$7.50 gets you a Green Mountain National Forest Christmas tree

December 16, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

Vermonters on the hunt for an economical Christmas tree and a little adventure along the way can make a trip to the Green Mountain National Forest to cut up to two trees for $5 each and a small fee.

The national forest allows the public to visit to cut down their own trees in designated areas through Dec. 31. 

The Green Mountain National Forest is the only federally managed National Forest in Vermont, encompassing more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont. It’s the largest contiguous public land area in the state. 

There are some guidelines, such as a limit of two trees per household per year; harvested trees must be no taller than 20 feet, and stumps left behind are to be no higher than 6 inches. 

Maps online and available for downloading show areas of the national forest open for tree-cutting (and areas off-limits for cutting). They’re also available via mapping apps such as Avenza.

Vermonters can cut a Christmas tree in the Green Mountain National Forest for $5. Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

The areas closest to Waterbury open for tree harvesting are in the northern section of the forest in Warren, Fayston and Buel’s Gore. 

Permits cost $5 per tree, and there’s a $2.50 Recreation.gov reservation fee.

Also, if a family has a fourth-grade student, they can obtain a free holiday tree permit. Free trees are a perk of the Every Kid Outdoors program, which offers fourth graders and their family members free admission passes to national parks, forests and federal lands. 

More information is online here, including tips on cutting a tree and transporting it home.