Permits

A permit must be acquired by anyone harvesting any firewood on Coconino National Forest, except for the rather small amounts used in a campfire and gathered at the campfire site. This is done by visiting one of the Ranger Stations to acquire the permit in person. Unfortunately, permits are not available for purchase online at this time. 

Personal Use Paid Permits 

These permits allow the cutting of down and dead wood or standing dead wood that meets certain criteria (see below) in specified areas at a cost of $5 per cord for oak, aspen, juniper and maple; or $2.50 a cord for pine and mixed conifer. The minimum purchase allowed is $20, and 12 cords per household per year is the maximum quantity allowed under paid permits.

Free Use Permits 

These permits allow the cutting of up to 5 cords of down and dead wood in specified areas for no charge. A maximum of 5 cords per household per year is allowed under free use. There aren't always free-use firewood areas designated, so you will need to check with a Ranger Station to see if one currently exists.

Commercial Permits 

Commercial Permits are for collecting firewood to sell in a commercial capacity for profit. Personal Use Paid Permits are not allowed to be used to collect firewood to sell to someone else. Contact the Ranger Station of which district you're inquiring about for information about any commercial areas that may exist.

Ceremonial Permits 

Permits for tribal use are available year-round to those who qualify. More information.

Green Wood Permits 

Information can be obtained on these occasional sales by calling the respective Ranger Station.

Permit Conditions:

• Firewood may not be sold, exchanged or used in business. In other words, you cannot buy a personal use paid permit to collect firewood and then sell the wood to someone else. That falls under a Commercial Permit, which is only allowed in specific areas and in rare occasions. Check with a ranger station to see if any commercial areas are available.
• You may designate two other individuals to cut wood in your absence. Individuals must be identified and their names added to the permit at time of purchase.
• Wood is only to be cut or gathered in areas specified on the permit.
• Stump height not to exceed 12 inches.
• Power saws must have a 0.023 stainless steel spark arrestor screen.
• The amount of wood gathered must be recorded on the permit in ink and the appropriate number of load tickets must be attached to the load before leaving the cutting area.
• Chainsaw restrictions may apply when fire restrictions are in effect.

Not all dead wood is fair game

Trimming dead limbs from live trees is not permitted on the forest, and standing dead trees may only be cut if they meet standards listed below. Before cutting any dead tree check it carefully for signs of wildlife habitation. If it contains woodpecker holes or other large cavities, it most likely is providing a valuable home for birds and other small mammals. These trees are generally rotten and wouldn't make good firewood anyway, so please don't destroy an "Animal Inn."

Rules for cutting standing dead trees

• Dead standing pine or fir that is less than 12 inches in diameter or less than 15 feet tall. (Diameter is measured at 4.5 feet above the ground and 12 inches in diameter is equal to 37 inches in circumference.)
• Dead standing pinon and juniper is available regardless of size unless obvious wildlife cavities are present or the tree is signed as a wildlife tree.
• Dead standing aspen that is less than 12 inches in diameter or less than 15 feet tall may be cut from June 1 to September 30.
• No cutting any standing oak, dead or alive.

You may take dead and down wood, limbs, old logs, and chunks of wood lying on the ground; however, you may not take any wood that is marked with paint or left in logging decks (stacks of logs, usually at the roadside ready to be loaded on a log truck). You may remove wood from piles left behind as waste by road construction or logging operations (these piles are usually of a dome type shape and include logging slash, limbs, tops of trees and unusable larger pieces), but be sure to stack all that you don't use back on the pile.

Unless specified elsewhere on the permit or identified as prohibited, motorized off road travel is authorized to access and load firewood. As such, the permit authorizes off-road vehicular use by the most direct route in and out of the area to accomplish firewood retrieval.

The permit does NOT authorize motorized cross-country travel to scout for wood. Use the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) in conjunction with your firewood guide. Roads not identified as "open" roads on the MVUM are not considered "roads" in the provision. Using these "roads" would be considered the same as "cross country travel" and should only be used to access and load firewood that has been previously located and cut without using your vehicle.

Download MVUM

The Coconino National Forest personal use firewood program is using the load ticket (tag) system. Reasons for this shift in practice are to improve the Forest Service’s ability to allow for legal harvesting of firewood, and to improve consistency of firewood collection programs between adjacent forests.

