This Holiday Season Get a $5 Christmas Tree in Michigan (Seriously)

If you’re planning on getting a live Christmas tree this year, here’s a little Michigan tip that feels like one of those “if you know, you know” moments: you can snag a live tree for only five bucks.

Skip the lots and the lines, and the best part? You get to do it while supporting our national forests, which is kind of the perfect way to kick off the season of giving.

Just like every other holiday season: now through December 31st the National Forest Service is offering $5 permits that will allow you to cut down your own tree in one of Michigan’s national forests.

Good news, if you’re looking to do this for more than one room (or for another family member too) you’re not limited to just one. Each household can grab up to five permits for trees.

For most of us in West Michigan, the closest option is the Huron-Manistee National Forest, and you can buy that permit online. If you’re heading north for the holidays or want to turn it into a little road trip, permits for other forests are also available.

It’s a pretty sweet deal, but there are a few rules to follow: You can’t cut on private land or in wilderness areas, research zones, experimental forests, active timber sales, or any spot where new trees were recently planted. Maps change every year, so it’s worth downloading the newest version before you head out so you know exactly where you’re allowed to look.

You also have to give certain areas a little space: stay at least 100 feet away from lakes, rivers, campgrounds, picnic sites, and trailheads, and keep the same distance from paved roads (it’s 50 feet for dirt roads). Motorized vehicles have to stay on designated roads or trails, and no off-roading is allowed.

Once you find “the one,” the rules are pretty simple: no cutting cedar or hemlock, keep stumps under six inches, and make sure you take the whole tree rather than just topping it. Trees can be up to 20 feet tall and up to six inches in diameter, which is plenty for most living rooms unless you live in a cathedral. And if there’s snow on the ground, brush it away so you can measure accurately.

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In the end, it’s a great way to get outside, support conservation, and start a new holiday tradition without spending a ton of money. You get a real Michigan Christmas tree, a winter walk in the woods, and the warm fuzzy feeling of giving a little back to the forests we all love.