Photo By pikselstock/Adobestock
In rural Northern Michigan where I grew Up, walking out into the “woods” to cut down a Christmas tree was a holiday tradition as essential as sipping eggnog and eating too many sugar cookies. Now, after calling Utah home for the past two decades, I’ve learned that cutting your Christmas tree is a tradition many families enjoy here, too. And it’s easy to see why. Fresh-cut trees are much less expensive and, if cared for properly, last much longer than pre-cut trees, which are typically harvested weeks before arriving on the Christmas tree lot. And, when you cut your own tree from a cluster, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends, the trees left behind grow larger and more robust, creating a healthier forest.
All that said, walking around in the Utah “woods,” AKA backcountry, in search of the perfect Tannenbaum is not only more adventurous than the backyard tree-cutting sojourns of my youth but also requires more preparation and forethought. Here’s what you need to know before going on the hunt for the perfect yule-time tree.
Photos by Kristina Blokhin /AdobeStock,
No. 1: Get a permit
Both the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (USFS) and the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issue Christmas tree-cutting permits beginning in late October or early November. The specific districts where the USFS will issue Christmas tree-cutting will be announced in October. And it’s the early bird who gets the worm: last year, USFS Christmas tree-cutting permits sold out on recreation.gov within an hour of being released. Call the USFS regional office at (801) 999-2103 in mid-October to find out when online sales will go live this win-person permit sales. The BLM, which covers most of the rest of the state’s public lands, does not limit Christmas tree-cutting permits, which can be purchased at
forestproducts.blm.gov.
No. 2: Know where, how and what kind of tree you can cut
In past seasons, the USFS lands where Christmas tree cutting is allowed have been within the Heber-Kamas, Evanston-Mountain View, Logan, Ogden and Salt Lake Ranger Districts. As you might guess, all the canyons along the Wasatch Front—including the Cottonwoods, Millcreek, City Creek, etc.—are off-limits, as are all of the state’s designated Wilderness areas. The size and species of trees you can cut are specific as well—check your permit for details. In all cases, do not cut a tree that’s within 200 feet of a camping area or stream; make your cut on the trunk between six and eight inches above the ground, digging out snow from the base if necessary; never remove just the top of a tree; and scatter any extra branches that may have broken off during cutting around the stump. More info at fs.usda.gov.
No. 3: Don’t forget to bring
A tape measure. Invariably, the tree that looks to be the perfect size when it’s out in the wild will turn out to be too tall for your living room. (Remember the dad in A Christmas Story?) Measure the space where you plan to place the tree, considering the stand height, and then take the tape measure with you into the field. Other tools to bring include a handsaw, like a bow saw, which will make a more accurate cut than a chainsaw; gloves, to protect your hands from slivers and sap, both while cutting and carrying your tree out;a broken down cardboard box, to place on the ground to protect your knees while you kneel to cut down the tree; a tarp, to drag the tree out on and to cover your car with during transport; and a rope, to secure the tree to your car.
No. 4: And these things, too
Photo courtesy of Adam’s Acres Tree Farm
Warm and waterproof boots and gloves, snowshoes, and a shovel to dig your vehicle out in case you get stuck in the snow. Last November, a family from Grantsville experienced the spirit of Christmas firsthand when a passerby helped dig out their truck after it had been stuck for hours during a Christmas tree-cutting expedition in the Stansbury Mountains.
There are, of course, other options for cutting your own Christmas tree in Utah that don’t involve permits or venturing into the backcountry. You can choose and cut your own Colorado spruce, Doug fir, Austrian pine or white fir tree at Meldrum Christmas Tree Farm in Layton (2073 W. Gentile Street, utahchristmastreefarm.com), open from early November while the trees last. Or sign up to cut your own Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend at the Logan-area Adam’s Acres Tree Farm (77 W. Highway 30, Petersboro). Watch for a signup link on the farm’s Facebook page in early November. Other events at the farm over the weekend include visits from Santa, snowball fights, complimentary hot chocolate, campfires and a holiday gift shop.
