Where to Cut a Christmas Tree in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, October 29, 2019 – Cutting a Christmas tree in a national forest is a family tradition for many residents of Utah. In this article, you will find all the information you need to cut and care for the perfect tree.

Tips

1. How do you care for your newly cut Christmas Tree? USU Forestry Extension Specialist, Dr. Michael Kuhns has some tips.
2. Interested in a free tree? Have a 4th grader? Read on: This year Every Kid Outdoors is offering free holiday trees to all 4th grade students with a voucher or pass. Vouchers can be printed by going to the “Get Your Pass” section and completing the exercise located there. Bring your pass or voucher to one of our offices to receive your permit. Vendors will not issue permits for this program you must visit either Heber, Kamas or Fishlake Forest Service offices to receive a permit. 100 permits will be issued.

Weather conditions in the mountains are unpredictable, so always be prepared for winter weather. Stay on designated roads and trails. Be prepared for slick, snow-packed roads and have chains, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, or a snow machine available. Let someone know where you are planning to go and approximate time you will return. Carry a cell phone; bring additional warm clothing, and gloves, boots, and a container of hot liquid, water, and a lunch or snack. Carry a flashlight, chains, shovel, first-aid kit, matches, a hatchet, ax or handsaw, and rope to secure your tree.

Trees must always be cut close to the ground leaving the stump no higher than 6 inches.

A shovel will come in handy to dig through the snow to reach the base of the tree. Make sure your permit is attached to the tree before leaving the cutting area.

TREE TOPPING IS NOT ALLOWED. No cutting is allowed within 200 feet of riparian areas (lakes and streams), roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, administrative sites, summer home areas, or within designated closed areas shown on tree cutting maps.

Ashley National Forest

Learn more about Ashley National Forest or call (435) 789-1181.

Christmas tree permits will go on sale Friday, November 15th at Forest Service offices and local vendors. Tree permits are $15.00, limit one tree per household.

Flaming Gorge-Vernal Ranger District: (435) 784-3445 - Permits will be available at the Flaming Gorge Ranger District office, intersection of Highway 43 & 44, Manila, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits will also be available at Flaming Gorge Resort, Highway 191, Dutch John, Utah, Sunday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Permits will also be sold at Flaming Gorge Market and Mercantile, (435) 784-3582, 75 East Highway 43 in Flaming Gorge, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

In Vernal, permits may be purchased at the Forest Supervisor’s office, (435) 789-1181, 355 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah, Monday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits are available at the following businesses 7 days a week: Davis Jubilee Store, (435) 789-2001, at the Customer Service Desk, 575 West Main, Vernal, Utah, Monday through Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Liberty Corner, (435) 247-2690, 6982 North 9500 East, Highway 12 in Lapoint, Monday through Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sundays 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Duchesne-Roosevelt Ranger District: (435) 738-2482 - Permits may be purchased at the Duchesne Ranger District office, 85 West Main, Duchesne, Utah, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits may be purchased at the Chevron Eagles Nest (435) 738-2030 at 472 west Highway 40 in Duchesne, and they are open 24-7. Permits may also be purchased at the Hanna Country Store, State Route 35, Hanna, Utah, (435) 848-5752, Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Stewart’s Market at the Customer Service Desk, 245 West Highway 40 in Roosevelt, Utah, Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., closed Sundays, (435) 722-5650, and Davis Jubilee Food & Drug, at the Customer Service Desk, 750 East 2nd North, Roosevelt, Utah, Monday through Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (435) 722-2296.

Dixie National Forest

Learn more about Dixie National Forest or call (435) 865-3700.

Cedar City Ranger District: (435) 865-3200 and (435) 865-3700 - Permits will be available Monday, November 4, 2019 and can be purchased at the Cedar City Ranger District office, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, Utah, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00 for a tree up to 10 feet and $20.00 for a tree 11 feet to 20 feet. The only species of trees that can be cut are sub-alpine fir, white fir, pinyon pine and juniper.

Escalante Ranger District: (435) 826-5400 – Permits will be available November 4th and can be purchased at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center at, 755 West Main, Escalante, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits are also available from vendors in the towns of Antimony, Tropic, Escalante and Boulder. Contact the Escalante Ranger District for vendor locations. Permits are $10.00 for a tree up to 10 feet and $20.00 for a tree 11 feet to 20 feet. All species of trees can be cut, except bristlecone pine.

Powell Ranger District: (435) 676-9300 - Permits will be available November 4th and can be purchased at the Powell Ranger District office, 225 East Center Street, Panguitch, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00 for a tree up to 10 feet and $20.00 for a tree 11 feet to 20 feet. All species of trees can be cut, except bristlecone.

