Cut Your Own Christmas Tree in the Mt. Hood National Forest for $5

Clackamas River & Zigzag Ranger Districts Mt. Hood National Forest

Yep, you can go in the foirest and cut your own Christmas tree for 10 bucks. There ARE some rules; like you need a permit, and it is a national forest, so you can't use a chain saw, and you need to take care not to damage the place, but here are the rules:

The Mt. Hood National Forest will begin selling personal use holiday tree cutting permits at our ranger district offices'visitor centers as well as at many other local vendors at the beginning of November. There is now a centralized place online to buy a Christmas tree permit in a national forest in any state that has a forest that allows it; see this page on Recreation.gov.

Tree Permit Details:

• Permits sell for $5.00 each (cash, check, or card)
• There is a limit of five permits per household.
• Your permit allows cutting a holiday tree up to 12 feet tall

When purchasing your permit you will receive an informational sheet with great information on rules of cutting holiday trees from the national forest. .

For additional information you may also visit the Mt. Hood Special Forest Products webpage.

Rules

There must be another tree of similar size free to grow within 8 feet of the one you cut.

Each permit allows you to cut one tree up to 12 feet in height with a stump height no greater than6 inches.

Cutting the top of a standing tree is prohibited.

No cutting or removing trees within:

• Wilderness
• Research Natural Areas
• 100 feet of a trail
• Campgrounds or Administrative sites
• 300 feet of streams or lakes
• Areas posted "No Christmas Tree Cutting"
• East of Little Crater Lake Campground on Road 58, because of Warms Springs Indian Reservation
• Do not remove Pacific Yew trees
• Campgrounds, Administrative sites, or Summer
• Home/Rec. Residence Areas

No cutting along the following roads:

• Highway 26
• Highway 224
• Road 42 (Timothy Lake Road)
• Road 50 (Timberline Road)
• Road 2645 (Westleg Road)
• Road 2618 (Salmon River Road)
• Road 2627, 2627-207

Bough permits

The Mt. Hood National Forest currently offers Free Use Bough Permits (available at no charge) for up to 25 pounds of boughs, and Commercial Bough Permits for larger quantities. Permits for boughs are not available at local vendors. Bough permits are only available at Mt. Hood National Forest district offices. You must have a permit to harvest boughs.

Got a 4th Grade Student?

As a part of the "Every Kid" program, all fourth-graders can receive a holiday tree permit for free this season! They must have their Every Kid pass or voucher with them in order to receive their free holiday tree permit, and they must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. These special holiday tree permits can only be obtained at our official ranger district offices. For more information on the "Every Kid" program, please visit www.everykidinapark.gov .

Holiday Tree Permit vendor locations:

Here's where to get the tree-cutting permit.

(Call for December weekend/holiday hours and information)

• Barlow Ranger District, Dufur Ranger Station, 780 Court Street, Dufur, OR (15 miles south of The Dalles) 541-467-2291
  Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm
• Clackamas River Ranger District, 595 NW Industrial Way, Estacada, OR. 503-630-6861
  Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm (closed from 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch)
• Hood River Ranger District, 6780 HWY 35, Mt. Hood-Parkdale, OR. 541-352-6002
  Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday, December 3 and December 10, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Zigzag Ranger District, 70220 E. HWY 26, Zigzag, OR. 503-622-3191
  Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm (closed from 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch)
• Tygh Valley General Store, TV Road, Tygh Valley, OR. 541-483-2324
  Open Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Kramers Market, Main Street, Dufur, OR. 541-467-2455
  Open Monday through Saturday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Estacada Tackle Shop, 210 SE Hwy 224, Estacada, OR. 503-630-7424
  Monday through Saturday, 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Sportsman's Warehouse: 9401 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR. 503-777-8700
  Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm
• Sportsman's Warehouse: 18645 NW Tanasbourne Dr, Hillsboro, OR. 503-844-9100
  Open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6 pm
• Mt. Hood Village Market: 73265 East Highway 26, Rhododendron, OR 97049. 503-622-4652
  Open Daily: 5:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Tum-A-Lum Lumber, 408 Hwy 35, Hood River, OR. 541-386-1001
  Open Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,
  Sunday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• ACE Heritage Hardware, 39181 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR. 503-668-8731
  Open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Hoodland Thriftway, 68280 East Highway 26, Welches, OR. 503-622-3244
  Open Daily: 7:00 am to 11:00 pm

Other recommendations:

Winter weather in the forest can change rapidly. Forest Service roads are not maintained for winter travel. Please carry traction devices and be advised of winter road closures and snow park permit requirements. The Forest Service recommends you start early in the day and be out of the forest before dark. Keep your family and your own safety in mind as you head out to look for a holiday tree. Dress warmly and carry a forest map, snacks, and water. Do not rely solely on your GPS as some information may not be accurate or up-to-date. Also make sure friends or family know where you are going and when you plan to return. Plus, don't forget a tool to cut your tree and rope or cord to secure it to your vehicle.

• Dress warmly for winter weather
• Have a full tank of gas
• Bring food, extra water, a shovel, a blanket, a first-aid kit and a warm drink
• Leave pets at home or have them on a leash at all times
• Take a rope and tarp to pack your tree home

Forest health is important, by removing these smaller trees you are contributing to the overall well being of the forest and reducing fire danger.

Warning:

Persons cutting or removing trees from the National Forest without a valid permit are subject to a fine of up to $5000 and/or 6 months imprisonment!

Free Boughs

Free Holiday Boughs are also available with a permit form your local Ranger Sation. If you would like more than 25 pounds of boughs a permit is available for purchase at your local District Ranger office. Personal use bough harvest must adhere to the following restictions

• 25 pounds of personal use boughs may be harvested and transported per vehicle.
• Boughs may only be harvested from the lower half of the tree.
• Only the outter half of each bough may be harvested.
• Felling trees is prohibited.
• Harvesting Cedar boughs is Prohibited.
• Boughs may not from trees 10 feet tall or less.
• Personal use boughs may not be resold.
• Boughs may only be harvested from areas open to Christmas tree cutting.
  

More information:

Please call our District Office at 719-636-1602 for more info.

• Holiday Tree Information for the Mt. Hood Ranger District
• Holiday Tree Permit- Vendor Flyer for Easy Printing
• Westside Christmas Tree Info Sheet
• Clackamas River Christmas Tree Map
• Zigzag Christmas Tree Map
• Eastside Christmas Tree Info Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions

For Easter egg Hunts, Children's Consignment Sales, Local Farm Markets and other types of Farms, click here.