National Forests in Michigan Will Let You Cut Down Christmas Trees for Cheap – or Give You One for FREE if You’re in 4th Grade
The annual hunt for the family Christmas tree is one of the season’s most beloved Christmas activities for some families—especially when you get to chop it down yourself.
There are plenty of local Christmas tree farms where you can find the perfect tree, but did you know you can actually cut your own tree from a National Forest for just $5?
And if you’ve got a 4th grader, they can score a free Christmas Tree through the Every Kid Outdoors program.
Stick around, and we’ll show you how to get your hands on that “almost free” tree this year (just be sure to avoid any Clark Griswold-style mishaps).
Free Christmas Tree Menu
4th Graders Get a Free Christmas Tree
Any 4th Grader who has a valid Every Kid in a Park pass or paper voucher gets one FREE Christmas Tree permit.
The USDA Forest Service’s Every Kid Outdoors program is available for 4th grade students for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year. A new voucher is available for download through August 31, 2025.
In order to get their permit for a FREE Christmas tree, the student will need to get the Every Kid in a Park voucher from the website, print it off & bring the paper voucher to a national forest office to claim their free tree cutting permit.
OR they can input their pass information at Recreation.gov and redeem for a free Christmas tree cutting permit online.
Note: a $2.50 reservation fee applies
Manistee-Huron National Forest Explains how to get a $5 Christmas Tree
Watch this video:
How Christmas Tree Permits Work in Michigan
When you find, cut, and bring home a Christmas tree, you’re also helping maintain the forest’s health. These permits allow people to thin out densely packed areas of small trees—just the right size for a holiday tree.
Christmas Tree permits are now available from the offices of the Huron-Manistee National Forests, the Ottawa National Forest offices, and the Hiawatha National Forest offices in Michigan.
Each permit is $5 and good for one tree. Each household is limited to three trees.
Christmas tree permits go on sale in October and are available until the last day offices are open before Christmas and can be obtained in person or online. Get your permit today!
Getting a Christmas Tree Permit In Person
Huron-Manistee National Forest: (Lower Peninsula)
Supervisor’s Office, 1755 S. Mitchell St, Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 775-2421
Mio, 107 McKinley Rd, Mio, MI 48647
(989) 826-3252
Huron Shores, 5761 N Skeel Rd, Oscoda, MI 48750
(989) 739-0728
Cadillac-Manistee, 1170 Nursery Rd, Wellston, MI 49489
(231) 848-7090
Baldwin/White Cloud, 650 North Michigan Ave, Baldwin, MI 49304
(231) 745-4631
Hiawatha National Forest: (Upper Peninsula)
Munising, 400 E Munising Ave, Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2512
Rapid River, 8181 US-2, Rapid River, MI 49878
(906) 474-6442
St Ignace, W1900, US-2, St Ignace, MI 49781
(906) 643-7900
Ottawa National Forest: (Upper Peninsula)
Supervisor’s Office, E6248 US HWY 2, Ironwood, MI 49938
(906) 932-1330
Kenton, 4810 E M28, Kenton, MI 49967
(906) 852-3500
Ontonagon, 1209 Rockland Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953
(906) 884-2085
Watersmeet/Iron River, E23979 US 2 East, Watersmeet, MI 49969
(906) 358-4551
How to Buy Christmas Tree Permits Online
Purchasing permits online continues this year.
Christmas tree permits are available online at Recreation.gov beginning in October through Dec 31, 2024, for $5 per tree plus a reservation fee of $2.50.
If you have a 4th grader, you will be asked to provide your Every Kid Outdoors Voucher or pass number to get your permit for a FREE Christmas tree.
Be sure to buy a permit for the specific National Forest where you will be cutting your own Christmas Tree.
If you are not sure which National Forest is closest to you, look in the next section for a map.
Where the National Forests in Michigan are Located
You can find a National Forest near you by using this handy map.
The Huron-Manistee National Forest is located in the Lower Peninsula, while the Upper Peninsula is home to the Hiawatha National Forest and Ottawa National Forest.
Zoom in on the location you’re interested in and a link to that specific national forest will appear.
Before cutting down a Christmas tree make sure that you verify you are on national forest service land.
Christmas Tree Cutting Supply Checklist
This is a completely DIY experience, so you need to bring all of the gear needed to cut your own Christmas tree – and get it home. Use this as your packing list before you head out:
Harvesting Your Christmas Tree
Cutting down your almost free Christmas tree in a National Forest is a lot different than going to your local Christmas Tree Farm.
For starters, you need to know where you should go. The last thing you want to do is cut trees down from someone’s private property.
If you visit a ranger’s office in person to pick up your permit, they can help you determine where the tree cutting locations are. If you decide to get a Christmas tree permit online, you’ll need to decipher the maps provided by the National Forestry Service.
Huron-Manistee Maps (look for the firewood permit maps)
Hiawatha Maps
Huron-Manistee Christmas Tree Cutting Rules
Each tag is good for one tree
You can cut any type of live conifer that is located in an area open for cutting
Tress can’t be taller than 20 feet
No topping trees; (i.e. no cutting the top 10 feet off of a 30-foot tree)
Don’t leave a stump larger than six (6) inches off the ground
A valid permit MUST be attached to each tree before it is removed from the site at which it is cut and MUST remain on the tree in transit
Make sure you are on National Forest System lands
Respect private property owners by not trespassing
Permits are not valid in timber sale areas or within 150 feet of any recreation sites
Tips for a Good Experience
Give yourself time
Hunting down the perfect tree is going to take longer than it would at a Christmas tree farm. Trees will likely be spread out and you will need to do some driving or hiking around to locate your tree. Don’t head out right before dark.
Dress for the experience
Wear the cute boots and scarves for photos but have sturdy equipment in your car in case that doesn’t measure up to the weather.
Think before you drive
Most national forest roads are not snowplowed in the winter. Choose the roads you choose to navigate wisely based on your vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Tell someone where you’re going
National forests may have spotty to poor cell service. Let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.
MI Christmas Tree Farms
If heading to a National Forest to get an almost free Christmas tree is not something you’re up for, we have a roundup of plenty of awesome Christmas Tree Farms to check out around West Michigan, the Kalamazoo area, and the Lansing region as well.
This unique experience is a great way to start a new tradition, or carry on an old one, make special memories with loved ones, and feel the Christmas magic – all while helping to maintain a healthy forest!
Ready to make some holiday memories? Let’s get chopping!
Thank you for providing such detailed information on the National Forest tree-cutting process; really appreciate it! : )