The appropriate number of tags, representing ¼ cord each, will be issued with each firewood permit (4 cords = 16 tags). The permit holder shall physically attach the appropriate number of tags (1 tag for each ¼ cord in the load) to loads being taken from the forest (with a staple, nail, tack, etc.). The tags have to be attached before departing the location of harvest and must be visible during transport. Permit holders must still fill out the Removal Record on the permit in conjunction with using the load tags.

Firewood cutters must physically attach a Load Tag to each ¼ cord or portion of firewood in a location visible from the rear of the vehicle before moving the vehicle from the firewood collection site.

1. There are four tags for each cord of wood issued on the permit. Each tag equals ¼ cord or less and is numbered and corresponds with a load ticket number on the permit.
2. Before leaving the harvest site, a tag for each ¼ cord or smaller portion of wood in the load must be physically attached to a piece of wood in the load (i.e. ¼ cord or less=1 tag, ¼-½ cord=2 tags, ½-¾ cord=3 tags, etc.). Use a nail, staple, tack, screwdriver or other secure attachment device, that will remain attached during transport.
3. Each tag must have the month, date, day of the week, and A.M/P.M. punched out with a sharp object prior to attaching it to the load.
4. Permittees must also fill out the Product Quantity Removal Record on the permit prior to leaving the harvest area. The quantity in this record must correspond with the number of tags used.

Wilding permits, which authorize collecting live plants and trees from National Forest lands for personal use are available at the Coconino National Forest Supervisor's Office, the Flagstaff Ranger District, and the Mogollon Rim Ranger District.

Wilding Season

The Forest historically had two wilding seasons – one in the spring and another in the fall, for about a month each while plants are dormant.  The current policy is that the harvest season is to coincide with that of the personal use firewood season. 

Types of Wildings Allowed

Permits will be available only for coniferous trees (Douglas Fir, White Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon Pine, and Juniper).

Due to the severe decline of Aspen populations across the forest and lack of natural regeneration, Aspen seedlings will not be offered in the permits.  In addition, the MRRD will not allow wilding harvest of Maple or Willow or Oak.

Trees Cannot Exceed Four Feet in Height

Trees transplanted cannot exceed 4 feet in height. The best chance of successful transplanting, foresters recommend that seedlings selected be much smaller in size: less than 4 feet. The fee is $1 per foot, with a minimum fee of $20 per permit. Maps of designated gathering locations, along with transplanting recommendations, are provided.

More Information

For information on our next available permit season, call our offices.

Contact Us

Permits for rock and sand collecting are available for personal use only.

Flagstaff Ranger District: Malapais

Permits for collecting rocks in the Flagstaff Ranger District can be obtained at the Coconino NF Supervisor's Office at 1824 S. Thompson St., Flagstaff, Arizona during regular business hours.  Malapai rock permits are available for $25.00 for up to five tons and are good for 90 days. We have designated areas for collection off I-17 and off Hwy 180.

Maps of the malapais collection areas:

• Ritter west side of I-17 in the Newman Park area [PDF]
• Slate northwest of Flagstaff on the east side of US 180 [PDF]

Red Rock Ranger District: Red Rock and River Rock

Landscape red rock at $15 for 3 tons. Landscape river rock or sand is $15 for 7.5 tons. For more information on these personal use permits, call the Red Rock District Office at 928-203-7500.

Mogollon Rim Ranger District: Sandstone

Sandstone rock at $10 per ton, with a minimum $20 permit for two tons. Location is very remote and requires a 20+ mile drive down a dirt/gravel forest road. For more information on these personal use mineral permits, call the Mogollon Rim District Office at 928-477-2255.

Christmas tree permits can only be obtained via recreation.gov. Ranger Stations do not sell Christmas tree permits.

Recreation.gov

Limited collection* of rocks and minerals for personal use is allowed on most forest lands. These materials may be collected without a permit provided the collecting is for personal, hobby, and noncommercial use. For commercial** or other uses of rock material, a permit must be obtained.

Our Offices

What types of recreational rock and mineral collecting are allowed on National Forests?

Collection of small amounts* of widespread, low-value, relatively common minerals and stones (common quartz crystals, agate, obsidian) for noncommercial use. Hobby mining activities; such as recreational gold panning or use of metal detectors to prospect for gold nuggets and other naturally occurring metals.

Are there any National Forest areas that are closed to recreational collecting?

Certain portions of the Coconino National Forest are not open to collecting due to wilderness designation or other sensitive areas. Contact us for details.

Would I need a permit or other permission?

