Eldorado National Forest

Passes & Permits

CAMPFIRE PERMIT

You must have a campfire permit to use a stove, lantern, charcoal barbeque, or wood campfire outside of a developed campground or recreation area. The permit is your agreement to follow the campfire restrictions and regulations in effect.  

CHRISTMAS TREE PERMIT

The Eldorado National Forest does not issue Christmas tree permits for several different reasons.

• No funding or personnel to administer or enforce a program. The cost of issuing and administering a permit would exceed the permit receipts.
• The Eldorado is in close proximity to several major population areas with millions of people.
• Cutting would either be concentrated along paved roads or along dirt roads during the wet season resulting in resource damage. Depending on the weather large sections of the forest is not even accessible further concentrating the use.
• An Environmental Analysis would need to be completed to analyze the cumulative effects of this program/activity. No funding is available.

There are over 30 local Christmas Tree farms in the area. Many of these also provide food, crafts, activities, and a chance to visit with Santa Claus.

Look for more information on Local Christmas Tree farms at http://www.chooseandcut.com/.

The National Forests listed below do issue Christmas Tree cutting permits. For a printed list with information download the Christmas Tree Recreation Opportunity Guide (pdf).

NATIONAL FOREST LINKS

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - (530) 543-2600 - South Lake Tahoe
Klamath - (530) 842- 6131 - Supervisor's Office, Yreka
Lassen - (530) 257 - 2151 - Supervisor's Office, Susanville
Mendocino - (530) 934 - 3316 - Supervisor's Office, Willows
Modoc - (530) 233 - 5811 - Supervisor's Office, Alturas
Plumas - (530) 283 - 2050 Supervisor's Office, Quincy
Shasta-Trinity - (530) 244 - 2978 - Supervisor's Office, Redding
Six Rivers - (707) 442 - 1721 Supervisor's Office, Eureka
Humboldt-Toiyabe - (760) 932 - 7070 Bridgeport Ranger District, Bridgeport

INTERAGENCY FEE PASSES

Federal Recreation passes can be utilized in facilities on this forest. The Interagency Fee Passes can provide either free entrance or a discount for certain fees.  

SNO-PARK PERMIT

Sno-Parks are fun and safe locations to ski, snowshoe, or snow play with friends or family.  

WILDERNESS PERMITS

The Eldorado National Forest cooperatively manages two wilderness areas with other forests. Both Desolation Wilderness and Mokelumne Wilderness require permits for overnight stay. Desolation Wilderness also requires day permits. Both Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness Areas require permits year-round.

The permit requirements and processes differ significantly between the two. To learn more about Wilderness areas and to find out how to acquire permits for Desolation and Mokelumne, check out the Wilderness pages .

WOODCUTTING PERMIT

If you want to cut firewood for personal home use, you will need to purchase a permit. This allows you to search and gather dead and down wood on almost all Eldorado National Forest Land except Wilderness areas and administrative sites.  

USDA Forest Service - Eldorado National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 26 November 2008 at 18:39:09 EST