Here's How To Support National Forests AND Get a Christmas Tree for as Little as $5 This Season

There’s been a long-held debate on whether an artificial Christmas tree or a real one is best during the holiday season. There are, of course, good arguments on both sides—with fake Christmas trees seen as more environmentally friendly and real Christmas trees seen as a bit more authentic and festive—but it’s all about personal preference at this point. Sure, one tree is also better if you have mischievous pets in the house (artificial tree) and the other definitely has a more authentic Christmas scent and feel (real tree), but again, to each their own.

However, if you’re looking for the perfect spot to purchase and/or cut down your own real Christmas tree this year, you can purchase one for as little as $5 and it helps a good cause. Read on to find out how you can support forest health.

Related: 16 Different Types of Christmas Trees

Why It’s Good To Cut Down Christmas Trees in Specific Federally Protected Forests

As ABC News reported on Nov. 21, the U.S. Forest Service wants people to cut down their Christmas trees at a federally protected forest this season. For a permit that only costs $5 to $10, people can find and cut their perfect tree.

While there may be a worry about waste when it comes to cutting down trees for Christmas, Recreation.gov explains, "For every tree that is found, cut and carried home as a holiday fixture, you’re also contributing to the overall forest health. Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity for citizens to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees – the perfect size for a Christmas tree."

Instead of trees “competing” for resources and space to grow, cutting down trees to put in your home for Christmas in places that need more tree space allows others to take advantage of the open space left by fewer trees.

Related: 25 Best Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas (2023)

How To Get a Real Christmas Tree from a National Forest for as Little as $5

If you’re interested in helping out some of these national forests and want a Christmas tree permit for cheap, you can go to Recreation.gov and click to learn more about their Christmas tree permits.

There’s an interactive map you can look at to find a national forest near you, or one that’s worth a mini road trip (just remember that you’ll be driving back with a tree on the top of your car, of course).

There are a ton of these federally protected forests in the northwest part of the United States, with several in California, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona. There are a handful of these forests in the upper Midwest like Wisconsin and Michigan. There’s a noticeable empty space in most of the Midwest, the East Coast and the South—but there is at least one federally protected forest in Illinois, Florida, West Virginia, Vermont and New Hampshire.

Every forest has a different type of tree as well. So make sure to check beforehand if the forest you're heading to or want to buy a permit at has a Christmas tree you'd be okay with. Each forest on Recreation.gov has reviews too, so you can see if it's worth going.

If you do venture out to one of these forests with your Christmas tree permit, make sure to follow all USDA guidelines when it comes to cutting down trees. For one, permits are a must—even for firewood. You also need to choose a tree that’s 200 feet from main roads, campgrounds and rec sites. You should choose a tree that has a trunk that’s six inches in diameter and follow safety guidelines.

But if you are lucky enough to be near a federally protected forest that is partaking in this Christmas tree permit program, you might have found your newest holiday tradition. Happy tree hunting!

Next up, if you don't live near one of these forests, here are the best Christmas Tree farms in every state.