Special Forest Products: Berries
To help maintain sustainable huckleberry populations, permits are required for everyone who plans to harvest huckleberries and remove them from the forest, including those who harvest for personal consumption.
An area in the Sawtooth Berry Fields was reserved for use by Indigenous people in 1932 by a handshake agreement between Yakama Indian Chief William Yallup and Gifford Pinchot National Forest Supervisor J.R. Bruckart. Please pay close attention to signs indicating areas reserved for use by Tribal members. By doing so, you are respecting the cultures of the Indigenous Peoples for whom the area holds cultural and religious significance.
Harvest of berries is prohibited in Wilderness areas, the legislated Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Experimental Forest, Research Natural Areas or other areas that are administratively closed. A free Special Forest Products Harvest Area map is available online and at Ranger District offices. This map displays the areas where you may harvest berries.
Check with your local Ranger District office for additional information.
More information about huckleberries.
Charge Use/Commercial Berry Permits
Update: There will be no Commercial Huckleberry Permits sold in 2026.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest will not offer commercial huckleberry permits for the 2026 season. Personal use gathering will continue under existing guidelines, which allow 1 gallon per day, and up to 3 gallons per year (see Free Use Berry Permits below).
The Forest Service will continue conversations with impacted parties to develop long term management solutions for commercial huckleberry picking. The 2026 season will allow the agency to assess conditions without commercial harvest and discuss strategic management efforts to improve huckleberry sustainability with the wild food industry, local partners, and tribal governments. A future decision on commercial huckleberry harvesting beyond 2026 will be informed by ongoing assessments and conversations.
If you are interested in learning more or joining the conversation, please see our Contact Us page.
To receive Forest updates and announcements see our Keep in Touch page.
For more information about Commercial Huckleberry Permits see: Change to Commercial Huckleberry Harvesting in 2026.
Free Use Berry Permits
Permits for personal use are free and are only available online. Get a Free Use Permit online for gathering berries. **ALERT: The online permit system is not compatible with Internet Explorer.
- A person may pick up to one gallon of berries per day, and up to three gallons of berries per year with a free use permit.
- Free use berries may not be sold or bartered.
- Free use permits are available year round but expire at the end of each calendar year.
- Print your permit; take it with you while you harvest; and enter on the permit the quantity of berries you harvest.
- Free Use Permits are not required for those under 18 years old.
- More information is at the free use permit Frequently Asked Questions
- More information on huckleberries