No permit or notification is required for collecting if the following applies: 

• Collecting of samples is on the surface (no digging with hand tools or mechanized equipment)
• Collection is for personal use and esthetic values (cannot be sold or bartered)

For the following activities, a permit is needed:

• Activity that does involve digging with hand tools or mechanized earth-moving equipment, including bobcats, suction dredges, ‘high banking’ or dry washing equipment.
• Commercial** activities including collecting mineral or fossil specimens for re-sale.
• Removal of more than insignificant amounts* of landscape rock.

The following items may not be disturbed or removed from forest land under any condition:

• Vertebrate fossils (dinosaur bones, fish, - anything with a backbone), and shark teeth.
• Archeological resources including any material remains of prehistoric or historic human life or activities, which are at least 50 years old, and includes the physical site, location, or context in which they are found. (36 CFR 261.2)
• The collection of projectile points, pottery, or any other archeological resource or artifact is not allowed without a permit (36 CFR 261.9 (h). Projectile points include "arrowheads" and any prehistoric human-modified stone.

 *A reasonable amount is up to 10 pounds.

**Commercial use is any trading, bartering, or selling of rocks and minerals

Filming and Photography

A special use permit is required for commercial filming or photography on National Forest System lands under certain circumstances. This includes activities such as film moviemaking or commercials, in addition to still photography for commercial use. 

Use of motion picture, videotaping, sound-recording, or any other type of moving image or audio recording equipment on National Forest System lands that involves the advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props. Permits may be issued by the Forest Supervisor’s office or the district office in which the activity will take place.

When Do I Need a Filming or Photography Permit?

A filming or photography permit is not needed if five or fewer people are involved in the film and photography project and are physically on site. This includes individuals both behind and in front of any camera or equipment. 

Regardless of whether a permit is required for a project, photographers and videographers are still expected to follow Wilderness Act guidelines (including restrictions on motorized or mechanized use) if filming/shooting occurs in a designated Wilderness Area.

If more than five individuals are involved in the project, the type of photographic activity determines whether or not a permit is required. See examples and criteria listed below.

Personal Use

If you are shooting still photographs or "home movies" for personal use (e.g. that does not involve advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale) then a special use permit is not required.

Breaking News

Breaking news is an event or incident that arises suddenly, evolves quickly, and rapidly ceases to be newsworthy. A special use permit is not required for activities involving breaking news. Examples of breaking news include coverage of wildland fire or search and rescue.

Still Photography

Still photography uses photographic equipment to capture still images on film, digital format, and other similar technologies. National Forest visitors and professional or amateur photographers need a special use permit to take still photographs if the still photography:

• Uses models, sets, or props that are not part of the site’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.
• Takes place at a location where members of the public are generally not allowed or where additional administrative costs are likely.

Still photography of scenery only does not require a permit.

Commercial Filming

A special use permit is required for all commercial filming activities on National Forest System lands. Commercial filming is the use of motion picture, videotaping, sound recording, other moving image or audio recording equipment on National Forest System lands that involves the advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale, or the use of actors, models, sets or props, but not including activities associated with broadcasting breaking news.

For purposes of this definition, creation of a product for sale includes but is not limited to a film, videotape, television broadcast or documentary of historic events, wildlife, natural events, features, subjects or participants in a sporting or recreation event and so forth, when created for the purpose of generating income.

Commercial filming or still photography will not be permitted if the Forest Service determines that any of the following criteria apply:

• There is a likelihood of resource damage that cannot be mitigated.
• There would be an unreasonable disruption of the public's use and enjoyment of the site (beyond short term interruption).
• The activity poses health or safety risks to the public that cannot be mitigated.

Commercial Filming and Still Photography in Wilderness

Commercial filming and still photography activities may be allowed in wilderness if these activities meet certain criteria and are appropriate for realizing the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the area. Forest Service policies direct the agency to minimize wilderness resource impacts and seek non-wilderness areas to conduct proposed activities. Filming and still photography proposals within designated wilderness areas will receive a higher level of scrutiny by the Forest Service.

Commercial Filming and Still Photography Permit Process

Provide the Forest Service with detailed information about the proposal. At a minimum, the following information will be needed in order to evaluate a proposal and complete the permitting process:

• Special locations where activity is proposed.
• Number of crew on site, vehicles, and all the equipment and props to be used.
• Dates: locations and times by date.
• Describe in detail what you are planning to do at each site, including special effects.
• Activities which restrict traffic require traffic control by law enforcement officers.
• Permits on roads may also be needed from other local jurisdictions (i.e. county and ADOT).

