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SALT LAKE CITY — With Halloween come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about the Christmas season.
You can cut your own Christmas tree on U.S. Forest Service land across the state of Utah. Permits are $10-20 and will be available at various Forest Service ranger district offices in the next few weeks.
Forest Service officials recommend preparing extensively for safety before heading out into the forest to cut a tree, according to a press release from Forest Service Spokeswoman Kathy Jo Pollock. You should plan to have a four-wheel drive vehicle, tire chains or a snow machine available to be equipped for unpredictable weather conditions in the mountains. Plan to bring extra safety supplies and extra warm clothing.
Anyone wanting to cut their own tree should cut it close to the ground and leave a stump no higher than 6 inches. Make sure your permit is attached to the tree before taking it out of the area.
Tree cutting is not allowed within 200 feet of lakes and streams, roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, Forest Service administrative sites, summer home areas or other closed areas.
Here’s a list of where in Utah you can get your tree for the season:
Ashley National Forest
Flaming Gorge-Vernal Ranger District
Permits go on sale Nov. 15 and are $15 per tree with a limit of one tree per household.
They will be available in this district at the Flaming Gorge Ranger District Office in Manila, the Flaming Gorge Resort in Dutch John, the Flaming Gorge Market in Manila, and the Davis Jubilee Store in Vernal.
More information is available by calling the ranger district at 435-784-3445.
Duchesne-Roosevelt Ranger District
Permits go on sale Nov. 15 and are $15 per tree, with a one-tree-per-household limit. They will be available at the Duchesne Ranger District office in Duchesne, Eagles Nest in Duchesne, Hanna Country Store in Hanna, Stewart’s Market in Roosevelt and the Davis Food and Drug in Roosevelt.
More information is available by calling the ranger district at 435-738-2482.
Dixie National Forest
Cedar City Ranger District
Permits go on sale on Nov. 6 and are $10, with a limit of one tree per household. Permits for trees that are 11-20 feet tall are $20. The species of trees that can be cut are sub-alpine fir, white fir, pinyon pine and juniper.
Permits are available at the Cedar City Ranger District office and at the Hurst Ace Hardware store in Cedar City.
For more information, call the ranger district at 435-865-3200 or 435-865-3700.
Escalante Ranger District
Permits are on sale now and are $10, with a limit of one tree per household. All species of trees can be cut, except bristlecone pine.
They are available at the Escalante Ranger District office in Escalante and at Antimony Merc in Antimony.
For more information, call the ranger district at 435-826-5400.
Powell Ranger District
Permits are on sale now and are $10, with a limit of one tree per household. Permits for trees that are 11-20 feet tall are $20.
All species of tree can be cut, except bristlecone pine.
They are available at the Powell Ranger District office in Panguitch. For more information, call the ranger district at 435-676-9300.
St. George Public Lands Information Center
Permits go on sale Nov. 13 and are $10. People can purchase up to five permits. Pinyon pines and junipers are the only types of trees that can be cut.
Permits are available at the St. George Visitor Center and at the Veyo Mercantile.
Fishlake National Forest
Permits are $10 and must be purchased in person. Most species of trees can be cut, except for ponderosa pine.
Richfield Ranger District
Permits go on sale Nov. 6 and will be available at the Richfield Ranger District office. Call the office at 435-896-9233 for more information.
Fremont River Ranger District
Permits are available at the Fremont River Ranger District office in Loa. The Fishlake Basin Recreation Area will be closed to tree cutting. Ponderosa pines may not be cut except on Boulder Mountain.
Call the office at 435-836-2811 for more information.
Fillmore Ranger District
Permits are available Nov. 1 at the ranger district office in Fillmore. They will be sold until Dec. 22. Call the office at 435-743-5721 for more information.
Beaver Ranger District
Permits are available at the ranger district office in Beaver. Tree cutting is not allowed in the Merchant Valley Summer Home area or along state Route 153.
Permits are also available at Beaver Sports and Pawn, Fishlake Lumber, Piute County Sheriff’s Office, Don’s Sinclair in Salina, Larsen’s Ace Hardware in Richfield and Jorgensen’s store in Richfield.
Call the office at 435-438-2436 for more information.
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Heber-Kamas Ranger District
Permits will only be sold on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, at Soldier Hollow Lodge in Midway. Only 1,000 permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 6 a.m. on both days.
Trees can be cut until Dec. 25. Only subalpine fir trees that are 20 feet or shorter may be cut.
Evanston (Wyoming) Ranger District
Permits will be available starting Nov. 9 at the Evanston Ranger District office, the Bear River Lodge and the Last Chance Sinclair station in Evanston. They are $10 with a limit of one per household.
Any species of tree up to 20 feet tall may be cut. Cutting is not allowed in the Lily Lake Cross Country Ski Area. Be prepared for heavy snow in this district.
For more information, call the district office at 307-789-3194.
Mountain View (Wyoming) Ranger District
Permits are available starting Nov. 9 at the Mountain View Ranger District office or starting Nov. 20 at the Benedict Thriftway Store in Mountain View. Permits are $10 with a limit of one per household.
Any species of tree up to 20 feet tall may be cut.
For more information, call the district office at 307-782-6555.
Spanish Fork Ranger District
Permits are $10 and are available starting Nov. 7 at the Spanish Fork Ranger District office. Only 500 permits will be given on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8 a.m. at the district office.
Only pinyon pine or juniper trees up to 20 feet tall may be cut.
For more information, call the district office at 801-798-3571.
