Christmas Tree Cutting
Pick your perfect Christmas tree this season!
Lassen National Forest
You can get a permit for cutting your tree in Lassen National Forest (which includes Butte Meadows) by mail only. Limit two (2) trees per household. See all the details here.
- Sales for Christmas tree permits will begin on November 1, 2023, by mail or in-person at select locations.
- Permits can be purchased through December 22, 2023; mail-in requests by be received by December 9, 2023
- Permits purchased from the Plumas National Forest are not valid on the Lassen National Forest
- Lassen National Forest Christmas Tree Permits can NOT be purchased online
IN-PERSON: You can purchase the tree permit in-person, cash-only, at one of the following area vendors:
- Collier Hardware, 105 Broadway St., Chico
- True Value Hardware, 936 Mangrove Ave., Chico
- Butte Meadows Resort, 7473 Humboldt Rd, Forest Ranch
- Zavaterro's Grocery, 15509 Nopel Ave., Forest Ranch
MAIL-IN: Send your request for a Christmas tree permit along with a check for $10.00 per tree to one of the following locations:
- Almanor Ranger District, Christmas Tree Permit, PO Box 767, Chester, CA 96020
- Eagle Lake Ranger District, Christmas Tree Permit, 477-050 Eagle Lake Road, Susanville, CA 96130
- Hat Creek Ranger District, Christmas Tree Permit, PO Box 220, Fall River Mills, CA 96028
- Supervisor’s Office, Christmas Tree Permit, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130
Plumas National Forest
Permits are required to cut your own tree and you need to buy them online.
- Trees may be cut from Nov. 1-Dec. 31
- Permits are $10 (plus a $2.50 service fee if purchased online) and include a map of tree cutting areas as well as safety information and helpful tip
- Two (2) permits are allowed per household; please read the instructions on your permit carefully! There are no refunds.
Visitors should be alert when entering burned areas and watch out for hazard trees, down trees along roads, and falling rocks and debris. It is important to plan your trip ahead of time to ensure the area you plan to cut your tree has not been impacted by recent fires.
Because cutting areas may be quickly limited by snow, dress warmly and plan to get your tree early. Cell phone coverage may be scarce in remote areas so make sure you’ve planned ahead for contingencies like flat tires and being stuck on a cold, muddy roads. Let someone know where you are going and leave them a map, plus pertinent phone numbers and a description of your vehicle.
More program specifics, including mail-in instructions, may be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/plumas/passes-permits/forestproducts
