With a $15 permit, students and community members can head into designated public lands to cut down their own Christmas tree. 

The permit is valid in the two closest zones to Madison County: the Targhee Zone and the Caribou Zone. The Targhee Zone includes the Dubois, Ashton Island Park, Teton Basin and Palisades ranger districts, while the Caribou Zone covers Montpelier, Soda Springs and the Westside ranger district.

For some students at BYU-Idaho, cutting down their own Christmas tree has become a holiday tradition. 

Madie Wright, a senior studying communications, said the tradition is a fun way to spend time with friends. 

“Cutting down a Christmas tree has been my favorite college activity,” Wright said. “I love finding a tree in a section where we’re allowed to cut. It’s like a treasure hunt.”

Mason Sorensen, a senior studying biology, added that the experience is an annual event full of laughter and memories.

“It’s special because we only go once a year,” Sorensen said. “Last year, my friends and I were joking the entire time while we cut and tied the tree to the top of the car. It’s a lot of fun and really gets you into the Christmas spirit.”

Permits, maps of designated cutting areas and tips for planning your trip can be found here: recreation.gov/tree-permits