natural areas, scenic areas, or areas with rare, threatened or endangered plants.
• Do not cut trees within 300 feet of campgrounds or administrative sites. 
• Do not cut trees within 50 feet of trails and paved roads. 
• Do not cut trees within 200 feet of highways.
• Do not cut trees within 100 feet of streams or lakes.

Know the size of the tree you can cut: Each forest has limitations on the size of the tree you can cut and the species of trees that are permitted.

In general:

• Tree height: 15 feet maximum
• Stump height: 6 inches maximum
• Take the whole tree. Do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree
• If snow is on the ground, remove it from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.
• Do not cut the following tree species: whitebark pine, Pacific yew, western white pine.

Prepare for the weather: Be sure to dress appropriately as you’ll be hunting in the forest. Snow and ice conditions can also make traveling on the forest roads very dangerous. Make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle road conditions.

Know what tree you want: Noble, Pacific silver, Douglas and grand firs are typically the varieties you’re allowed to harvest and are best for a tree, so you want to be able to identify the trees. Many of the most sought-after firs only grow above 3,500 feet in Oregon.

Sno-park permits: If you’re headed to the higher mountains and snow, you’ll need a permit if you park at a sno-park, which are plowed and feature marked routes out into the forest.

When you get home

After you find your perfect tree, keep your tree fresh and safe with these reminders.

Cut and water your tree: Once you get your tree home, cut half an inch off the stump to help with water uptake, and make sure to water your tree daily. Well-watered trees keep their scent longer.

Get the right tree stand: Use a sturdy tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water. Make sure you refill the container daily, as an average tree may consume 1 to 4 quarts of water daily.

Place your tree away from heat sources: Do not place your Christmas tree within 3 feet of any heat source, like a radiator. Live tree fires outnumber artificial tree fires by 3-1.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social