Forest Products Available under Incidental Use

Harvesting minor amounts of berries, greenery & cuttings, mushrooms, and transplants for direct personal use is considered "incidental use" on the Forest and doesn't require a permit nor payment. 
NOTE: The harvest and transport of firewood from the national forest does require a permit. However, small amounts of downed and dead wood can be collected for on-forest camping use only. Learn more about harvesting firewood.

The Mt. Hood National Forest waived the requirement to obtain a free use permit to forage limited quantities of berries, cuttings, mushrooms, and transplants, and determined that harvesting minimal amounts of these products constitutes "Incidental Use," per Forest Service Handbook. Read the letter signed by the Forest Supervisor here.

Below are the products and amounts that may be harvested under incidental use guidelines. Following these rules, a permit is not required and there is no cost to collect these products. Products gathered under incidental use must be for your own personal use and cannot be sold or exchanged in any form, nor be used to make something to sell. Harvesting a product with intent to sell or exchange requires the purchase of a commercial permit from our district offices, if allowed for that product. Contact us for more information.

Products and quantity limits may change from time to time to protect Forest resources. It is the responsibility of the harvester to stay current with updates. You may contact any of our offices or check this page for the latest information.

What can I harvest under incidental use? How much can I harvest?

Incidental Use Product

Daily Limit

Annual Limit
3 gallons 3 gallons

All truffle harvesting is prohibited.

1 gallon

10 gallons

Must be harvested within the road prism on Forest Roads open to motor vehicle use only: Road Prism Diagram

Allowable species: vine maple, huckleberry, rhododendron, salal, Oregon grape, manzanita, ferns, and tree seedlings


15 plants

Transplants can be harvested for up to 10 days per calendar year or until annual limit is reached.

15 plants

Must be harvested only within 100 feet of roads in a timber matrix, or areas managed for timber. 

Allowable species: vine maple, huckleberry, rhododendron, salal, Oregon grape, manzanita, and ferns


20 pounds

Greenery & cuttings can be harvested for up to 10 days per calendar year or until annual limit is reached.

20 pounds

Conditions of Incidental Use

  • Harvest is prohibited: 
    • in ​Tilly Jane Proposed Wilderness, Camp Baldwin area, designated wilderness, protection areas, research natural areas, municipal watersheds, heritage or administrative sites, recreation sites, riparian areas, streams (Class 1 thru 4), ponds, reservoirs, lakes, or wetlands unless the product occurs within a road prism open to motor vehicle use. 
    • along Highways 26 & 35; Forest Road 42 (Skyline Road); Forest Road 50 (Timberline Road); Forest Road 2645 (Westleg Road); Forest Road 18 (Lolo Pass Road); or Old Maid Flats. Visit our Roads Table.
  • Follow all road and area closures. Closures are placed to reduce the spread of forest diseases, protect wildlife and land resources, or to provide for public safety. Vehicles are not allowed on closed roads.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are on land open for product collection. Mt. Hood National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available at no charge at district offices or online for download.
  • Individual product harvesting techniques must be followed. Click on each of the incidental use products listed in the above table to learn more.
  • Harvest of any protected species is strictly prohibited. Ensure you know what species you're collecting.

Resources

General Special Forest Products Rules and Guidelines

(To print the Guidelines brochures, check the box that says "booklet" in the print properties window.  Print double sided, flip on short edge.)



Alerts & Warnings

View All Forest Alerts