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A Holiday Tradition: Finding Your Christmas Tree in the Woods

Multiple Options available for purchasing permits!
Oregon-Washington
Medford DO
Media Contact

Southwest Ore – For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut a Christmas tree is an annual holiday tradition! The process of obtaining permits differs a bit by agency, but families are able to cut Christmas trees on Forest Service or BLM lands using a permit from either agency.

There are a number of options by which the public can obtain permits:

  • In person at Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management offices (with the exception of the Wild Rivers District Office in Cave Junction). We recommend you call the specific office where you plan to purchase a permit ahead of visiting to ensure the office is open as we head into the winter season: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/rogue-siskiyou/about-forest/offices. All offices will start selling permits on November 14 to coincide with the rec.gov online permit availability.
  • BLM issued holiday tree permits are available for purchase online starting November 12 at https://forestproducts.blm.gov/customer/permitselect/OR.
  • Forest Service issued Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online through recreation.gov starting November 14. To purchase a permit, visit Recreation.gov and search for Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Christmas Tree Permits. It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or login to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction. Christmas tree permits are $5.00 per tree with a $2.50 processing fee added on (per order, not per tag).
  • Many local businesses across southwest Oregon are selling Christmas tree permits. The current vendor list is available on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1215526.pdf. Please call the vendor to ensure passes are available.
  • Per the Every Kid Outdoors initiative 4th Graders are entitled to one FREE Christmas tree permit with a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass: https://everykidoutdoors.gov.

Each permit allows the cutting of one personal-use Christmas tree, and a permit is required for each individual tree visitors wish to take home.

Permits for Christmas trees are $5.00 per tree, and are non-refundable. There is a limit of five tree permits per household, and the permits may be used only on those lands open to Christmas tree harvesting that are administered by the RRSNF and the Bureau of Land Management Medford District. Free printable maps that identify these areas are provided at the time of permit purchase on recreation.gov, as well as for home printing on the RRSNF website. Those wishing to use digital maps and navigation systems can download the free maps to use on the mapping app Avenza. Maps will also be available on a limited basis in front of offices.

More information, including tree-hunting tips, guidelines for where people may cut their trees, and safety tips, can be found on the RRSNF website indicated above.

Happy tree hunting from the RRSNF and the Bureau of Land Management Medford District!

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.