Naches Ranger District Woodcutting

Those wishing to cut their own firewood on Naches Ranger District can obtain a free personal use woodcutting permit from the Naches Ranger District office from the first Monday in May through September 30. Office hours are Monday thru Friday 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. (closed for lunch from 12-12:30). Permits are free for single household personal use. 

Naches Ranger District
10237 Highway 12
Naches, WA
(509) 653-1401

For people selling firewood, commercial firewood permits must be purchased at the Cle Elum Ranger Station located at 803 W. 2nd Street in Cle Elum. The minimum permit purchase is 4 cords for $20, and the maximum is 12 cords for $60.

For woodcutting on Naches Ranger District, see 
Woodcutting Information and Map publication [2-page PDF: 3mb]

Spanish-Mapa de corte de leña del distrito de guardabosques de Naches [2-página PDF: 5mb]

Spanish-Información de tala de árboles 

In 2023 on the Naches District, the normal firewood removal conditions apply with an exception that will allow for the removal of green windblown trees that fell during winter blocking access on Forest Service (FS) roads and are not within a riparian reserve in both open and closed wood cutting areas.

Only the green windblown trees that fell across FS roads and are blocking driving access may be removed. The entire tree may be cut and removed for firewood by individuals possessing a valid firewood permit and load tags.

Any windblown trees that are green and do not block FS roads shall be left in place and are not allowed to be removed as firewood on the Naches District. Pieces over 8 inches in diameter must be split to allow for curing and drying.

Contact the Naches Ranger District at 509-653-1401 for more information.

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For woodcutting on Naches Ranger District, see 
Woodcutting Information and Map publication [2-page PDF: 3mb]

Viewing and Printing Tips for Woodcutting Map: 
First, save the map you want to your computer by right-clicking on the link and then selecting "Save link as..." in pop up menu. (You can also go to the map link and once map loads you can right click on map and do a "Save as...")  Either way you can rename map when you save it, since it defaults to database name. Then open the file with Acrobat Reader (or Acrobat Pro). Zoom way in to the area you want to view and/or print. To print that zoomed in view, go to Print, then under More Options select "Current View" and also "Fit" under page sizing. Then print it.  

For information and maps for woodcutting on other Ranger Districts, see Woodcutting page

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The permit does not authorize firewood cutting on private or state land, shown in white on the map.

In order to meet the requirements of both the Northwest Forest Plan and the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan for maintaining adequate numbers of standing and down dead material for wildlife use, there are some restrictions in areas open to firewood cutting. For example, Late Successional Reserves and Adaptive Management Areas remain closed to woodcutting. An additional restriction has been added to protect areas adjacent to streams and wetlands. Firewood cutting is not allowed within 300 feet of streams, lakes, ponds or wet areas. As all these areas cannot reasonably be shown on the map, it is the responsibility of firewood permit holders to limit their wood gathering activities to areas outside of these stream protection zones.

Also, some small sites such as campgrounds and administrative study sites, are closed to woodcutting within the large areas which are shown as open to wood collection.

There may be some limited exceptions to the information shown on this map. For example, in a few cases, woodcutting may be permitted within the closed area. Check with the local ranger district office for any exceptions.

As we learn more about the needs of wildlife species, there are likely to be further changes in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest firewood program. We recognize the importance of this program to the public. Our goal will be to continue the program while providing proper protection to the many wildlife species that live in the national forest.

FIREWOOD REMOVAL CONDITIONS

Upon receiving and signing your permit, you are agreeing to the conditions listed on this map and those listed in the FOREST PRODUCTS REMOVAL PERMIT. Please read them carefully.

A) Load tickets must be validated (by cutting out the month and date of removal), and attached to the load before moving the vehicle from the cutting site. One validated load ticket must be attached to the back of the load and made clearly visible for:

1) each ½ (half) cord of wood, or

2) any portion thereof. A standard pickup without sideboards, loaded level with the top of the sides, will hold about a half cord of wood.

B) This permit is for dead wood, with the following exceptions:

1) (a) Snags or down logs marked with paint, plastic ribbon and/or signs, (b) Snags with bird cavities (holes), nests, broken tops or wildlife tree signs, (c) Snags in the Oak Creek Drainage. (d) Special restrictions may be applied by the District Ranger.

2) Firewood cutting, snag felling, or gathering of downed material is prohibited within 300 feet of streams, lakes, ponds, or wet areas. Felling of any standing tree within 200 feet of major roads is prohibited: U.S. Highway 12, State Route 410, Forest Service Roads -1000 (South Fork Tieton), 1200 (Tieton Road), and 1900 (Little Naches Road).

