Christmas Tree Permits in Arizona 2026: How to Cut Your Own Tree

Yes, you can cut your own Christmas tree in Arizona. The national forests up north sell personal-use tree permits online through Recreation.gov each fall. For the 2026 season, Kaibab permits went on sale October 8, and Coconino permits go on sale November 14 at 8 a.m. Arizona time, with cutting allowed through December 31.

In the Valley you can wear shorts on Saturday and stand under a snowy ponderosa pine on Sunday. Newcomers are often surprised that heading into the woods for a tree is still a tradition here. It just takes a permit, a plan and a full tank of gas.

Which Arizona national forests sell Christmas tree permits?

The Forest Service's Southwestern Region lists Christmas tree permits for Arizona forests including the Kaibab, Coconino, Prescott, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves. Each permit is good only on the forest (and often only the district) it was bought for, so pick your destination before you buy. Here is what each forest's 2026 permit page said when I checked it this week:

• Kaibab National Forest: 2026 online sales opened October 8. Permits cover the Williams, Tusayan and North Kaibab districts, and each permit is valid only in the district you choose.
• Coconino National Forest: 2026 online sales start November 14 at 10 a.m. Eastern, which is 8 a.m. here in Arizona. Permits cover the Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim districts, and cutting runs November 14 through December 31.
• Prescott National Forest: For 2026, permit areas cover most of the Bradshaw and Chino districts plus the western part of the Verde district on Mingus Mountain. The page allows one permit per household. It did not list 2026 sale dates when I checked.
• Tonto National Forest: The Tonto's permit page still showed last year's dates when I looked, so watch Recreation.gov for the 2026 announcement.
• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: The permit page allows one tree per permit but did not show a 2026 date. Check back before you plan a White Mountains trip.

The regional Forest Service page notes that some locations sell out very quickly, so if you have your heart set on a particular forest, be ready when sales open.

How to buy a Christmas tree permit

Most permits are sold on Recreation.gov. Search for the forest name plus "Christmas tree permit," create an account if you don't have one, choose your district and download the cutting area map. The Forest Service also says permits can be bought by phone through some forest supervisor and district offices, and it suggests calling ahead to check availability before you drive anywhere.

Two details catch people off guard. First, the Coconino, Tonto and Prescott pages all say to print your permit and bring it with you. Second, the Coconino page says there are no changes, cancellations or refunds, so double-check your district before you click buy.

Free tree permit for fourth graders

If you have a fourth grader, check out the Every Kid Outdoors program. The Forest Service says fourth graders can get a free Christmas tree permit by entering their Every Kid Outdoors pass number on Recreation.gov. A small processing fee still applies.

Rules for cutting your tree

Rules vary a little by forest, so read your forest's page. The common ones:

• Height: 10 feet is the maximum on the Kaibab, Coconino, Prescott, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves pages.
• Trunk and stump: Kaibab and Coconino limit the trunk to six inches or less in diameter and ask you to cut no more than six inches above the ground. Prescott allows a stump up to eight inches. Apache-Sitgreaves measures the trunk higher up, so check its page.
• Where you can't cut: private land, wilderness areas, campgrounds and recreation sites, active timber sales and areas planted with new trees. Kaibab and Prescott ask you to stay at least 200 feet from campgrounds and recreation areas, and Apache-Sitgreaves warns that cutting on White Mountain Apache or San Carlos Apache tribal land will bring citations from tribal authorities.
• Tagging: Apache-Sitgreaves says to put the tag on the tree as soon as you cut it, and the Tonto asks you to fill in the month and day when you leave the cutting site.
• Thinning helps the forest: The Kaibab says its permit program helps thin crowded stands of small trees.

As for what you'll find, the forest pages show pinyon, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, white fir and blue spruce, depending on where you go and how high you climb.

Safety tips for a high country tree trip

A December morning in Phoenix and one in the high country are two different worlds. The forest pages repeat the same advice:

• Check the weather and road closures before you leave. Forest roads may not be plowed and some can be locked for public safety.
• Carry tire chains, a shovel and a tow chain, and start with a full tank.
• Expect spotty or no cell service. Bring a paper map and don't rely only on GPS.
• Pack food, water, warm boots and a survival kit.
• Find your tree and get out of the woods before dark.

If you're also planning to play in the snow on the same trip, my post on where to see snow near Phoenix this winter covers Snowbowl, Flagstaff parking and ADOT's winter driving tips.

Making a tradition of it

Cut the tree in the morning, grab lunch in a mountain town on the way home, and spend the evening at one of the Valley's light displays. Here is my list of holiday lights in Phoenix for 2026. If you're still deciding which part of the Valley fits you, my guide to Arizona cities and the moving to Phoenix guide are good places to start.

Questions people ask

Do you need a permit to cut a Christmas tree in Arizona?
Yes. You need a Christmas tree permit from the national forest where you'll cut, and you must stay in the designated areas shown on that forest's map. A permit for one forest can't be used on another.

When do 2026 Christmas tree permits go on sale in Arizona?
Kaibab permits went on sale October 8, 2026, and Coconino permits go on sale November 14, 2026 at 8 a.m. Arizona time. Other forests post their dates on Recreation.gov, and some sell out quickly.

How tall can my Christmas tree be?
Ten feet is the maximum on the Arizona forest permit pages I checked. Trunk diameter and stump height limits vary by forest, so read your permit before you cut.

Can fourth graders get a free Christmas tree permit?
Yes. Through Every Kid Outdoors, a fourth grader's pass number can be used on Recreation.gov for a free permit, though a processing fee applies.

Terry Day, REALTOR®, DeLex Realty, 10115 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.