Following the collection of the above information, please contact the Forest Special Use Permit Administrator. Information is generally requested at least two weeks in advance of when the permit is needed.

More Information

Commercial Filming & Photography Point of Contact

If you know you need a permit or are unsure as to whether you do or not, please contact our commercial permit administrator.

Photography Workshops

Individuals or organizations offering guided photography instruction or workshops on National Forest System land are providing a commercial service that requires special use authorization. This activity general falls under Outfitting and Guiding permit category.

A special use permit is required for any temporary event on National Forest System lands where an entry or participation fee is charged, or where paid membership in a group or organization is a prerequisite for participation. Examples of recreation events may include trail running events, mountain biking races, fundraising hikes, adventure games, and other similar events. A permit is required for these types of events, regardless of the number of people involved in the activity. Recreation event permits are subject to fees and commercial liability coverage. Depending on the nature of your event, a performance bond may be required.

A special use permit is required for groups larger than 75 people, or for any size group which charges a fee to attend an event. While a group of less than 75 people may not require a permit, there are some regulations that may apply.

Since each district is unique, we recommend that you contact the appropriate Special Use Permit Administrator for the district in which you intend to hold your event or group activity for specific information:

District Special Use Permit Point of Contact

Here are some things to consider. This list is not all-inclusive:

• For any group activity, toilet facilities are required for groups greater than 25 people and/or groups staying longer than 24 hours.
• All garbage associated with the event must be picked up and removed. Incorporate "Leave No Trace" principles during your visit.
• Any and all fire restrictions require full compliance, and the group is required to supply adequate water and tools for properly extinguishing any campfires built.
• Introduction of non-native species is prohibited. This means, use of birdseed, rose petals, rice, etc. are not allowed.
• Some areas of the forest will not accommodate groups due to resource damage.

Permits are not required for a wedding when:

1. Fewer than 75 people are in attendance with no paid service providers (planners, ministers, musicians, equipment vendors, etc.), and no sound equipment.
2. Fewer than 75 people are in attendance, the only paid service providers are the minister(s) performing the ceremony and/or photographer/videographer, and there is no sound equipment. 

(Note: a minister providing any other service(s) besides performing the ceremony requires a permit—i.e. the minister in addition to the ceremony is involved in planning, selecting location, selecting other service providers, etc.) 

*Permits are required for all other wedding situations on the National Forest under the following conditions: 

1. There are no reserved sites for weddings under 75 people, whether it’s a wedding requiring a permit or one not requiring a permit. Accordingly, you may not displace other visitors, i.e. ask them to make room or leave so you can use the site, whether it is for the ceremony, parking, etc.
2. There are designated sites for weddings 75 people or more - a map is available. Other visitors may not be displaced.
3. Permits do not substitute for other fees such as day-use area fees or campgrounds.
4. Weddings requiring permits are not allowed in “classified wilderness” areas (Fossil Creek, West Clear Creek, and Wet Beaver). We can only permit activities in a “Wilderness” that are “wilderness dependent”.
5. Similarly, wedding photography and other “staged” wedding activities are not allowed in a Wilderness area because the activity is not “wilderness dependent".
6. No non-native seeds such as rice or birdseed may be dispersed or tossed.
7. Chairs are allowed and small structures (arches, alters, arbors, etc.) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
8. Sound systems, if permitted, must be used in a way to avoid unreasonable disturbance of other national forest users in the area.
9. Doves or homing pigeons are not allowed.
10. Butterfly releases are not allowed. 

We are unlikely to permit the use of archeological sites and specific sites may not be available for a particular wedding based on other management issues at the time. 

Flagstaff-Area Wedding and Event Venues

Arizona Nordic Village and Arizona Snowbowl feature facilities for hosting weddings, including furnishings, accommodations, and more. Contact each location for details.

Crescent Moon Picnic Site

Weddings at Crescent Moon Picnic Site are by reservation only.

• For parties of 15 or fewer people (including officiant and photographer), reservations may be made by calling the concessionaire at 928-204-0028.
• Groups larger than 15 are required to rent the ramada; this may be done by calling 877-444-6777 or online at Recreation.gov.
• See Wedding Policy for Crescent Moon Picnic Site

Federal Regulations mandate that all commercial and non-commercial uses of Forest Lands be accounted for by special use permits. All research proposals require an assessment of whether the action is subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If the action requires NEPA, coordination with the forest will be required and a NEPA decision signed before the actions can take place.

