PENDLETON, Ore.–Christmas tree permits for the Umatilla National Forest are available to purchase at Forest offices, in local businesses, and online through Recreation.gov. Fourth grader are eligible for free Christmas tree permits.

For the second year, all National Forests are selling Christmas tree permits online via Recreation.gov as an added convenience for the public and alternative to in-person interactions. Christmas tree permits purchased online must be printed to be valid and can only be used on Umatilla National Forest lands, as specified on the permit.

Christmas tree permits cost $5 each and are limited to one per household. An additional $2.50 fee will be charged for permits purchased through Recreation.gov.

Traditional Christmas tree permits are still available through Umatilla National Forest offices and Pomeroy Foods or General Store in Dayton. All Umatilla National Forest offices are still offering virtual services to the public. Individuals interested in purchasing a Christmas tree permit from the Forest directly may call any National Forest office or send an email to [email protected]. A Forest employee will assist individuals with procedures to receive the Christmas tree permit in the mail upon receipt of payment.

Traditional permits are valid on National Forest System lands only and do not authorize tree cutting on private, state, or other federally managed lands.

As part of the national Every Kid Outdoors initiative, all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit from their local National Forest. For students to receive a free tree permit, they must present a valid paper voucher printed from the Every Kid Outdoors website. Visit https://everykidoutdoors.gov/ and follow instructions to obtain and print the paper voucher.

For more information about purchasing a permit and gathering a Christmas tree online, please visit https://www.recreation.gov and search for Umatilla National Forest.

For more information about the Christmas tree program on the Umatilla National Forest, please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.