Many families relish roaming the hills together on a cold winter’s day in search of their own unique naturally grown Christmas tree. The Bureau of Land Management began offering permits to harvest Christmas trees on Nov. 12 and will continue to provide permits through Dec. 24.

Permits enable holders to cut personal-use trees on lands managed by the BLM and the Forest Service in the following areas:

  • Arizona Strip District Bureau of Land Management ($5 per permit/tree)
  • St. George Field Office, Bureau of Land Management ($10 per permit/tree)
  • Dixie National Forest ($10 per tree for trees from 1-10 feet high/$20 for trees 11-20 feet high)

A permit is required for the harvest of each individual tree. The tree tag is validated by attaching it securely to the tree in a visible location and cutting out the date, month, and year. Permits are only good for the land agency in which the tag was purchased.

Pinyon pine or juniper trees are available on BLM Arizona Strip, BLM St George Field Office and Pine Valley District on the Dixie National Forest. (The cutting of white fir and subalpine fir is permitted on the Cedar City District of the Dixie National Forest.)

The St. George BLM Public Lands Information Center, located at 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790, carries permits for the Bureau of Land Management’s Arizona Strip District and St. George Field Offices, and Dixie National Forest’s Pine Valley and Cedar City Ranger Districts.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Information is available at 435-688-3200.