LAKEVIEW, Ore. – As the holiday season starts next week, Christmas tree permits are currently available from the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
Permits cost $5 and are nonrefundable. A maximum of five permits can be purchased and can be used through December 25.
The permits are available for purchase from several vendors in Lake and Klamath counties, online through www.Recreation.gov, and by mail from all Fremont-Winema National Forest offices.
This week fifth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) voucher can get a free Christmas tree permit. This is in addition to fourth graders who can get a free permit with their valid EKO pass.
The Fremont-Winema National Forest provided free passes and permits to area fourth graders. They are starting to provide the vouchers and permits to fifth graders in Lake and Klamath counties. For more information or for those home schooling, please contact Public Affairs Specialist Shannon Holt at 541-947-6261 or shannon.holt@usda.gov.
EKO passes and vouchers can also be acquired by visiting https://everykidoutdoors.gov and completing the application process. Recreation.gov has an option for EKO passholders to get their Christmas tree permit online, but there is a $2.50 service charge for the transaction. Just search for the national forest where you want to cut your tree, check the box for the EKO pass, enter the EKO voucher or pass number and complete the purchase information.
Each permit is valid to cut one tree and must be secured to the tree in a place visible during transport of the tree from the forest.
Permits purchased in person do not expire, so if weather or other conditions make it impossible to get a tree this year, the permit is still valid for use the next year. Permits purchased on Recreation.gov are only good for this year.
The permit cost through Recreation.gov is $5, but it is only valid for the 2020 season. Up to five permits can be purchased and there is a $2.50 service charge per transaction. The purchase can be done from a computer or mobile device. Just search for “Fremont-Winema National Forest Christmas Tree Permit”. The permit must be printed to be valid and visible on the vehicle dashboard when transporting the tree.
For those who still want to get their permit from their local Forest Service Office, please call or write to the local office at the number or address listed below. Customers mailing in a request need to include their name, mailing address, phone number, the number of Christmas tree permits being ordered and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for the total purchase.
Christmas tree permits from the Fremont-Winema National Forest are valid for use on the Forest in Klamath and Lake Counties. It is the responsibility of the cutter to ensure they are not getting their tree from private, state or other federal lands. Christmas trees also cannot be harvested in Congressionally-designated Wilderness Areas, active timber sales, developed recreation sites or tree plantations.
Some parking areas on the Forest require a Sno-Park permit issued by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Permits are sold at all DMV offices and by permit agents at resorts, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. Certain Forest roads are designated as snowmobile trails and closed to wheeled vehicle traffic.
Local Forest offices can answer questions regarding Christmas tree cutting, current conditions and roads.
All Forest offices are open for phone calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The offices will be closed Thursday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Bly Ranger Station
61100 Hwy 140 E
Bly, OR 97622
541-353-2427
Chemult Ranger Station
110500 Hwy 97 N
Chemult, OR 97731
541-365-7001
Chiloquin Ranger Station
38500 Hwy 97 N
Chiloquin, OR 97624
541-783-4001
Forest Supervisor’s Office
1301 S. G St.
Lakeview, OR 97630
541-947-2151
Klamath Ranger District
2819 Dahlia St., Suite A
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-883-6714
Lakeview Ranger Station
18049 Hwy 395 N
Lakeview, OR 97630
541-947-3334
Paisley Ranger Station
303 Hwy 31
Paisley, OR 97636
541-943-3114
Silver Lake Ranger Station
65600 Hwy 31
Silver Lake, OR 97638
541-576-2107
Christmas tree permits are available from the following vendors. Please call for prices and availability.
Palomino Deli and Mini-Mart
42620 Hwy 140 E
Beatty, OR 97621
541-533-2411
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Ed’s Fast Break
61430 Hwy 140 E
Bly, OR 97622
541-353-2551
Hours: Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sycan Store
61278 Hwy 140 E
Bly, OR 97622
541-353-2271
Hours: Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bonanza General Store
31919 Hwy 70
Bonanza, OR 97623
541-545-6621
Hours: Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wright’s Hardware
117 First St.
Chiloquin, OR 97624
541-783-2239
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Santa’s General & Hardware Store
83038 Christmas Valley Hwy
Christmas Valley, OR 97641
541-576-2999
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Keno Store
15211 Hwy 66
Keno, OR 97627
541-884-4944
Hours: Monday-Sunday 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Campus Valero
2820 Biehn St.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-884-0938
Hours: Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fuel Good ISA Fuel
3320 Washburn Way
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
541-892-2779
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Grange Co-op
2525 Washburn Way
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
541-884-7733
Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Lake of the Woods Resort General Store
950 Harriman Route
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-949-8300
Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lake of the Woods Resort Marina
950 Harriman Route
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-949-8300
Hours: Thursday, Friday & Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Closed Monday-Wednesday
Oregon Avenue Food Mart
2075 Oregon Ave.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-884-0938
Hours: Monday-Sunday 24 hours a day
Parker’s Rod & Gun Rack
7364 S. 6th St.
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
541-883-3726
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sportsman’s Warehouse
1863 Avalon St.
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
541-273-3000
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
ACE Hardware
318 North F Street
Lakeview, OR 97630
541-947-2210
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Base Camp RV Park
18020 Hwy 395 N
Lakeview, OR 97630
541-947-4968
Hours: Monday-Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Lake County Chamber of Commerce
126 North E Street
Lakeview, OR. 97630
541-947-6040
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lakeview Shell Station
17697 Hwy 395 N
Lakeview, OR 97630
541-947-4899
Hours: Monday-Sunday 4 a.m.-10 p.m.
Tall Town Bike and Camp
19 North E Street
Lakeview, OR 97630
503-314-6095
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Silver Lake Mercantile & Motel
65554 Highway 31
Silver Lake, OR 97638
541-576-2131
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cutting a Christmas tree on the National Forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the Forest. Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.
- Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
- Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.
- Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.
- Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.
- Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.
- To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.
For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema or follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF.
