Christmas Tree Permits
Christmas tree permits for personal, family use go on sale each year in mid-November. Permits, which are valid until Dec. 31 in the year of issue, allow a family to choose and cut one tree up to 20 feet tall. Depending on the specific area where people choose to cut trees, a variety of trees are available. These include lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Douglas-fir and pinyon pine. There is a limit of one tree per family or organization.
Permits are available for sale at Sawtooth National Forest offices, and on Recreation.gov.
The North Zone Christmas Tree Map, which includes the Fairfield and Ketchum Ranger Districts and the Sawtooth National Receation Area, and the South Zone Christmas Tree Map, which covers all divisions of the Minidoka Ranger District, are available free through the Avenza Maps Store. The Permit Terms and Conditions document features QR codes that allow users to scan and directly access the map in the app.
Every Kid Outdoors
In support of Every Kid Outdoors initiative, the Sawtooth National Forest will offer one free Christmas tree permit to fourth graders who present a valid paper or durable Every Kid Outdoors pass. Passes are available at https://everykidoutdoors.gov/fourth_graders.htm. Students can present their passes at Sawtooth National Forest offices to receive their free Christmas tree permits. The student must be present at the time the permit is issued, and the permit must be picked up before the tree is cut.