Pine Valley Ranger District: (435) 688-3200 Permits will be available November 4 and can be purchased at the Public Information Center located at 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George Utah 84790, Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Public Information Center can only accept cash or checks for Forest Service permits. Only Pinyon Pine and Juniper tree species maybe cut.

Each permit is valid to cut one tree and must be validated by completely filling in required information on the permit. The permit must then be secured to the tree trunk between the limbs in a place visible during transport of the tree from the forest.

Permits can also be purchased at:

• Hurst Ace Hardware at 165 S Main St, Cedar City
• Cottam’s 66 Station, 79 East Main, Escalante
• Clarke’s Country Market, 141 North Main, Tropic
• Antimony Merc, 10 North Hwy 22, Antimony (starting Nov. 13)
• Hall’s Store, 425 North Hwy 12, Boulder

Fishlake National Forest

Learn more about Fishlake National Forest or call (435) 896-9233. 

Christmas tree permits sell for $10.00 (up to 10 feet) and $20.00 (10-20 feet) each and they must be obtained in person. Mail orders and phone requests will not be accepted. The permits must be securely attached to the harvested tree and remain with that tree during transport. Most species of trees on the National Forest may be cut, except for ponderosa pine. Permits may be bought at any of the Fishlake National Forest offices.

Again this year the Fishlake National Forest will issue a free Christmas tree permit for fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass while supplies last. The Fishlake offers the free tree permit as part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Every Kid Outdoors program. The program is part of an interagency call to action to build the next generation of conservationists. All fourth graders are eligible to receive a fourth grade Every Kid pass that allows free access to 2,000-plus federal land and water sites across the country for one full year. Instructions on how fourth graders can obtain an Every Kid pass or voucher is available at Every Kid Outdoors.

Richfield Ranger District – 115 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah – Beginning Monday November 4, permits may be purchased during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 435-896-9233.

Fremont River Ranger District - 138 South Main, Loa, Utah – Permits may be purchased during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Fish Lake Basin Recreation Area, including Johnson Valley, is closed to tree cutting from the forest boundary on the west to Zedds Meadow on the east. Cutting Ponderosa pine is prohibited except on the Boulder Mountain of the Fremont River Ranger District. For more information, call 435-836-2811.

Fillmore Ranger District – 390 South Main, Fillmore, Utah - Permits will be sold November 1 through December 20 at the office in Fillmore, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Fillmore office will be open four Saturdays: November 23, November 30, December 7, and December 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Purchase limit is one permit per household (additional tags may be purchased for neighbors, family members, etc.). Suggested cutting areas are as follows: Whiskey Creek, John Williams Canyon, Chalk Creek, Cove Fort, Willow Creek, and Wild Goose Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is closed to live tree cutting. For more information, call 435-743-5721.

Beaver Ranger District – 575 South Main, Beaver, Utah - Permits may be purchased during regular office hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Blue Spruce trees may not be cut. Tree cutting is not allowed in the Merchant Valley Summer Home area or along the visible edge of SR-153. For more information, call 435-438-2436.

As a convenience to the public, permits will be available again this year at:

• Beaver Sports and Pawn, 91 North Main, Beaver, Utah, Monday-Saturday from 9a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Fishlake Lumber1627 N Hwy 357, Beaver, Utah, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 m.
• Piute County Sheriff’s Office, 550 N. Main, Junction, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
• Don’s Sinclair, 215 W Main, Salina, Monday-Saturday
• Larsen’s Ace hardware, 1155 S US Hwy 118, Richfield, Monday-Saturday
• Jorgensen’s, 980 S Cove View Road, Richfield, Monday-Saturday

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Learn more about Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Ferron/Price Ranger Districts: (435) 384-2372/(435) 637-2817 and Moab/Monticello Ranger Districts (435-259-7155): Christmas tree permits will be on sale at all offices of the Manti-La Sal National Forest beginning Nov. 18 for $10 each. District offices in Ephraim, Ferron, Moab and Monticello are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sanpete District is closed from 12 to 12:30 p.m. and the Moab-Monticello District is closed from 12 to 1 p.m. The Supervisor’s Office in Price is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Supervisor’s Office will also open Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for permit sales and sell permits at the Spanish Fork District Office Nov. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Permits will not be available by mail or phone order. There is a limit of three permits per person. Purchasers will need to provide a credit card, check or exact change, except at the Sanpete District and Spanish Fork District, which will not accept credit or debit cards. There will be no refunds. Forest Service offices and private vendors will sell permits until Dec. 23 or until they are sold out.

