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Michigan, 2026 season

Michigan Christmas Tree Permits 2026

Three national forests in Michigan, the Hiawatha, the Huron-Manistee and the Ottawa, sell $5 Christmas tree permits through Recreation.gov.

3
Forests selling permits
3 on Recreation.gov
$5
Price per tree
2026 season
Oct 8, 2026
On sale
Huron-Manistee National Forests
Free
Fourth graders
with an Every Kid Outdoors pass
Forest by forest

Where to get a Christmas tree permit in Michigan

Michigan DNR does not allow Christmas tree cutting in state forests and points readers to the three national forests.

Hiawatha National Forest

2026 season

USDA Forest Service

Price
$5
Tallest tree
20 feet
On sale
Nov 12, 2026
Cutting
Nov 10, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Where to buy
Recreation.gov
This permit allows you to cut a Christmas Tree within designated areas of the Hiawatha National Forest.
Hiawatha National Forest Christmas Tree Permit, USDA Forest Service, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source

Rules for cutting

Only balsam and spruce may be cut, never pine.

Cut only Balsam and Spruce Trees, not pine trees
Hiawatha National Forest. Read it at the source

Trees top out at 20 feet and the stump can be no more than 12 inches tall.

Tree Height: 20 feet maximum
Hiawatha National Forest. Read it at the source

Stay at least 100 feet from any lake or river.

Do not cut trees within 100 feet of a lake or river.
Hiawatha National Forest. Read it at the source

Wilderness, research natural areas and recreation residence tracts are closed to cutting.

Do not harvest a tree from a Wilderness area, Research Natural Area or Recreation Residence tracts.
Hiawatha National Forest. Read it at the source

Print the permit and leave it on the dashboard while you harvest.

Please be sure to print out a copy of your permit and place it on your vehicles dashboard while you are harvesting your tree.
Hiawatha National Forest. Read it at the source

Hiawatha National Forest permits on Recreation.gov

Huron-Manistee National Forests

2026 season

USDA Forest Service

Price
$5
Limit
Permits are limited to five permits per person, per season.
Tallest tree
20 feet
On sale
Oct 8, 2026
Cutting
Oct 12, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Where to buy
Recreation.gov
One Christmas Tree may be harvested per permit. Permits are limited to five permits per person, per season.
Huron-Manistee National Forest Christmas Tree Permit, USDA Forest Service, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source

Rules for cutting

Trees can be up to 20 feet tall and 6 inches across, with the stump within 6 inches of the ground.

The maximum height of trees allowed for cutting is 20 feet and maximum diameter is 6 inches.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Cedar and hemlock are off limits.

Do not cut cedar or hemlock trees.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Stay 100 feet from paved roads and 50 feet from dirt roads.

Do not cut trees within 100 feet of paved roads and 50 feet from dirt roads.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Stay 100 feet from water, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads and other developed recreation areas.

Do not cut trees within 100 feet of water bodies, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads or other developed recreation areas.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Tag each tree before you move it, and carry the permit while cutting and hauling.

Each tree must be tagged prior to transport.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass get a free permit here.

Fourth graders with a valid 'Every Kid Outdoors' voucher or pass are entitled to one free Christmas Tree permit.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source

Huron-Manistee National Forests permits on Recreation.gov

Ottawa National Forest

2026 season

USDA Forest Service

Price
$5
Tallest tree
25 feet
On sale
Oct 8, 2026
Cutting
Oct 13, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Where to buy
Recreation.gov, in person at any Ottawa National Forest office
A permit is required for each tree cut and removed from National Forest land. You may obtain a permit from any Ottawa National Forest office for $5.
Forest Product Permits, Ottawa National Forest, USDA Forest Service, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source

Rules for cutting

No tree over 25 feet may be cut.

No trees over 25 feet in height may be cut.
Ottawa National Forest. Read it at the source

Cut the stump within 6 inches of the ground and do not take a big tree just for its top.

All stumps must be cut as close to the ground as possible (at least within 6 inches of the ground).
Ottawa National Forest. Read it at the source

Stay at least 100 feet from any lake or pond.

Do not cut any tree within 100 feet of a lake or pond.
Ottawa National Forest. Read it at the source

Wilderness, administrative sites, developed recreation sites, research natural areas and plantations are closed to cutting.

No cutting in designated wilderness, Forest Service administrative sites, developed recreation sites and/or Research Natural Areas.
Ottawa National Forest. Read it at the source

Ottawa National Forest permits on Recreation.gov

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Every Kid Outdoors

The free Christmas tree permit for Michigan fourth graders

A fourth grader with an Every Kid Outdoors pass can get a free Christmas tree permit from a national forest, and Huron-Manistee National Forests says so on its permit page. The pass is free from the Every Kid Outdoors program, and the permit is redeemed on Recreation.gov with the pass number.

Fourth graders with a valid 'Every Kid Outdoors' voucher or pass are entitled to one free Christmas Tree permit.
Huron-Manistee National Forests. Read it at the source
A small child in a knit hat rides a sled beside a cut fir tree on a snowy forest track, an adult and a dog walking ahead
A family tree on its way out of the Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming. The forest shared this photo to remind fourth graders that the Every Kid Outdoors pass brings a free tree permit. “Christmas tree - Bighorn National Forest - December 2017”, US Forest Service, Public domain

Michigan Christmas tree permit questions

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Christmas tree permits in other states

Michigan Christmas tree farmsChoose and cut farms and the pick your own season in Michigan.First snow in MichiganWhen the first measurable snow usually falls, city by city.Christmas tree permits by stateEvery forest's price and dates in one table, with the free fourth grade permit.
Tall snow covered conifers lining a snowy forest road under a bright blue sky
Fresh snow on the conifers of a Pacific Southwest Region national forest in November 2024, the week the region reminded families that its tree permits sell on Recreation.gov. “Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit? Christmas tree permits are availiable online at Recreation (20241116-FS-ASA-55)”, Region 5 Photography, Public domain

Compiled September 22, 2026. Every price, date and rule above is republished from Hiawatha National Forest Christmas Tree Permit, USDA Forest Service and the other forest pages linked beside each quote, read on September 22, 2026. Prices, dates and cutting areas change each fall, so the forest’s page is the one to check before a trip. Every state is in the national Christmas tree permit guide.