Lassen National Forest Christmas Tree Permit
This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within designated areas of the Lassen National Forest. Three Ranger Districts are open for you to get your Christmas Tree: The Almanor Ranger District, the Eagle Lake Ranger District, and the Hat Creek Ranger District.
Lifelong memories are built during these special times and we are happy to help with any information gathering you'll need to make this trip a safe and enjoyable one.
Please be sure to read and follow all the tips and guidelines when selecting your tree. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure they are in an area where Christmas tree harvesting is allowed for their specific permit. Maps for the permit areas are available to download or print from recreation.gov or the Lassen National Forest Homepage https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lassen , as well as can be picked up at any local District office.
Need to Know
Selecting Your Tree
Large trees (over 25 feet) are not to be cut and topped for a Christmas Tree.
Trees less than 6 inches diameter (measured at ground level) may be cut.
Stump heights should be less than 12 inches tall and there should be no live branches remaining on the stump.
Take the whole tree. Do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree
If snow is on the ground, remove it from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.
Where to Cut Your Tree
Your permit allows you to cut Christmas trees on the Lassen National Forest. Lassen National Forest Permits ARE NOT VALID on another National Forest.
Please post your permit on your dash.
Permit holder must be present during cutting and transport of the tree, and you must write on your permit the month and day you are cutting your tree.
Make sure you cut your tree on public lands by checking a Lassen National Forest Visitor Map and follow road restrictions on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. The Christmas tree cutting map is required with the permit and should be accessible from your mobile device or in your possession when cutting your Christmas tree.
Do not cut on private land, in wilderness areas, designated recreation sites, previously thinned areas, or existing tree plantations.
Do not cut in active timber sales or areas that have been planted with new trees.
Do not cut trees visible from major roads, within 150-feet of streams and creeks, or in other well-used areas.
It is important to plan your trip ahead of time to ensure the area you plan to cut your tree has not been impacted by recent fires. Visitors should be alert when entering burned areas and watch out for hazard trees, down trees along roads, and falling rocks and debris.
Planning Your Trip
Helpful Cutting Tips
Carefully carry your tree out of the woods, dragging the tree will rub off needles and bark.
If the tree is too big to transport inside of your vehicle, and must be transported outside the vehicle, wrap it in canvas to prevent wind damage.
If the tree is too big to transport inside of your vehicle, and must be transported outside the vehicle, wrap it in canvas to prevent wind damage.
If storing your tree outside for a few days before putting it in the house, keep it in an area protected from the wind, such as the north or east side of your house or under a shaded tree.
Tools you might want to consider bringing with you include a measuring tape, to ensure you select a tree that fits in your home, a handsaw to cut your tree, gloves to protect your hands, boots to protect your feet, a tarp to sit on and/or to move your tree once it's cut, and rope, or straps, to secure your tree to your vehicle.
Choose a tree from a dense forested area this will give the remaining trees more space to grow.
Cut the leftover branches from the stump and scatter them.
How to Plan Your Trip
You must print and bring your Christmas Tree Permit, including your Christmas Tree Harvest Map, with you. Bring a map with you. Don’t rely on GPS because it may not be up-to-date with Forest Service roads.
For printing a zoomed in area of the cutting map: Download the cutting map from the 'maps link' on Recreation.gov to your computer or device; use the scroll bars that frame the bottom and right side of the map to move ‘up and down’ or ‘right to left’ to the area you want to visit; hover your cursor over the map until you see the black Adobe toolbar; using the + feature on the Adobe toolbar, zoom in until you see your cutting area at a much larger scale; then right click and select the ‘select tool’ from the drop-down box; then draw a box around the zoomed in area you plan to visit; then right click the area you selected and select ‘save image’ from the drop-down box; save the image to your computer or device, *lastly, print the image at a larger scale.
Roads may not be plowed. Carry tire chains, shovel(s) and a tow chain. Be sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas. Bring a spare key and give it to someone else in your party. Don’t get locked out of your car! Park in areas so that traffic can get by safely, and do not block gates.
Cell service may be spotty or unavailable. Be sure someone knows where you are and when to expect you back. Check the latest weather conditions, forest warnings and road closures before you leave on your trip.
Before you leave home be sure to measure the space where you plan to place the tree in your home (height and width), and measure the space in your vehicle where you will be transporting the tree.
Dress warmly and take extra dry clothes. Expect winter weather, including cold temperatures, snow and winds. Bring plenty of food and water with you as well as an overnight survival kit in case you become stranded.
Start your day early. Be sure to find your tree and leave the woods before dark.