Permits should be purchased at the district where the tree will be cut: Supervisor’s Office/Price District, 599 W. Price River Drive, Price, UT, phone, 435-637-2817; Ferron-Price District Office, 115 West Canyon Road, Ferron, UT, phone, 435-384-2372; Moab District Office, 62 East 100 North, Moab, UT, phone, 435-259-7155; Monticello District Office, 432 East Center Street, Monticello, UT, phone, 435-587-2041; and the Sanpete District Office, 540 N. Main Street, Ephraim, UT, phone, 435-283-4151. Permits purchased from the Manti-La Sal National Forest at the Spanish Fork District (44 West 400 North, Spanish Fork) are for Price District cutting area. In addition, the following private vendors will be selling permits: Choice Hardware & Home Center, 1005 N. Main, Nephi; The Main Street Market, 15 W. Main St., Ferron; Castle Valley Supply, 35 West Canyon Road, Huntington; Moab Information Center, 25 East Center St., Moab; the Blanding Visitor Center, 21 North Grayson Parkway, Blanding; Monticello Visitor Center, 216 South Main Street, Monticello, The cost for permits is the same regardless of where they are purchased.

Customers traveling long distances for permits should call in advance to determine if permits are still available.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests

Learn more about Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest or call (801) 999-2103. 

Heber-Kamas Ranger District: (435) 654-0470 and (435) 783-4338 – Permits for the Heber- Kamas area will be available starting Monday November 4, 2019. Permits are $15.00, one permit per person, one tree only. Permits will be available at the following locations:

• Heber Ranger District office, 2460 South Highway 40, Heber, Utah Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Kamas Ranger District office – 50 East Center Street, Kamas, Utah Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Silver Eagle (Heber) – 1590 South Highway 40 – (435) 654-4642
• Mirror Lake Service Chevron (Kamas) – 2 North main Street – (435) 783-4375

Species of trees that can be cut include, sub-alpine fire, white fire and lodgepole pine. Trees 20 feet tall or shorter, may be cut and removed and may be cut until December 25th. All trees must be tagged prior to transporting them.

Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts: (307) 789-3194 and (307) 782-6555 – Permits for the Evanston area will be available starting Monday, November 18, 2019. Forest Service offices are closed Monday, November 11, for the Veteran’s Day holiday. Permits are $15.00, one permit per household. Permits can be purchased at the Evanston Ranger District office, 1565 Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyoming, Monday – Friday, 800 a.m. to 430 p.m. Permits may also be purchased at the Bear River Lodge, located 30 miles south of Evanston on the Mirror Lake Highway (435) 642-6289 or at the Last Chance Sinclair fuel station located at 49 Aspen Grove Drive E., in Evanston, WY (307) 789-6872. Please call the vendor for their operating hours.

Permits allow up to a 20 foot tree, any species of tree may be cut, but Lodgepole pine is the main species in the area. Snow conditions may require permit holders to use 4-wheel drive, snowmobiles, x-country skis, or snowshoes to access the cutting area. The gates on the Mirror Lake Highway and the North Slope Road are typically closed during the first week of December, limiting access for people without a snow machine. Cutting is not allowed in the Lily Lake Cross Country Ski Area.

Permits may be purchased starting Monday, November 18 2019 at the Mountain View Ranger District Office (307) 782-6555, located at 321 Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyoming, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday only. Permits may also be purchased at Benedict Thriftway Store, 950 North, Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyoming starting Monday, November 18, 2019. Benedicts is open 7 days a week, Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm, (307) 782-3581. They will close at 1:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. The Mountain View office will be closed on Monday, November 11th for Veterans Day. Permits are $15.00 per tree, one permit per household. A permit allows up to a 20 foot tree to be cut. Any species may be cut but lodgepole pine is the main species available.

Access to the Mountain View Ranger District may require 4-wheel drive or the use of snow machines, skis or snowshoes during this time of year. Please follow the district travel plan when cutting a Christmas tree.

Spanish Fork Ranger District: (801) 798-3571 The Spanish Fork Ranger District will begin issuing 300 permits at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 7th at the Spanish Fork Ranger District located at 44 West 400 North, Spanish Fork, Utah. One tree permit per adult (16 years of age and older) will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until tags are sold. Tree-cutting permits are $15.00 and are for designated cutting areas within the Vernon area located in Tooele County on the Spanish Fork Ranger District. Only pinyon pine or juniper trees, 20-feet tall or shorter, may be cut and removed. Trees may be cut until December 24th and all trees must be tagged prior to transporting them.

Download the full document from the USFS