Forest Products
The Forest Service offers a wide range of forest products that people may collect with a permit. Whether you are gathering materials for your household, exploring traditional uses of forest plants, or participating in a commercial timber sale, these opportunities help maintain healthy forests while connecting people to the land.
Non-Wood Forest Products
Our forests and grasslands provide a range of products that can be harvested with a personal use permit, including mushrooms, ferns, and more.
Forest Products Industry
Rocky Mountain Region forests sell timber and other forest products on a variety of contract and permit forms based on the complexity and/or value of the sale.
Forest Products in the Rocky Mountain Region
Forest Management and Public Benefits
- National forests balance multiple objectives: protecting forests and watersheds, supplying timber to the public, and providing other benefits to the public.
Timber sales and collection of other forest products help to support resilient forests, reduce wildfire risk and benefit communities.
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Available Products
- Wood Products include firewood, Christmas trees, tree transplants, and posts and poles.
- Non-Timber Forest Products include edible items such as wild mushrooms, fruits and nuts; medicinal plants and fungi; floral greenery and horticultural stock; fibers, oil resins and other plant extracts.
Permits and Access
- Personal and commercial permits are required to gather many forest products.
- Permits may require fees and are issued by local Forest Service offices.
- Availability varies by season and ranger district.
- For specific permit rules, consult the website of the relevant national forest or grassland.
Christmas Tree Permits
- Christmas tree permits become available in late November on most national forests.
- Permits are available through forest office sales, local vendors listed by each forest office, and Recreation.gov for online permits.
- Fourth graders with a valid Every Kid Outdoors Pass receive one free Christmas tree permit, available at Forest Service offices only.