Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree in Washington's National Forests

We live in a state covered with green forests and beautiful woods, so why not make this holiday season one to remember by cutting down your very own tree?

The National Forest Service offers plenty of help when it comes to safely and ethically cutting down your own tree. Their permit system and handy maps make it easy to understand where you can and can’t go, what kind of tree you can get, how to cut it down and, of course, how many you can take per year.

Here’s a brief overview of the Christmas tree permit systems for the national forests around our luxury Seattle apartments, so make a trip up to the woods this holiday season and make some memories you’ll never forget!

Christmas tree permits for Washington State

Olympic National Forest

Christmas tree permit cost: $5 (buy them here)

There are several places around the Olympic Peninsula where you can go searching for your own Christmas tree, though it’s up to you to make sure you’re on Forest Service land and not private land. Thank goodness for maps, right?

The Christmas tree permits for the Olympic National Forest area mirror those of other forests in Washington:

• Each permit costs $5 and is good for one tree.
• Each household is allowed a maximum of 5 tree permits per year. 

There are four cutting areas on the peninsula where you can go to cut your tree: Forks, Hoodsport, Quilcene and Quinault. There’s also a special management area within the Quinault ranger district that requires a more in-depth permit, though you can get it easily at the Quinault Ranger Station. 

So as long as you pay for the permits, follow the rules outlined below and stay within the boundaries outlined on the maps linked above, you’re good to go!

Rules and regulations:

• Trees may be cut from along roads, from forest plantations and in the understory of older stands.
• Cut trees only if there is a standing tree within 10 feet to prevent bald patches in the forest.
• Do not cut trees within 100 feet of campgrounds or trailheads.
• Any evergreen is available for cutting except Western White Pine
• The maximum tree height to take is 15 feet. 
• Cut down the entire tree, not just the top of it.
• If you plan to haul more than five trees at a time, you must carry a hauling permit. 

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Christmas tree permit cost: $5 (buy them here)

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is also open to those looking to cut their own Christmas tree, though you’ll have to brush up on the stricter rules and regulations in place for this particular first. Most of them will be similar to other forests’ rules, but with a few extra additions. 

Rules and regulations:

• Do not cut trees in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument or in wilderness areas.
• Do not cut trees within campgrounds, experimental forests, administrative sites or other designated areas.
• Do not cut in active timber areas or new planting areas.
• Do not cut trees within 300 feet of a stream or river. 
• You must carry a Sno-Park permit to park at Sno-Park areas.
• You must carry a valid recreation pass to enter designated areas.
• Your tree must be less than 12 feet tall.
• Cut the tree between 6 and 12 inches from the ground and remove live branches from the stump.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Christmas tree permit cost: $10 (buy them here)

Though you’ll have to carry a printed permit with you, the good news is that you can choose to purchase your permit either from a vendor, a ranger station or online at home!

There are several areas within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest where you can cut down your tree, all of which fall within the eastern portions of Pierce, King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Here are the maps for each of them:

• Darrington
• Mount Baker - North
• Mount Baker - South
• Skykomish
• Snoqualmie - North
• Snoqualmie - South

The only big difference in this forest area is that the tree permits cost $10 each, rather than the $5 it typically costs in other areas. 

Rules and regulations:

• Do not cut within sight of a campground, picnic area, administrative site or trailhead. 
• Do not cut in active timber sales areas or areas with new plantings. 
• Do not cut within 150 feet of water, including streams, wetlands, ponds and rivers. 
• The maximum height for a cut tree is 15 feet. 

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Christmas tree permit cost: $5 (buy them here)

There are plenty of great spots to find and cut your own tree here in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest! There are also plenty of places where you can’t, so be sure to plan your trip first and be aware of the areas where cutting is prohibited. You can find all that information here on their website. 

Otherwise, the process to get a permit is pretty straightforward. You can purchase one online, from a Forest Office or from a participating vendor. Use the maps below to understand where you can legally cut down your tree!

• Wenatchee Area Map
• Lake Chelan Area Map
• Entiat Valley Area Map
• Leavenworth Area Map
• Cle Elum Lake Area Map
• Taneum Junction/Cle Elum Area Map
• Mineral Springs/Cle Elum Area Map
• Keechelus Lake Area Map

Rules and regulations:

• Do not cut within 150 feet of water, including streams, wetlands, ponds and rivers. 
• The maximum height for a cut tree is 15 feet. 
• Leave a stump 6 inches above the ground. 
• Two trees are allowed per household per year. 

Tips for cutting your own Christmas tree in a national forest

• Plan ahead. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for what you can anticipate (and for what you can’t!). Bring plenty of water and snacks as well as a first-aid kit and a flashlight, just in case you end up staying out longer than you planned.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Even on popular trails and routes, it’s easy to lose cell service and go unnoticed by other people out and about. 
• Be aware of your surroundings! It’s winter, which means it gets icy and slippery very quickly, so be careful not to trip over roots or slip on rocks. Be mindful of other people in the area, and keep your distance from wildlife.
• Use the right tools. Bring a saw, an ax and a measuring tape. Make sure your saw is sharp and that the ax is in good condition. Bring rope to secure your tree to your vehicle.
• Cut the tree carefully —  No one wants to lose a finger for a tree. Cut the tree at the base of the trunk at a 45-degree angle (so that it falls in the direction you want it to). Be careful not to damage other trees or vegetation.
• Leave a stump at least 6 inches tall. This will help the tree to regrow!
• Dispose of the tree properly. If you are not taking the tree home with you, dispose of it properly in a designated area — you can call your local forest service ranger to give you exact locations!

For more information on how to select and cut your tree, check out the Forest Service’s guide on safe and legal tree cutting in their national forests!

Have fun!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/OleksandrPidvalnyi