Christmas tree permits at Tahoe sell out, remain available nearby on Nevada Forest Service, BLM public lands
The 1,500 Christmas tree permits offered this year by the Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit were sold out by 9:15 a.m., Wednesday morning, just 75 minutes after they went up for grabs. The good news is Christmas tree permits remain available elsewhere, including on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the Carson City District of the Bureau of Land Management.
To purchase a Christmas tree permit on Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest, go here. Permits are $10 on the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts.
To purchase a Christmas tree permit online via the BLM, go here and search for Nevada, Carson City District Office.
The BLM permit allows the purchaser to cut a pinyon pine or juniper tree (the cutting of all other tree species is prohibited) on BLM-administered lands, primary in the Pine Nut Mountains between Carson City and Yerington, the Clan Alpine and Desatoya Mountains east of Fallon and the Excelsior Mountains southeast of Hawthorne.
No cutting of trees within wilderness study areas. Cutters are urged to be conscious of and not cut Christmas trees near city or residential areas.
The cost per Christmas tree permit on BLM land is $5. Upon purchase of a Christmas tree permit via the BLM, maps and permit stipulations will be provided. No more than 10 Christmas tree permits may be purchased by one individual; the permits are for individual use only.
Permits are available at the Carson City BLM District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, Carson City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information call 775-885-6000.
The Lake Tahoe permits from the U.S. Forest Service have always been popular, and lines were even seen some years winding around the LTBMU offices in South Lake Tahoe. Since the permit purchases went online through the Recreation.Gov website, sales have been brisk.
The Eldorado National Forest permits sold out quickly as well. Some districts in the Tahoe National Forest still have some permits. The Truckee Ranger District is the closest to Lake Tahoe, and as of noon on November 17, still had permits available.