The holiday season is just around the corner, and for those looking to cut their own Christmas tree, permits are now on sale.
This year, permits can be purchased both online at Recreation.gov and at select ranger district offices, including the Mt. Taylor Ranger District Office in Grants and a designated location at Fort Wingate.
There are two physical locations to purchase a tree cutting permit:
• The Mt. Taylor Ranger District Office, located at 1800 Lobo Canyon Road in Grants, will be open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• For those closer to Fort Wingate, permits will be sold at 326 D. Painted Horse Trail on Wednesdays only, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., until December 11. Call the Mt. Taylor Ranger District at 505287-8833 ahead of time to confirm permit availability at Fort Wingate.
Each permit costs $10 for trees up to 10 feet, $12 for up to 12 feet, and $15 for up to 15 feet, with a limit of two trees per household.
The cutting period will last from Thanksgiving Day, November 28, until December 31, allowing families ample time to find their perfect tree.
For those who prefer online transactions, permits are available at Recreation.gov, where users can select their preferred district and find important information about cutting area maps, tree sizes, and other restrictions. A small processing fee will be applied to online purchases.
As part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, all fourth graders are eligible to receive a free Christmas tree permit. Families can use the program’s special code when purchasing a permit online or in person. For more information about the initiative, visit Every Kid Outdoors.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, the forest service reminds permit holders to park only in designated areas, obey day-use fees where applicable, and respect forest regulations. Additional information and maps of cutting areas can be found at the Cibola National Forest website, linked at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main /cibola/passes-permits/forestproducts.