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Firewood Cutting on the Klamath National Forest
Cutting firewood for personal use is a popular pastime for many people who live near the Klamath National Forest. Each year, hundreds of people go to the woods to stock up on a supply of firewood for the winter, often thinking about how pleasant it is to sit in front of a warm fire on a cold winter night. There is something very satisfying about a nicely-cut, split, and stacked wood pile.
Before you head out with your chainsaw, there are a few things you should know about cutting firewood on the national forest.
- A Klamath National Forest permit is only good for wood collected on the Klamath National Forest. The permit is NOT valid for cutting wood on private land, neighboring national forests, or on Bureau of Land Management land. Use the Personal Use Firewood maps to ensure you are cutting within the Klamath National Forest boundaries.
- January starts the new year for firewood permits, running through to December 31st.
- Anyone 18 years or older may acquire a permit.
- Woodcutters are required to have the permit and the maps in their possession while cutting.
- The regulations within the permit, as well as, the regulations stated on the Klamath National Forest Personal Use Firewood and Motor Vehicle Use Maps for the area where wood is being cut and collected must be followed.
- The person named on the permit must be present during wood cutting and transport unless a third-party wood cutter is designated. The designation form must be completed and attached with the permit. The form is available below.
- Wood collected under the permit must be transported to and used at the address listed on the permit. Wood is for personal-use only and may not be sold to another party.
- A total of up to 12 cords of firewood for personal use is permitted per calendar year. A cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long.
- The cost is $2.00 per cord with a minimum $20.00 fee per transaction. If you expect to need 12 cords within the calendar year, we recommend that you purchase a permit for the full 12 cords one time. (Pay $24.00 for 12 cords, rather than $40.00 in two transactions.)
- As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the permit holder to check and be aware of the firewood cutting restrictions in effect. Firewood cutting restriction information can be obtained by phoning 530-841-4588 at any time.
- In addition, incidental amounts of other forest products may be collected as outlined in the Special Forest Products Incidental Use Guide.
You can purchase your permits in one of four ways:
- In Person - Visit your nearest Klamath National Forest office.
- Email - Fill out a form to request a wood permit and send the completed form as an attachment to the secure online file folder at CUI_Woo.emg9izfk1xwd9mwc@u.box.com. Please note that only the attachment will be saved, and the email does not go to an inbox. Any content you write in the email will not be seen by anyone. Additionally, you will not receive a reply message. The permit will be processed once your check is received. If you selected to pay by credit card, or you will be called to make a credit/debit card payment by the office you requested.
- USPS mail - Fill out a form to request a wood permit and mail the completed form to one of the offices listed on the request form. Include a check/money order or indicate on the form when you would like to be called to make a payment by credit/debit card.
- Telephone - Call your local Ranger District office during working hours to provide your personal information and your credit/debit card information over the phone.
For email, USPS mail, and telephone options, the permit and any maps requested will be delivered to you by United States Postal Service mail after payment has been made. Permittees can expect to receive their permit within 10 business days.
All payments must be made by credit/debit card, check, money order, or cash.
If another person will be cutting and transporting the wood to your address, please provide the following for a 3rd-Party Authorization attachment for your permit:
- Cutter's name
- Cutter's address
- Cutter's driver's license or ID# including state and expiration date
Please check the Klamath National Forest website's Alerts and Notices page for current information of areas closed due to wildfires and for current information on Fire Restrictions.
Personal Use Firewood Maps are available for free online (see links below) or by mail from our offices. Keep in mind that areas of private land are scattered within and near the boundaries of the Klamath National Forest. The permit is NOT valid for cutting wood on private land, nor on Bureau of Land Management land.
The free Personal Use Firewood maps show “General Firewood Cutting Areas” and “Restricted Cutting Areas.” The maps explain what is allowed in each area. Among other rules, Restricted Cutting Areas only allow firewood to be removed within 100 feet of roads shown on current Motor Vehicles Use Maps. Firewood cutting is not allowed in wilderness areas (except for campfires, see below).
- Goosenest Ranger District (Geo-referenced map for use with Avenza app)
- Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District (Geo-referenced map for use with Avenza app)
- Salmon/Scott River Ranger District (Geo-referenced map for use with Avenza app)
The Goosenest Ranger District regularly designates special “firewood areas.” These may be sites of recent timber harvest, wildfire, or where fuels reduction is needed. Firewood in these special areas tends to be more plentiful. Off road vehicle use is permitted in all of the special firewood areas on the Goosenest Ranger District, but high-clearance vehicles with good tires are recommended. Locations and maps of special firewood areas are available from Forest Service offices.
The Salmon-Scott River and Happy Camp-Oak Knoll Ranger Districts have at times also designated special “firewood areas” but without extra off-road vehicle use. Contact any Klamath National Forest district office about these areas.
Remember to follow the rules and conditions for both the firewood permit and the Klamath National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps. Consult your permit and maps to see how far off the road you may drive a vehicle to collect firewood.
Late spring and late fall are generally the best times to cut firewood. Most firewood does not burn well when freshly cut. You should plan on drying firewood for several months before using it.
It is the responsibility of permittee to check and be aware of the firewood cutting status in effect. Firewood cutting restriction information can be obtained at any Forest Service Office or by phoning 530-841-4588 at any time. The following recorded information is provided and updated by 5pm for the next day:
- YES / LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH Fire Danger rating = Woodcutting all day
- YES / VERY HIGH Fire Danger rating = Woodcutting until 1:00 pm
- NO / EXTREME Fire Danger Rating = No woodcutting
For woodcutting in Happy Camp, Oak Knoll, Salmon River, and Scott River listen to the West Zone danger rating. For the Goosenest, listen to the East Zone.
It is the permittee’s responsibility to comply with all equipment regulations. Chainsaws and other internal combustion engines must be equipped with a California-approved spark arrester. As a fire precaution, permittees are required to have a UL-approved fire extinguisher or a shovel with an overall length of at least 46” inches within 25 feet of chainsaw operations.
The District offices in Macdoel, Fort Jones, and Happy Camp sell commercial firewood permits. Contact District offices for information. Commercial firewood permits are specific to each Ranger District and are not available at the Supervisor’s Office in Yreka.
A permit or fee is not required for firewood gathered in association with camping in developed campgrounds. For additional information go to the Forest Products for Personal Use page.