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Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: Cut Your Own Christmas Tree (2026)

Has 2026 info 2026 dates and price from the forest's Recreation.gov listing (2026 season record added Oct 28, 2026). Rules from the Forest Service page (updated Apr 30, 2026).

How your family can cut a Christmas tree on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, 2026 season. Every fact below comes from the forest's official pages, linked at the bottom.

Where can I cut?

• Not in Wilderness, closed areas, active timber sales, plantations, within 150 ft of water, or within 200 ft of listed highways and roads (Naches, Entiat, Cle Elum, Methow Valley).

When can I buy a permit?

• Online sales open Nov 12, 2026 (Recreation.gov).
• Cutting season: Nov 12 – Dec 31, 2026 (permit season listed on Recreation.gov).

How much?

• $5 per tree
• Extra fees: Vendors add a $2 administrative processing fee.

How do I buy it?

What's an online permit? It's a permit you buy on Recreation.gov, the U.S. government's official booking website. You pay there, then follow the instructions that come with your permit.

• Recreation.gov (print it), participating vendors, or Cle Elum, Methow Valley, Naches and Wenatchee River RD offices.
• Non-refundable.

Rules to know

• How many: 2 permits per family
• Max 15 ft.
• Stump no more than 6 in..
• May be cut or dug up as a transplant.
• Cle Elum RD: no deciduous trees, western larch, western white pine, cedar or hemlock.
• Recreation.gov lists two wildfire area closures: the Three Queens Fire closure (Cle Elum Ranger District) and the Little Giant Fire closure (Chelan-Entiat and Wenatchee River Ranger Districts). Check the forest's alerts before you go.

Before you go

• Check this forest's official page and alerts the week you go. Rules, roads and closures can change.
• Cut only on National Forest land, never on private, state or tribal land.
• Forest roads are often unplowed. Check the weather and road conditions.
• Follow your permit's instructions for carrying, tagging or displaying it.

What to bring:

• Your permit (printed, if your forest asks you to print it)
• A hatchet, ax or saw (check your forest: some ban chainsaws)
• Warm gloves, boots and extra warm clothing
• Rope to tie your tree down
• A flashlight, first aid kit and tire chains
• Water, a hot drink, lunch or snacks (it always takes longer than expected)

Packing list based on the Forest Service's Christmas tree safety tips for the Chippewa National Forest. Before you leave, tell someone where you plan to cut.

Need firewood too? See the Okanogan-Wenatchee firewood permit page.

Sources

• Forest Service: Forest Product Permits (Okanogan-Wenatchee) (page updated: Apr 30, 2026)
• Recreation.gov: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Christmas Tree Permit (page updated: 2026 season record added Oct 28, 2026 (checked Oct 29, 2026))

Data Source: Recreation.gov

Last verified: Oct 2026 (2026-10-29).

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