Families hoping to bring home a freshly cut Christmas tree can start planning now. Christmas tree permits for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest go on sale online Tuesday, Oct. 20, giving people a chance to choose a tree while helping improve forest health.
Permits are available through Recreation.gov. Buyers should check the rules for their chosen cutting area before purchasing a permit.
To get started, visit Recreation.gov and search for Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Christmas tree permits. Buyers must read the overview and permit requirements, select the correct district where they plan to cut a tree, and create or sign in to a Recreation.gov account to complete the purchase.
Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass can qualify for a free Christmas tree permit by entering their pass or voucher number during checkout. A $2.50 reservation fee still applies.
Cutting a tree can also benefit the forest beyond the holiday season. The permit program helps thin crowded stands of small trees, which forest health experts identify as areas that can benefit from thinning.
Removing selected trees in designated areas gives the remaining trees more room to grow and can open up space for wildlife forage.
Visitors can find more information through the Recreation.gov Christmas tree permit page, which includes a map, and the site's help center article, “How Do I Purchase and Print a Christmas Tree Permit?” Additional resources include the Forest Service article “Cut a Tree for the Holidays from Your National Forest,” the Every Kid Outdoors fourth-grade pass program, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Christmas tree permit page.
