Harvesting Christmas Trees from Mt. Hood National Forest
- Kati Cooke
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
I started a new Christmas tradition this year - chopping down our own wild tree from the Mt. Hood National Forest! This is something I've wanted to do for years but either I never had the space for a tree nor a way to transport it. Harvesting Christmas Trees from Mt. Hood is surprisingly simple - and I'll tell you exactly how we did it (and what not to do).
If you're only here for the cold hard facts and not my ramblings, scroll to the bottom to find a quick reference list!
Our Tree Harvesting Adventure
We decided to drive to the Mt. Hood National Forest by Estacada, since we figured most people would go around the ski resorts and there would be more trees and fewer crowds in the Estacada area. This was a great choice! We barely saw anyone all day.
We took 224 south, then turned off Oak Grove Fork Road past the Ripplebrook campground. After Lake Harriet, we really just drove around until we saw a nice tree. The higher up you go in elevation, the more trees you'll see.
To make it easier on everyone, here are the exact coordinates where we found our tree. If you set your GPS here, and just drive around in the area, I guarantee you'll find one: 45.064 N, 121.9234 W. That particular elevation is about 3,200 feet, so you might see some Noble and Pacific Silver firs, but keep going higher up to find more.
When we found our perfect tree, Jorge and I took turns cutting (be sure to leave a stump less than 6 inches tall). I was lucky enough to be the one to fell the tree and yell TIMBER, and I was also lucky it didn't fall on my head.
We trimmed the rogue branches, wrapped her up, and secured her to the top of our Rav-4 with ratchet straps. Driving home was a little nerve wracking because it was so windy, but it was really quite secure. We were a little silly and didn't realize we'd have to wrap the stray branches up first, and all we had was a 40-foot extension cord.... I'd recommend paracord or a tarp instead.
One thing to keep in mind - trees look a lot smaller in nature than they do in your house! We thought we found a small tree, but quickly realized our miscalculation when we got home. We had to trim at least 4 feet off our tree so she would fit in our living room.
Buying Your Permit
The easiest way to get your tree permit is on Recreation.gov. It's only $5 per tree, with a $2.50 service fee. You will not be able to find any tree farm with prices like that (the cheapest we saw on our drive to the forest was $35). You are required to print your permit and keep it on your windshield when harvesting/transporting your tree, but the chances of finding a ranger out in the woods is slim, so do with that information what you will.
You can also pick up a permit in person to avoid the service fee. The Forest Service website has a list here - scroll to "purchase from local vendors" to see.
Tree Regulations
The most difficult part of harvesting a tree was making sense of the horrible map. Here is a link to the USFS printable map. To save you from deciphering that monstrosity, I recommend just visiting the area I went to (coordinates here).
Once you've decided on a tree harvesting location, make sure you know what trees you're allowed to cut. Don't be frightened by the long list of regulations, it's really quite simple. Here are the basic rules:
No trees within 100 feet of any highway (notice that the rule states highway and not road)
Make sure another tree is growing within 12 feet of yours
No trees over 15 feet tall
Leave a stump under 6 inches tall
Use common sense and don't be a jerk - watch for private property or posted "no Christmas tree cutting" signs)
Supplies to Bring
You should pack for your tree cutting adventure with both safety and convenience in mind. Consider that you'll be driving on forest roads with possible snow and ice.
a car that can transport a massive tree - either a truck with a bed or a car with crossbars on top (you'd think this is a no-brainer)
printed Christmas tree permit
a paper map or downloaded GPS map (don't rely on cell service)
appropriate clothes and shoes for winter hiking
a saw (we used a folding pruning saw)
gloves, because trees are sharp and sap is sticky
loppers, for rogue branches
ENOUGH STRAPS TO SECURE THE TREE
red flags to tie on the ends of the tree if they extend past your car
We brought three ratchet straps and realized it wasn't enough. Luckily, we had a 40-foot extension cord in the car that we used to tie branches down before using the ratchet straps to secure the tree to the crossbars. A tarp could also be helpful to wrap the tree before tying it down.
Christmas Trees from Mt. Hood Fast Facts
Happy tree harvesting! I hope you can create a new family tradition of finding your tree in the wilderness. Here's everything you need to know:
Get your permit here and take it with you when harvesting.
Trees must be under 15 feet tall, not within 100 feet of a highway, and must have another tree growing within 12 feet
Bring a saw, gloves, and enough straps to secure the tree to your car
My not-so-secret guaranteed tree-finding coordinates (click for Google Maps directions and be sure to download offline map): 45.064N, 121.9234 W.
