Add researching how to cut your own Christmas tree to the list of local firsts we’ve tried in Seattle in 2020. We usually go to the same tree farm in North Bend where we’ve gone almost exclusively for the past 10 or 11 years. But this year we were worried about distancing and not sure if everyone would be wearing masks AND we didn’t want a shadow of the beautiful memories we’ve had at this magical place. We wanted something new.
First you need a permit before you get a tree
I wasn’t going to talk about our tree-cutting experience until I heard about some people just going into the forest and getting trees which doesn’t seem right so I thought I better write this up to help . You need a permit if you want to cut your own Christmas tree and you need to pay for the tree you are going to cut. All of this can be done at home on your computer before you go and I was surprised to see how inexpensive this whole experience was.
If you have a 4th grader you might be able to get a free tree
We didn’t know about this when our guys were in 4th grade so I’m not sure how this works but with the “Every Kid Outdoors Pass” your 4th grader (and maybe in 2020 your 5th grader) can get a free Christmas tree by showing their Every Kid Outdoors Pass. It sounds like you present your 4th grader’s pass to one of the Forest Service Offices or local vendors selling Christmas Tree Permits to be eligible for the free tree but make sure you check the actual government site yourself if you are going to do this to make sure you’re doing it right.
Where can you cut a Christmas tree near Seattle?
We have friends who have been cutting their own Christmas trees for years in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and I wish we could have gone with them this year. But the roads where they go are a little tricky and this is not the year we wanted to get stuck and need help. So we looked for easy routes near our cabin where we could easily park and walk in. The map we got when we signed up for the pass gives you a pretty good idea of where you can cut your own tree. And the site also told us all the things we needed to do to be prepared for the experience before we went.
What to Bring with you to cut your Own Christmas Tree
Make sure you check the tree permit site before you go looking for your tree to ensure you have everything you need. We always check the weather now too (since we went on a trip to Amsterdam years ago and figured out too late that we were in an Orange weather storm.) We weren’t getting a huge tree so we brought a tarp to wrap it up in to put it in our Highlander SUV. There is a limit on the size of the tree you are allowed to cut down (I think it might be 15 feet but check the site to make sure!). We also brought a saw, a shovel and we have an emergency pack in the car just in case we need first aid, water and warmth.
The tree permit site also recommended telling someone that you are going to get a tree and where you are going before you go so that they can contact help if you don’t return. A lot of places we’ve hiked in this area (like this popular rock hounding area) can have spotty cell service so it’s a good habit to do this anyways.
Also, my husband watched this video on the Forest Service site before we went and learned about the right trees to pick (it tells the difference between a Douglas fir and Noble Fir and tells you that you should not pick a hemlock tree because they usually lose their needles after a week!)
And what did Scout think of his first Christmas tree adventure?
We are currently trying to make sure that Scout, our 9 month old Yorkie Poo pup stays away from the tree water which he’s tried to drink. He also wants to eat the tree. When I googled “Is my Christmas tree toxic to my dog” I found an article that told me that the tree just might be so we’ve placed Christmas presents and a Lego train around the bottom to try to discourage him from trying. My mom also told me that she puts bells on the bottom of the tree so she can hear if her dog is getting into the tree as well.
The tree we picked is more of a Charlie Brown tree than we have ever had before. But it also feels a little perfect for this year. Do you usually get a real tree for Christmas? And if so, where do you get your tree?
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)