Seasonal Forest Products Available from the Superior National Forest

Forest product permits (holiday trees, balsam boughs, firewood, etc.) are now available for purchase through the Superior National Forest Offices

Duluth, MN – October 21, 2024 – The Superior National Forest reminds interested parties that forest product permits are now available for holiday decorating and festivities. Holiday tree cutting or balsam boughs gathering can be a special family tradition. Permits must be on-site during forest products gathering. Information on forest products permits is located at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ main/superior/passes-permits/forestproducts

Holiday Trees

Holiday/Christmas tree permits went on sale on October 13, 2024, through January 6, 2025, from Recreation.gov at: Recreation.gov-SNF-Christmas Tree Permit Cost is $5 per tree. Additional guidelines and restrictions include:

• Make sure you are on National For­est System land, but not within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wil­derness. Maps can be viewed or pur­chased at Forest Service offices.
• Choose cutting areas away from plantations, devel­oped recreation or administration sites, and Research Natural Areas.
• Walk/snowshoe/ ski well off the roadside to select your tree. Select a tree the correct size for your home. Do not cut the top off a taller tree. The maximum stump height is 12 inches.
• There is a two tree per household lim­it.
• Every Kid Outdoors offers a free Christmas tree tag to all 4th graders. More at: https:// everykidoutdoors. gov/index.htm

Balsam Boughs

Balsam bough permits are available at your local Superior National Forest office for personal and commercial use. See a full list below or on our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/about-forest/offices.

All bough cutting parties must have a permit. Parties can have up to five pickers listed. If you are cutting boughs for per­sonal (non-com­mercial) use, you may purchase a permit for $20 and cut enough boughs for five wreaths. If you are picking commercially to supply commer­cial manufactur­ers, there is a mini­mum permit fee of $50 for two tons. Additional tons may be harvest­ed at $25.00 per ton. See additional rules on your per­mit.

• Make sure you are on National For­est System land, but not within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wil­derness. Maps can be purchased at Forest Service of­fices.
• Walk/ski/snow­shoe at least 50 feet off the road­side, trail, lake, or recreation area be­fore selecting the trees from which to harvest. Harvest boughs from trees that are greater than 7 feet high. Never fell trees to harvest boughs. You may only har­vest branches from the lower half of the tree. Leave a portion of each pruned branch for regeneration.
• Harvested branch­es should have ends no larger in diameter than a pencil. As you harvest along the branch, leave part of the branch for growth and regen­eration. Cutting at a fork will leave one side of the fork for regeneration.
• Harvesting of Princess Pine is not allowed on the Superior National Forest.
  
  Firewood Permits
  
  The Superior National Forest offers year-round firewood permits for $20, available at offices (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/about-forest/offices). See information below for select free areas for firewood due to the September 2023 storm. Conditions for a firewood permit include:
• It is the permittee’s responsibility to make sure they are on Superior Na­tional Forest lands. ONLY down trees within 100ft of the centerline of the Forest Service roads listed on the permit are allowed. All firewood prod­ucts cut must be no longer than 6 feet in length. Trees marked with paint, tags or signs may not be removed but can be cleared.
• Forest products obtained under “free use” are for personal use only and cannot be sold or exchanged. (36 CFR 261.6(f). Now through Sep­tember 30, 2025, the Superior NF is offering free fire­wood permits at select September 2023 storm dam­age locations.
• Permit must be in permittee’s pos­session while har­vesting and trans­porting products. Permit is nontrans­ferable.
• Permit and activ­ities hereunder are subject to all applicable federal statutes and reg­ulation, state and local laws. The Forest Service re­serves the right to unilaterally revoke the permit for Permittee’s non­compliance with its terms or in the public’s interest.
• Permittee shall remove all trash and litter resulting from permittees activities.
• The use of trac­tors, rubber-tired skidders, or simi­lar vehicles is not allowed. Close any road barricade when leaving if applicable. No rut­ting or ground dis­turbing activities.
  
  Using an OHV or Snowmobile on the Superior National Forest

Off – Highway Vehicles (OHVs), including ATVs, dirt bikes, etc. must travel on roads and trails designated for this use. OHVs are not allowed to travel cross country on National Forest System lands within the Superior National Forest. However, snowmobiles may be used cross country in most areas as well as on designated trails and unplowed roads provided there is 4 inches of snow cover. Check with the office issuing your holiday greens permit for more specifics regarding use of OHVs and any other restrictions in the area you plan to visit. https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/superior/recreation/wintersports