Firewood
Firewood Permit Required to Cut Wood and Take It Off the Forest
Firewood permits cost $20 each and authorize you to cut up to five standard cords of firewood from a specific ranger district. A standard cord of wood is equivalent to a pile of closely stacked wood 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long
- Permits must be purchased in person at one of our ranger district offices. Your signature and government issued identification are required. Please call ahead of time to make an appointment for purchasing permits at our offices.
- Please call ahead and make an appointment to purchase your firewood permit at one of our offices.
- Each permit allows you to cut firewood from one ranger district. If you wish to cut firewood on another district, you must purchase another, separate permit for that district.
- Permits are good from January 1 to December 31 in the year purchased, no matter when the permit was purchased.
- Firewood permits allow you to cut wood for personal use, only. This firewood cannot be sold.
- Be sure to read and follow all conditions on your permit.
Firewood Maps
- Cheat-Potomac Ranger District Firewood Cut and Off-Limits Map
- Greenbrier Ranger District Firewood Cut and Off-Limits Map
- Gualey Ranger District Firewood Cut and Off-Limits Map
- Marlington Ranger District Firewood Cut and Off-Limits Map
- White Sulphur Ranger District Firewood Cut and Off-Limits Map
Campfire Wood
Invasive Pests Can Hide in Firewood
Don’t move firewood long distances – it can potentially transport invasive species! Learn more at dontmovefirewood.org
You do not need a firewood permit if you are camped on National Forest System land and are collecting wood for campfire use. Campfire wood cannot be taken home.
Rules for Collecting Campfire Wood or Cutting Firewood for Home Use:
- Only dead and down trees may be collected for campfire wood or cut for firewood. No standing trees, dead or alive, of any size may be cut.
- Firewood must be cut into pieces 4 feet, or less, in length.
- Firewood cutting is not allowed in designated Wilderness.
- Firewood cannot be gathered in active timber sales.
- Trees that are painted are purchased timber and cannot be cut up for firewood.
- Firewood cutting is not allowed 100 feet (about 50 steps) on both sides of streams that have flowing water and 50 feet (about 25 steps) on both sides of streams that have flowing water only part of the year.