Christmas Tree permits available through Umatilla National Forest

PENDLETON, Ore.—Christmas tree permits for the Umatilla National Forest are available to purchase at Forest offices, several local businesses, and online through Recreation.gov.

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 several local businesses. 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 r6_umatilla_public_inquiries@fs.fed.us. A Forest employee will assist individuals with procedures to receive the Christmas tree permit in the mail upon receipt of payment.

Participating vendors are conveniently open evenings and weekend hours. A list of vendors is available online or at the end of this news release. 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

Permits may be purchased at:

• Columbia Grain and Feed, Pasco

• Farmer’s Exchange, Kennewick

• Hells Canyon NRA Office, Clarkston

• Pomeroy Foods, Pomeroy

• Schurman’s True Value, Clarkston

• Sportsman’s Warehouse, Kennewick

• Sportsman’s Warehouse, Walla Walla

• The General Store, Dayton