Many activities occur on the forest that may conflict with research projects, such as group recreational events, routine utility corridor maintenance, tree thinning, Christmas tree cutting, prescribed burns, habitat restoration, new land designations, and proposed land exchanges. Knowledge of research activities by Forest Service staff and regular communication can help minimize undesirable impacts to research projects.

The Forest Service has a wealth of information about its land and resources. Resource specialists can direct researchers to areas most appropriate for their needs, as well as offer information on management history or historical events, such as wildfires. Research permits facilitate this communication.

The Forest Service benefits from data that researchers provide. New information from researchers can be incorporated into Forest Service databases and used to improve forest management. Consequently, a summary of findings (e.g., copies of theses, dissertations, papers) from permitted research on the Coconino National Forests SHALL be provided to the Forest Service upon completion of the study.

It is important to promote and facilitate integration and coordination of complementary research projects. Spatial data on the location of all permitted research projects will be maintained on a forest-wide GIS map. Efforts will be made to link complementary projects and promote interdisciplinary research.

Federal Regulations mandate that all commercial and non-commercial uses of Forest Lands be accounted for by special use permits. All research proposals require an assessment of whether the action is subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If the action requires NEPA, coordination with the forest will be required and a NEPA decision signed before the actions can take place.

Many activities occur on the forest that may conflict with research projects, such as group recreational events, routine utility corridor maintenance, tree thinning, Christmas tree cutting, prescribed burns, habitat restoration, new land designations, and proposed land exchanges. Knowledge of research activities by Forest Service staff and regular communication can help minimize undesirable impacts to research projects.

The Forest Service has a wealth of information about its land and resources. Resource specialists can direct researchers to areas most appropriate for their needs, as well as offer information on management history or historical events, such as wildfires. Research permits facilitate this communication.

The Forest Service benefits from data that researchers provide. New information from researchers can be incorporated into Forest Service databases and used to improve forest management. Consequently, a summary of findings (e.g., copies of theses, dissertations, papers) from permitted research on the Coconino National Forests SHALL be provided to the Forest Service upon completion of the study.

It is important to promote and facilitate integration and coordination of complementary research projects. Spatial data on the location of all permitted research projects will be maintained on a forest-wide GIS map. Efforts will be made to link complementary projects and promote interdisciplinary research.

Proponents should make contact as early as possible to first establish if they will be required to obtain a research permit. Because of the specificity of most research requests, it is almost impossible to provide a reliable timeline from the date a proponent has submitted a proposal until the issuance of a permit. The uncertain timeline for permit issuance means that you should submit your package immediately after assembling it! This provides researchers the best chance to acquire the permit in advance of the field portion of the research or to adjust your timelines as necessary.

Submit the completed:

1. SF-299 initiating the request, shapefiles of requested study area, and the project proposal. These three elements constitute the proposal package.
2. The proposal package is evaluated by the permit administrator based on a pre-screen and secondary-screen criteria we use internally to determine if the Forest Service can accept your proposal as an application.
3. Following acceptance of a proposal package as an application, your request is then evaluated by the staff Interdisciplinary Team for tentative approval.
4. If tentative approval is granted, a draft permit and bill for collection is generated. A typical research permit includes a cost recovery charge and a fee for the permit itself. These charges can change from year to year so check with the permit administrator to determine what the total fee will be.
5. Once the draft has been signed by the applicant and the bill for collection has been verified as paid, the draft is sent to the Authorized Forest Officer for final review and approval.
6. Permit is issued!

Be aware that a key element within the terms and conditions of any research permit will be a clause for the researcher to share any copies of data sets, graphs, charts, analysis, papers, and publications generated by the research within the Coconino National Forest. Make sure that this is included in and accounted for in your project proposal and at the conclusion of your research that copies of these materials  are either physically sent or electronically transmitted to the Lands and Minerals Staff promptly.

A special use permit for outfitting and guiding on National Forest System land is required when an individual, company, organization, institution or non-profit group charges a participatory fee for guiding services and/or provides recreation equipment.

This policy is based on the following official definitions:

Guiding

Providing services or assistance such as supervision, protection, education, training, packing, touring, subsistence, interpretation or other assistance to individuals or groups in their pursuit of a natural resource-based outdoor activity for pecuniary remuneration or other gain.

Outfitting

Providing through rental or livery a saddle or pack animal, vehicle or boat, tents or camp gear, or similar supplies or equipment, for pecuniary remuneration or other gain.