3) Cutting or removing firewood is prohibited in the Bumping River Drainage and along the Mather Memorial Parkway which is designated on State Route 410 beginning at the junction of SR 410 and the Bumping River Road, (Forest Road 1800) to Chinook Pass.

4) This permit entitles you to cut firewood only on National Forest land, excluding Timber Sales. Summer Home areas, Developed Recreation sites, Late Successional Reserves, Private Lands within the National Forest boundary, Wilderness, and other Special Areas.

5) The use of specialized loading and skidding equipment such as tractors, rubber-tired skidders, and large trucks with self-loaders, is not allowed.

6) Pieces over 8 inches in diameter must be split at least once before removal.

7) Permittee must have local ranger district's firewood cutting map or other conditions specific to ranger district at hand in addition to the firewood permit, while performing firewood activities. Refer to the firewood cutting map for fire precaution levels and restrictions for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Check with local ranger district for current information.

C) Removal of firewood in a campground is not allowed. Unused firewood must be left in the campground when you leave. The same woodcutting rules apply.

D) It is not legal to cut live Western Larch (tamarack) which shed their needles in the late fall and winter and appear to be dead.

E) Possession and/or transportation of cedar is restricted under RCW 76.48.070.

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When woodcutting, always be sure to carry the fire equipment listed on the woodcutting permit and properly secure and tag the load of wood.

Both the woodcutting permit and the woodcutting tags need to be in the woodcutter’s possession when gathering wood. Always check to find out what the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is before heading to the woods to do some woodcutting. This information is also available at any Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest office. The best woodcutting times are in the spring and fall. Contact local Ranger District offices for details.

Firewood cutting is only allowed in designated areas. Map for designated areas accompany the permit. The maximum is 12 cords (when used for personal use).

1. Please read your firewood permit carefully and completely.

2. The permit and woodcutting stubs must be in your possession when cutting firewood. The following equipment is also required at the cutting site when using a power saw:

• Saw with exhaust system in good repair and a scree-type spark arrestor of 0.023" or less and qualified under USDA Forest Service Standards.
• Shovel: Long-handled round point with an 8" blade in possession of operator.
• Fire extinguisher: Pressurized chemical of not less than 8-ounce capacity by weight and in possession of operator.

3. Each load ticket allows you to haul 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood. If your vehicle is large enough to allow you to transport more than 1/2 cord of wood, a load ticket must be attached for each 1/2 cord of wood hauled. This ticket must be marked to indicate the month and day of use, and be attached to the load when the vehicle is moved from the cutting site.

Cord of Wood

A standard, full cord of wood is a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. A full cord can weigh up to 5,000 pounds.

 

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Small Pickup -- 1/4 ton

With or without racks this truck bed holds approximately 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood. One load ticket required.

 

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Short Bed Pickup -- 1/2 ton

With or without racks this truck bed holds approximately 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood. One load ticket required.

 

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Long Bed Pickup -- 1/2 or 3/4 ton

Without racks this truck bed holds approximately 1/2 (one-half) cord of wood. One load ticket required.

With racks this truck bed holds approximately 1 (one) cord of wood. Two load tickets required.

 

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Standard Truck -- 1 ton

With high racks this truck bed holds approximately 1 1/2 (one and a half) cords of wood. Three load tickets required.

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Please note that trucks may be overloaded when filled with wood. Check the owner's manual for your vehicle to see what load weights the truck can safely haul and make sure your vehicle is licensed for the weight you will be hauling.

Save money!

Five easy ways to make your wood fuel last longer

Keep your wood dry

• Split wood before you stack it.  Wood pieces 3 ½ to 6 inches in diameter dry easiest and burn best.
• Stack wood loosely in alternating directions to help it dry.
• Store wood at least 6 inches off the ground.
• Cover your wood.
• Give it a year.  Wood that has been split, dried, and stored under cover for at least a year burns best.

Burn with care

• Build small fires to help the wood burn completely.  Adding too much wood at one time cuts down on the air to the fire and leaves you with unburned wood. 
• Keep your fire hot. Dampering down your stove just cuts off the air, which wastes wood, creates a lot of smoke, and produces very little heat. 

Check your chimney smoke

• If you can see smoke coming from your chimney, you’re wasting fuel and your fire needs more air.

Use the right wood stove or fireplace for your home

• Use a wood stove or fireplace that is certified in Washington, the right size, and properly installed.  For details, go to the Department of Ecology web site at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/airhome.html and click on the wood stove/fireplace photo.

Obey burn bans

• Call 1-800-406-5322 and listen for woodstove burn ban language or go to www.waburnbans.net to see if there is a burn ban where you live. If there is, don’t burn.  Burning during a ban can harm your family’s health or cause a fire danger.