Flathead National Forest: Firewood Permits (2026)
Price posted
How to get a personal-use firewood permit on the Flathead National Forest in Montana: what it costs, how much you can cut, when, and the key rules.
Quick facts
- Price: Free for personal use.
- How much: Not stated on the current page.
- Season: Free permits are available year-round and are valid until December 31 of the year issued.
How much does it cost?
- Free for personal use.
How much wood can I cut?
- Not stated on the current page.
When can I cut?
- Free permits are available year-round and are valid until December 31 of the year issued.
How do I get a permit?
What's E-Permits? It's the Forest Service's own online permit website. You pick your forest, pay (or get a free permit), and print it. Most forests say a printed copy is required.
- Get a free permit online through E-Permits, or contact your local ranger district office.
Rules to know
- Gathering any product to sell counts as commercial harvesting and needs a different permit.
- Use the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for open roads.
- The forest links a Firewood Brochure with detailed cutting rules.
Before you go
- Check fire restrictions the day you cut. Chainsaw use is often limited or banned in hot, dry weather.
- Cut only on National Forest land in open areas, never on private, state, tribal or BLM land.
- Stay on open roads. Use the forest's Motor Vehicle Use Map.
- Keep firewood local. Moving it can spread insects and diseases that kill trees.
What to bring:
- Your permit and load tickets or tags (printed, if bought online)
- A chainsaw with a working spark arrester, or a hand saw or ax
- A shovel and a fire extinguisher (many forests require them)
- Gloves, eye and ear protection, and sturdy boots
- A truck or trailer that can carry the weight (a full cord can weigh thousands of pounds)
Cutting a Christmas tree? See the Flathead Christmas tree permit page.
Sources
More firewood in Montana: Kootenai · Lolo · All forests · Montana state page
Independent site. Forest Permit Finder is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Permit rules change; always check the official page before you go. Information last verified Oct 2026.