Permits
Permits for dead and down wood are issued for personal use for as few as two cords or as many as five cords per calendar year. The cost is $20 for 2 cords and $10 for each additional cord up to 5 maximum.
The personal use firewood permit covers most of the White Mountain National Forest, excluding active timber sales, developed recreation areas, designated Wilderness, and the Bartlett and Hubbard Brook Experimental Forests.
Need to know before purchasing a firewood permit:
- Firewood permits may be purchased at one of our district offices.
- A permit can be purchased with cash, credit card or check made out to the "US Forest Service."
- At the time of purchase please provide a valid driver's license and vehicle registration for the vehicle that will be used to collect the firewood.
- The permit expires December 31 in the calendar year it was issued.
Helpful information about Christmas Tree permits:
- Tree permits can be purchased for $5.00. Permits can be purchased online or through our district offices.
- Trees are for personal use only, not for resale. One tree per family
- Use only hand tools to cut Christmas trees, such as an ax or handsaw. Chainsaws are not permitted.
- Make sure you are on National Forest land. Respect the rights of landowners when crossing private property.
- Do not cut trees within 100 feet of:
- campgrounds
- picnic areas
- trailheads or developed recreation areas
- experimental forests
- designated wilderness areas
- water bodies
- active timber sales.
- Do not cut trees within 100 feet of paved roads and 50 feet from dirt roads.
- Do not cut trees larger than 6 inches in diameter at chest height. Pack down limb piles low enough so they are within 2 feet of the ground.
- Cut your tree so remaining stumps will be less than 10 inches in height.
A free permit is required to collect mineral specimens from designated sites where surface-disturbing mineral collecting is allowed.
- Free mineral collecting permits can be obtained at the trailhead.
- Mineral collecting permit is valid for 1 day at one mineral collecting site
- Make sure to read and comply with the conditions on the permit.
A free permit is required for gold panning.
- Gold Panning permits are available through any White Mountain National Forest district office.
- Permits are valid for 1 calendar year.
- Make sure to read and comply with the conditions stated on the permit.
- Materials collected through this permit are for personal (non-commercial) use only.
- Individuals 18 years and older must be in possession of a permit to pan for gold.
- Small trowels or similar digging tool for scooping sediment into the pan are allowed.
- The use of sluice boxes, rocker boxes, dredges and mechanized equipment is prohibited.
- Make sure to read and comply with all conditions stated on the permit.
Special Use Authorizations (Permits)
Each year, the Forest Service receives thousands of applications for authorization to use the public land we manage. The agency’s special-use program, which follows agency policy and federal law, allows uses of those lands that provide a benefit to the public, provide for legal rights, and protect public and natural resource values.
A special-use authorization is a legal document such as a permit, lease, or easement, which allows occupancy, use, or privileges on Forest Service system land. The authorization is granted for a specific use of public land for personal, business, or monetary gain, for a specific period of time, temporary or long term. Contact us to discuss your proposal, potential land use conflicts, application procedures and qualifications, probable time frames, fees, and other requirements specific to your proposed use.
Non-commercial group use permits are for an activity that:
- Involves 75 or more people including spectators
- In which an entry or participation fee is not charged
- And where the primary purpose is not the sale of a good or service
Keep this is mind, whether your gathering requires a permit or not:
- Access for the general public to sites, trails, and/or roads must be maintained (no area may be closed or cordoned off).
- Wedding ceremonies may not be officiated by individuals who are paid for their services; this is a commercial service widely available off of National Forest System land.
- No vendors or food trucks or carts are allowed.
- No excessive noise or public address systems near a campsite, developed recreation site or over an adjacent body of water.
- Throwing objects, including rice, birdseed, confetti, or lanterns or the release of helium balloons is prohibited.
- Decorations such as crepe paper and balloons are prohibited.
- All litter must be disposed of properly.
Expect to have contact with members of the recreating public during your gathering, especially at popular sites.
- Plan your event early or late in the day at developed sites to avoid peak visitation and congestion times (before 11 am and after 4 pm, May through October).
- Complete Forest Service form FS-2700-3b and mail or email to the Special Use Team 45 days before event.
Contact
White Mountain National Forest Headquarters Attention: Special Uses
White Mountain National Forest
71 White Mountain Drive
Campton, NH 03223
Permit Administrator – 603-536-6136
Inquire with our Special Use Team at SM.FS.SpecialUses@usda.gov or 603-536-6136.
Inquire with our Special Use Team at SM.FS.SpecialUses@usda.gov or 603-536-6136.
How to Submit an Outfitter/Guide Proposal
Contact the Special Use Team at the Supervisor’s Office at 603-536-6136 to discuss your proposal location and proposal idea
- Complete the Outfitter and Guide Use Application
- The form should include:
- Detailed answers
- Description of the proposed activities
- Requested number of service days (In increments of 50, no more than 200 for a temporary permit)
- Anticipated number of trips and party size
- Routes and location of starting and ending points for the proposed activities with map (note: only official Forest Service system trails and roads will be authorized for use)
- Targeted audience or clientele and plans for engaging youth or underserved groups.
- Any other services that will be offered to clients
- Read the Insurance Requirements page. If your proposal is selected, you must satisfy insurance requirements at least 30 days ahead of your first service date. The Forest Service cannot issue a signed permit without appropriate insurance coverage.
- Review Initial and Second-level Screening before submitting your proposal.
- Review and understand all Forest Protection Area and Wilderness regulations.
- If entering Wilderness at least one guide must be Level 1 LNT certified.
- Send your completed proposal package to:
White Mountain National Forest Headquarters Attention: Special Uses
White Mountain National Forest
71 White Mountain Drive
Campton, NH 03223
Permit Administrator – 603-536-6136
Civil Rights Requirements – Title Vl
More information regarding civil rights requirements for outfitter/guide permit holders, please visit and read the Accessibility Guidebook for Outfitter-Guides Operating on Public Lands
Linear Right-of-Ways (ROWs) include but are not limited to, power lines, telephone lines, fiber optic lines, water, transmission lines, irrigation ditches roads and access to private property.
Standard Form-299 is the proposal form that must be included in all requests.
Permit Administrator 603 536-6136
Research special uses include site surveys and testing, resource surveys, research studies, and weather stations and similar monitoring facilities. Some surveys are incidental and may not need a permit. Contact us to find out more.
Inquire with our Special Use Team at SM.FS.SpecialUses@usda.gov or 603-536-6136.
Please allow 45 days (depending on complexity some permits may take up to 2 years) for most proposals to be processed.
All special use proposals will be screened using criteria required in 36 CFR 251.54 before approval is granted.
Contact
White Mountain National Forest Headquarters Attention: Special Uses
White Mountain National Forest
71 White Mountain Drive
Campton, NH 03223
Permit Administrator 603 536-6136