Permits
Certain activities on the Shawnee National Forest require a permit. Permits are sold for gathering forest products such as firewood for fuel and cutting a cedar tree around the holidays.
Other permits are issued for group gatherings and commercial events.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When you are gathering edible material (morels, etc.) for your own consumption.
- When you are camping in the general forest area, outside a developed campground.
- When entering or camping in designated Wilderness.
- When you are building a campfire on National Forest System lands you can collect a reasonable quantity of wood for the campfire without a permit.
- For collecting fuelwood.
- Special Use Permits are required for commercial and non-commercial use of NFS lands, including:
- Easements for electrical and utility lines.
- Special events and large group gatherings.
- Roads to access private property bound by National Forest lands.
- Commercial film and photography.
- Oil and gas pipelines, wells or holding tanks, etc.
- Minerals
Shawnee National Forest Permits
Recreation Passes
Learn about recreation passes including day, annual and lifetime recreation passes, the cost and how to purchase one.
Forest Products
Information about fuelwood/firewood permits, along with details about plant collection, gathering forest products such as mushrooms/berries, and holiday tree permits.
Commercial Permits
Obtain a special use permit for recreation events (e.g. races, rides, contests, adventure games, gatherings, etc.) commercial photography, filming, sound recording, outfitting and guides, and road use permits across NFS land to access private property.
Research Permits & Other Uses
Information on how to obtain a permit to conduct research on the national forest. Also guidelines for using metal detectors, flying drones, panning for gold, etc.