Permits
Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires or portable gas stoves outside a designated recreation sites. These are free and are available at all Forest Service, BLM, or CAL FIRE offices, or online. Check for fire restrictions before you go.
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is home to five different wilderness areas. Two of these require wilderness permits and all of them require a California Campfire Permit for use of stoves. Campfires are only allowed in some areas and campfire restrictions may be in place during summer/fall months in all areas.
Please check for current Fire Restrictions before you go!
Wilderness travel is limited to foot or horseback - NO drones, gliders, bicycles, motorized vehicles, or mechanized equipment of any kind are allowed within the wilderness areas. Wheelchairs are allowed.
Keeping Wilderness Areas in their wild state is something we all can do by practicing Leave No Trace Ethics.
The Mt. Shasta Wilderness
The Mt. Shasta Wilderness is found at various elevations around Mt Shasta. Due to the high elevation and alpine environment of this wilderness area, special restrictions and regulations apply. A California Campfire permit is required for any open flame or the use of a pressurized cook stove. Day users and overnight campers need to call the Mt Shasta Ranger Station at (530) 926-4511 for current conditions, climbing information, as well as various wilderness regulations.
The Castle Crags Wilderness
The Castle Crags Wilderness is found west of I-5 near Castella. No wilderness permit is needed to visit the Castle Crags Wilderness, however a California Campfire permit is required for any open flame or the use of a pressurized cook stove. For more information regarding the Castle Crags Wilderness, please call the Mt Shasta Ranger Station, at (530) 926-4511.
- Learn more about the Castle Crags Wilderness
- Recreation Opportunity Guide on the Castle Crags Wilderness
The Trinity Alps Wilderness
The Trinity Alps Wilderness is the largest wilderness area on the Shasta-Trinity. A Wilderness Permit is required to stay overnight in this wilderness. Permits are available at both the Weaverville and Shasta Lake Ranger Stations. For more information regarding the Trinity Alps Wilderness, please follow the link below or call the Weaverville Ranger Station at (530) 623-2121.
- Learn more about the Trinity Alps Wilderness
- Recreation Opportunity Guide on the Volunteer Wilderness Ranger
The Chanchelulla Wilderness
The Chanchelulla Wilderness is the smallest wilderness area on the forest and is located north of the town of Platina, CA. No wilderness permit is needed to visit this wilderness area, however a California Campfire permit is required for any open flame or the use of a pressurized cook stove. For more information regarding the Chanchelulla Wilderness, please call the Hayfork Ranger Station 530-628-5227.
The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness area is located south of the town of Platina and is managed by both the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Mendocino National Forest. No wilderness permit is needed to visit this wilderness area, however a California Campfire permit is required for any open flame or the use of a pressurized cook stove. For more information regarding the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, please call the Hayfork Ranger Station 530-628-5227.
For many families, the search for and selection of their own Christmas tree in the forest is a wonderful experience, part of their holiday tradition. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is happy to provide the opportunity for families to enjoy the forest and fulfill this tradition each year.
Permit Information
- On sale beginning November 1st and are valid through December 31st
- A permit costs $10.00
- Each household may cut only one tree per permit.
- Permit does not authorize cutting on private land
- please be respectful of private property that is within the National Forest boundary
- Follow the permit maps and be sure you are in the National Forest. Maps are part of the permit and are required to be in your possession when searching for and bringing home your tree.
- Christmas trees gathered under the Shasta-Trinity National Forest permits must be cut on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
- If you are looking to cut a tree in the Lassen National Forest, please visit the Lassen National Forest site for information about purchasing a permit.
- Please note! Some areas of the forest are not open, please be aware of the current closure areas before you plan your trip to the forest. Closure order can be found on the Forest Alerts page.
Options for Purchasing a Christmas Tree Permit
Online at Recreation.gov
- A service fee of $2.50 will be charged in addition to the permit fee.
- It is important to carefully read the overview and the need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will need to set up or log in to a Recreation.gov account to complete the secure credit card transaction.
Fourth-grade students
- are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit through the Every Kid Outdoors program.
- Online: through Recreation.gov, fourth graders and their families can get a permit. There is a $2.50 service fee.
- In person: Please email SM.FS.S-T_PIO@usda.gov for more information. There is no service fee at Forest Service offices.
