Beginning Nov. 16, the public will be allowed to buy personal Christmas tree cutting permits at Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices and several local venders.
Permits cost $5 each. There is a limit of five permits per household, and permits are valid for one-time use only. Permits will include a map of cutting areas and an instructional sheet for cutting trees in the national forest.
Also, all fourth-graders are eligible for a free national forest Christmas tree permit, due to the U.S. Forest Service’s participation in the national Every Kid in a Park initiative. To receive the free permit, students must present an Every Kid in a Park pass or a valid paper voucher printed from the program’s website. Parents and kids should visit www.everykidinapark.gov for more details and to obtain a voucher.
Anyone going out to harvest a tree should be prepared for rapidly changing weather and be equipped with shovels, extra food, water, winter clothing, blankets, and other safety material.
For more information on current road status and closures, please visit: www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/giffordpinchot/recreation#cond
