A guide to cutting down your own Christmas tree in Utah

A guide to cutting down your own Christmas tree in Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY — Even though Halloween just ended, it’s not too early to start making plans for Christmas.

If you’re looking for a new holiday tradition, you might want to consider cutting down your own Christmas tree. National forests and Bureau of Land Management areas around Utah allow you to do just that with a purchased permit.

Some areas have different specifications for the trees you can cut down, such as species and height limits. Here is some information on when and where to buy for the various forests throughout the state.

Ashley National Forest

Permits to cut down a Christmas tree in Ashley National Forest go on sale in all areas Nov. 15 for $15. You can purchase your permits at any of these locations:

  • Vernal Ranger District: Davis Jubilee in Vernal and the Lapoint Country Store in Lapoint, Uintah County

  • Duchesne Ranger District: Hanna Country Store in Hanna

  • Roosevelt Ranger District: Stewart's Thriftway

  • Flaming Gorge Ranger District: The Manila and Green River Forest Service Offices and the Flaming Gorge Resort
Trees can be up to 15 feet tall and there is a limit of one tree per household. For more information, check the Ashley National Forest website or call 435-789-1181.

Dixie National Forest

You can cut down Christmas trees in any of the districts in the Dixie National Forest with purchase of a permit. They are priced according to height, with trees below 10 feet at $10 and trees from 10-20 feet at $20. There is a limit of five trees per household.

For more information, visit the Dixie National Forest website or call 435-865-3700.

Fishlake National Forest

Permits to cut down trees in Fishlake National Forest are $10 and can be purchased at any of the ranger districts. They will go on sale in mid-November. There is a height limit of 8 feet and a tree limit of two trees per household.

Visit the Fishlake National Forest website for more information.

Beaver Ranger District

You may not cut down any blue spruce trees or trees along the Merchant Valley Summer Home area or along the visible timbered edge of state Route 153.

Call the district office at 435-438-2436 for more information.

Fillmore Ranger District

You may not cut down trees in Oak Creek Canyon. The ranger's office suggests Dry Creek at Oak Creek, Whiskey Creek, John Williams Canyon, Chalk Creek, Meadow Creek, Cove Fort, Willow Creek and Wild Goose Canyon for the best trees.

Call the district office at 435-743-5721 for more information.

Fremont River Ranger District

This district is the only one where cutting down ponderosa pines is allowed, according to the forest service website. But tree cutting is prohibited from Forest Boundary to Zedd's Meadow.

Call the district office at 435-836-2811 for more information.

Richfield Ranger District

You may not cut down blue spruce or Engelmann spruce in this area. Call the district office at 435-896-9233 for more information.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Heber-Kamas Ranger District

Permits will go on sale for a limited time on Friday and Saturday and will be sold first come, first served for $10. The first 1,000 people to show up on both days at 2002 Soldier Hollow Lane in Midway will receive a wristband beginning at 6 a.m., according to a forest service news release. Those with wristbands are able to purchase permits starting at 8 a.m.

You can cut down trees anytime from Friday until Dec. 25 after you buy a permit.

For more information, call 435-783-4338.

Spanish Fork Ranger District

Permits go on sale on Nov. 8 at 8 a.m. and will sell for $10. Only 250 permits will be sold for the entire season, according to the national forest service website.

There is a limit of one tree per household. You can only cut down a tree in the Vernon area in Tooele County, and it may only be a juniper or pinon species.

For more information, visit the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website or call 801-798-3571.

Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts

Permits go on sale on Nov. 16 and are $10. Only one tree is allowed per household and trees may be up to 20 feet tall.

For more information, call 307-789-3194.

Bureau of Land Management areas

The following is where you can buy permits to cut down Christmas Trees on BLM land. Ask each field office for the specific boundaries where tree cutting is permitted in that area.

Salt Lake Field Office

Permits will begin selling on Nov. 5 for $10 each. There is a limit of two permits per household and you can only cut down juniper and pinyon pine trees.

The Salt Lake Field Office is located at 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd. in Salt Lake City. You can call 801-977-4300 for more information.

Fillmore Field Office

Permits will be sold starting Nov. 5. They are $10 each and there is a limit of three permits per household. You may cut down juniper and pinyon pine trees.

The Fillmore Field Office is located at 95 E. 500 North in Fillmore. You can also buy permits for Fillmore at the Salt Lake Field Office. You can call 435-743-3100 for more information.

St. George Field Office

Permits will go on sale starting Nov. 14 for $10 each. You can only cut down pinyon pines and there is a limit of two permits per household.

The St. George Field Office is located at 345 E. Riverside Drive in St. George. Call 435-688-3200 for more information.

Cedar City Field Office

Permits will go on sale for $10 each on Nov. 5. You may cut down juniper, pinyon pine or white fir trees with a limit of two permits per household.

The Cedar City Field Office is located at 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive in Cedar City. Call 435-865-3000 for more information.

Richfield Field Office

Permits will be sold for $10 each starting Nov. 5. There's a limit of three permits per household. You can cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees.

The Richfield Field Office is located at 150 E. 900 North in Richfield. You can call 435-896-1500 for more information.

Henry Mountains Field Station

Permits go on sale Nov. 5 for $10 each and a limit of two permits per household. You may cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees.

The Henry Mountains Field Station Office is located at 380 S. 100 West in Hanksville, Wayne County. Call 435-542-3461 for more information.

Kanab Field Office

Permits are $10 each and will go on sale starting Nov. 5. You can cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees with a limit of two permits per household.

The Kanab Field Office is located at 669 S. Highway 89 A in Kanab. You can call 435-644-1200 for more information.

Moab Field Office

Permits will be sold for $10 each from Nov. 5 to Dec. 24. There is a limit of two permits per household and you may only cut down pinyon pine trees.

The Moab Field Office is located at 82 E. Dogwood in Moab. Call 435-259-2100 for more information.

Monticello Field Office

Permits will sell from Nov. 5 to Dec. 24 for $10 each. You may cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees with a limit of two permits per household.

The Monticello Field Office is located at 365 N. Main St. in Monticello. Call 435-587-1500 for more information.

Price Field Office

Permits are $10 each and will go on sale from Nov. 15 to Dec. 21. There is a limit of five permits per household. You can cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees.

The Price Field Office is located at 125 S. 600 West in Price. You can call 435-636-3600 for more information.

Vernal Field Office

Permits go on sale from Nov. 15 to Dec. 21 and are $10 each. There is a limit of one permit per household. You can cut down pinyon pine and juniper trees.

The Vernal Field Office is located at 170 S. 500 East in Vernal. Call 435-781-4400 for more information.

Arizona Strip District

Permits are only $5 each here and will go on sale starting Nov. 14. There is a limit of two permits per household.

You can purchase permits at the St. George Field Office (address above) or call 435-688-3200 for more information.

For more information about BLM areas, check its website.

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