by: Elizabeth Sedway, TahoeKidsGuide.com.jpg)
For the price of a $10 permit (cash or check, no credit card), you can cut your own Christmas Tree at designated locations in the Lake Tahoe National Forest. Not only will your family enjoy the traditional experience of cutting their own tree, but also, according the the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, you will be assisting in the reduction of overgrowth in the National Forest.
Permits are available at the folowing Forest Service office at Lake Tahoe:
- At North Lake Tahoe, permits are sold at the Forest Service Office at 855 Alder Ave. Incline Village, NV 89451. Permit sales will continue Thursdays through Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., November 26th through December 23rd. During wintry weather and driving conditions, call the North Shore Office to determine permit sale availability, at (775) 831-0914.
Forest Service officials will assist permit purchasers with infomation to help them choose the best location and tree type. For more information, contact the Forest Supervisor's Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at (530) 543-2694.
This year, perhaps more than in the recent past, it will be a good idea to wear snowshoes, warm waterproof/water resistant pants and gloves. We tried, in vain, this year to get our tree without the benefit of snowshoes. We sunk into three or more feet of powdery snow. Exhausting.
In addition to a saw, you'll need a shovel to dig down close to the ground, where the Forest Service requires tree trunks to be cut.
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Comments
What a great way to save money and have fun too.
Our family bought a permit and cut a tree today. The folks at the Forest Service office were great. They were very helpful and provided us with information that made all the difference. We found the perfect tree, cut it down, carried it through the forest and loaded it up. We even had time to decorate the tree that afternoon. This year, we spent 10% of what we spent last year while we enjoyed an adventure that we'll remember a lifetime. Merry Christmas.
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