A West Coast Christmas tree costs $5 in Washington and Oregon, $10 at most California forests, and permits go on sale next month

The cheapest Christmas tree on the West Coast isn’t at a lot. It’s standing in a national forest, waiting for you to saw it down.

In Washington and Oregon, a permit for one tree runs $5. In California, most forests charge $10. Either way, you get a snowy-boots, thermos-in-hand holiday outing out of the deal, and a tree that cost less than the ornament hook.

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Washington: $5 and a tape measure

Washington’s national forests sell permits for $5 each, good for one tree. Olympic National Forest sells its permits in person at forest offices starting in November, and you can also buy online through Recreation.gov.

The general rules are simple: cut one tree per permit, pick one no taller than 12 feet, and leave a stump of 12 inches or less. Topping a tree is off the table, and the household cap is five permits in most places. Some districts, like Naches, set their own limits, so check the forest you’re headed to before you load the saw.

Oregon: same price, more ways to buy

Oregon matches Washington at $5 per tree. Willamette National Forest sells permits through its ranger stations, local businesses, and Recreation.gov, with up to five trees per family.

Down in the southwest corner, the Bureau of Land Management also sells $5 permits, some of them online, and Rogue River-Siskiyou permits go through Recreation.gov with a $2.50 processing fee. Call the local office first, because household limits differ by district, and your permit comes with a map of the areas that are actually open for cutting.

California: $10, with a few asterisks

Most California national forests charge $10 per tree, and many tack on a $2.50 online fee. Shasta-Trinity opens sales November 1, while Inyo charges $20 and sells online in November and December.

Here’s the catch: not every forest plays along. Sierra National Forest doesn’t allow Christmas tree cutting at all, and Southern California forests like Angeles and San Bernardino don’t list a permit program. Wilderness areas and developed campgrounds are generally off-limits too, so don’t wander off the permit map.

The free-permit trick for fourth graders

If there’s a fourth grader in your house, bring their Every Kid Outdoors pass. Fourth graders with a valid pass can get a free permit at many forests in Oregon and California, though some still charge the $2.50 reservation fee. My opinion? This is the best family-outing deal on the whole West Coast.

Forest roads can get snowy and icy fast in December, so check conditions with the ranger district before you drive up. Pack tire chains if the forest requires them, and bring a tarp for the trip home.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Planning a winter stay? Our guides to winter in Oregon and winter in Washington have ideas for the rest of the trip.

So which state is getting your tree this year? Tell us in the comments where you’re cutting.

Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.