As we move into the holiday season, many families are looking forward to getting outdoors to find the perfect Christmas tree on their local public lands. Permits to harvest Christmas trees on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are now available to purchase at forest offices or online at Recreation.gov.
With a National Forest Christmas Tree permit, customers are permitted to harvest up to three trees at the cost of $5 per tree. To purchase a permit in-person, please visit your local ranger station office. Location, contact information, and hours of operation for Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests offices are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nezperceclearwater/about-forest/offices.
To purchase a permit online, log in to or create an account at www.Recreation.gov. Then, visit https://bit.ly/NPCChristmasTrees or search for “Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Christmas Trees” on the Recreation.gov website. In addition to the cost of the permit, a small processing fee will be collected to cover the online transaction.
Fourth grade students are eligible to receive a FREE Christmas tree permit if they have an Every Kid Outdoors pass. Every Kid Outdoors is a program that gets fourth grade students and their families free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year. To learn more about the program and get the Every Kid Outdoors pass, visit https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.
No special areas on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are designated for Christmas tree cutting. Please cut your tree at least 200 feet from well–traveled roads, flowing water, campgrounds, and recreation sites, and do not harvest within designated Wilderness areas or Wild and Scenic River corridors. Select your tree from thickets and overstocked areas and choose a tree that is the right size for your needs. Be aware of winter driving conditions while searching for your tree; pack tire chains, a first aid kid, and other emergency equipment. Dress in layers and bring plenty of food and water for the whole family.
Besides the joy it brings to families across the nation, harvesting a Christmas tree from a National Forest also improves forest health. The permit system helps to thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Removing these trees helps other trees grow larger and can open areas that provide forage for wildlife.
More information about harvesting a Christmas tree on the National Forest be found online at https://bit.ly/NPCChristmasTrees. If you have questions, please contact your local Forest Service office. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.