Gathering your own Christmas tree or balsam boughs on the national forest is a great way to get outdoors with your family and celebrate the holidays. For many people this is an annual tradition.
You may stop by any Forest Service office to obtain a permit for a Christmas tree. A permit to cut one Christmas tree on the Superior National Forest costs $5. Two Christmas tree permits are allowed per household per year. These are not intended for commercial use.
Permits for bough gathering are only available at Ranger District offices. Contact the Ranger District office closest to the area where you plan to collect. A “personal use” permit for gathering balsam boughs on the Superior National Forest allows for enough boughs to make approximately five doorsize wreaths and costs $20. If you plan to harvest a large amount of boughs, a commercial permit must be purchased.
Cutting of Christmas trees and boughs is not allowed inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, plantations, recreation areas, or administrative sites. Visitor maps of the Superior National Forest which show land ownership are available for $10 at all Forest Service offices and also via internet.
You may use your Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), including ATVs and dirt bikes, only on designated trails and specific roadways. Motor vehicle use maps are available at Forest Service offices and are posted on our website. Snowmobiles may be used on designated trails and cross-country in most areas or on unplowed roads with a 4-inch minimum snow cover.
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