At retail locations
- Mt. Shasta: The Fifth Season, Ramshaw’s Ace Hardware, Solano’s Do It Best Hardware
- McCloud: McCloud Outdoors and Gear Exchange
- Weaverville: Up North Confectionery and Mercantile
- Hayfork: The Watershed Research and Training Center
- Redding: Ace Hardware (on Hartnell Ave.), Redding Sports LTD
- Please contact the retail location to verify hours and availability.
- Unfortunately, the retail locations are not able to provide the "Every Kid Outdoors" free permit for Fourth-grade students.
- The required maps will be included with the permit.
Local Forest Service Office
- Offices will only be issuing permits to fourth-grade students. Please email SM.FS.S-T_PIO@usda.gov for more information.
- Forest Service Offices cannot sell Christmas tree permits. Please visit Recreation.gov or visit one of the vendors listed above to purchase a permit.
Christmas Tree Permit Maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (.pdf)
| Shasta - West Half | Shasta - East Half | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Tree Map | MVUMs |
| MVUMs | |
| Trinity - North Half | Trinity - South Half | |||
| Christmas Tree Map | MVUMs | Christmas Tree Map | MVUMs | |
Maps show your location and work without cell service.
Mushrooms are one of many types of special forest products that visitors enjoy gathering from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. To ensure a continuing supply of special forest products, the Forest Service works to create uniform harvesting regulations.
Mushroom harvesting for commercial use requires a permit. The forest offers commercial permits for spring and fall mushrooms. The season for gathering mushrooms varies depending on weather and other conditions. Contact your local Ranger District for more information on acquiring a permit.
Personal use mushroom gathering is allowed free of charge under the Incidental Use. Matsutake mushrooms cannot be gathered under the incidental use program. Refer to the incidental Use Guide and the Mushroom Permit Guide for requirements and conditions of harvesting.
For your personal use, you may harvest under the Incidental Use Guide.
Mushroom Permit GuideLus Qhia Txog Kev De Nceb
Shasta-McCloud Mushroom Permit Map
More information regarding mushroom gathering can be obtained by visiting or calling the local ranger station.
Fuel Wood Permit Sales By Phone
- January starts the new year for firewood permits, running through to December 31st.
- Firewood permits are available at $2/cord with a minimum purchase of $20 and a 12-cord limit per household per calendar year.
- A cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long.
- Purchasers must call their local ranger station regarding purchasing a permit.
- Woodcutters are required to hold a permit and must follow the associated regulations within that permit and the accompanying Shasta-Trinity National Forest Fuelwood Cutting Map.
- As a reminder: it is the responsibility of the permit holder to check and be aware of the daily firewood cutting restrictions in effect.
- All firewood-cutting rules remain in place (see links below).
- Woodcutting requirements may vary substantially so please call your local ranger district office to see if there are any specific local restrictions or requirements.
Before you head out with your chainsaw:
- first check current activity levels and restrictions
- Here are a few other things you should know about cutting fuelwood on the national forest.
Fuelwood Maps :
These PDF maps are Geo-referenced and compatible with Avenza.
Shasta Zone Fuelwood Cutting Maps
- Shasta West Half
- Shasta East Half
- NRA
- Trout Creek Map and Trout Creek Memo
- Everitt Memorial Highway Map and Everitt Memorial Highway Memo
Trinity Zone Fuelwood Cutting Maps
The taking or removal of forest products may require a permit and/or the payment of a minimal fee. Please inquire at the local District Office before removing any products from the forest.
Commercial purposes:
A permit is required for taking or removal of any forest product for resale.
The forest currently issues commercial mushroom permits see information above.
For other commercial products, contact local office.
Personal Use:
A permit is required for taking or removal of the following forest products from the forest for personal use:
Firewood - see above
Christmas Trees - see above
Forest Products for Incidental Use
For minor amounts of forest products that are for one’s direct personal use, a permit may not be required. The incidental use guide lists the products and the amounts that may be harvested under the incidental use rules. Following these rules, a permit is not required and there is no cost for collecting the items. Materials gathered under incidental use must be for your own personal use and cannot be sold or exchanged in any form, nor be used for making something for sale.
A special-use authorization is a legal document such as a permit, term permit, lease, or easement, which allows occupancy, use, rights, or privileges on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The authorization is granted for a specific use of the land for a specific period of time.