Christmas Tree Season Opens in Siskiyou

Happy Thanksgiving! For Siskiyou residents this weekend also means more than just a delicious meal on Thursday โ€“ itโ€™s generally the first weekend of the time-honored tradition of going out to the woods and cutting down the family Christmas tree. Thereโ€™s nothing like a fresh cut tree to fill your house with a great woodsy smell plus they last longer than a lot tree, since trees from a lot are typically cut several days or weeks before reaching the lot. Typically, the best time to cut your own tree is between late November and mid-December since well-watered trees can usually hold its needles for 3-4 weeks.ย  But donโ€™t go too late in the season or you run the risk of inclement weather and snow โ€“ which is not to say that canโ€™t be fun for some!ย  But for families, later in the season means wet shoes, excessive cups of hot chocolate to keep warm and watching Dad solo-wrestle the tree to the top of the minivan during freezing night-time weather.

Fun aside, unless you have private property you will need a permit. Permits are easy to get from numerous National Forest offices listed in the second half of this blog, and will generally cost only $10/per tree/per permit.ย  Often this permit also comes with directions to cutting areas that are open to the public and can be validated once the tree is harvested by signing the tag and attaching it to the main stem with glue.

Second, there are ground rules you should follow (both spoken and unspoken) out of respect for the forest and the adventure!ย  Some tips:

  • Before you ever set foot in the forest, make sure youโ€™ve measured both the place in your house where the tree will go and the space in the vehicle in which youโ€™re transporting your tree. Just โ€œwingingโ€ it makes for a potentially long endeavor to get your hard-earned tree home. Oh, and a pro-parenting tip: bring a tape measure for each of your own kids to keep fighting to a minimum (and that way you can actually also measure the tree without interruption.)
  • Always wear boots and heavy-duty gloves to protect your feet and hands, and sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes from wayward pine needles. Latex gloves will also protect hands from sap and pitch. Another pro-parenting tip: wet wipes help get the icky pitchy sap off little hands and fingers, as does applying cooking oil with a paper towel. (Unfortunately it doesnโ€™t work as well on clothesโ€ฆ)
  • Itโ€™s always a good idea to bring more than one saw and make sure theyโ€™re all sharp. Because no one wants to turn into Clark Griswald and dig the tree out by the root ball.
  • Scope out the entire area first before making your selection. No two trees are the same. Once you pick your tree, make sure you also do a full walk around to confirm thereโ€™s even branch distribution with no bald or dead patches, or even an animal living in the tree. Nothing like getting your tree home and adding some panicked squirrels to your Christmas cheer.
  • Also, PLEASE, respect the forest. Whatever you do, donโ€™t top a tree โ€“ as in simply cutting off the top of a larger tree. โ€œToppingโ€ is defined as the โ€œindiscriminate and drastic cutting of a tree branch or branchesโ€ and has also been referred to as heading, stubbing, tipping, lopping, rounding-over, and dehorning. Who cares what the name is โ€“ cutting off the top of a healthy tree can detrimental to tree structure, health, and value. And letโ€™s be honest, our forests deserve a break.ย  So look for a great smaller tree that fits your measurements, has nice branch distribution and can fit in your car and youโ€™ll have yourself a winner!
  • Donโ€™t forget rope and or some bungee cords to attach the tree to your carโ€™s roof or truck bed. Seems self-explanatory but we all know itโ€™s easy to forget sometimes the most obvious stuff.
  • When you get home, lay the tree on its side and cut off about an inch from the bottom of the trunk. (WD-40 on the saw blade will help move freely in the cut.) Remove some of the bottom thinner branches (great for table decorations!) and then, using a ยฝโ€ drill bit, drill three or four holes around the edge of the trunk to help it absorb water. You can also drill a hole straight in the bottom of the trunk to help receive the spike on the Christmas tree stand.
  • When itโ€™s all set up, try to keep it away from heat sources like registers, vents, and fireplaces so the branches donโ€™t dry out too fast, and water it several times a day at least for the first week. Then have fun decorating it and cherish the memories you make around it! And donโ€™t forget the egg nog.

Recommended Tool Kit:

Permit

Measuring Kit

Gloves (either work or latex)

Boots

Multiple Handsaws or chainsaws

Rope/Bungees

Snacks

Water

Boundary Map

Map & Compass

Survival Kit (First Aid Kit at very least)

A Shovel & Toilet Paper (especially if youโ€™re traveling with a potty-training two-year old)

Siskiyouโ€™s Christmas tree-cutting permits may be obtained from:

 

Klamath National Forest Supervisorโ€™s Office,

1711 South Main Street, Yreka

8 a.m.โ€“5 p.m. M-F, except Thanksgiving Day

 

Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District Office

63822 Highway 96, Happy Camp;

8 a.m.โ€“4:30 p.m. (M-F)

 

Goosenest Ranger District Office

37805 Highway 97, Macdoel

8 a.m.โ€“4:30 p.m. (M-F)

 

Salmon/Scott River Ranger District Office

11263 North Highway 3, Fort Jones

8 a.m.โ€“4:30 p.m. (M-F)

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โœจ The stars shine brighter in Siskiyou.

With low light pollution and wide-open skies, our region offers some of the best stargazing in California. Bring a blanket, look up, and lose yourself in the magic of the cosmos. ๐ŸŒ 

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Have you voted yet? Text YREKA to 877-409-5525

๐Ÿ—ณ Voting closes Sept. 15. Help us bring more live music to Yreka's Miner Street Park! ๐ŸŽถ

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๐ŸŽถ Help us bring more live music to Yreka! ๐ŸŽถ

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, and we need YOUR vote to make it happen! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธโœจ

๐Ÿ‘‰ Vote at www.vote.levitt.org or text YREKA to 877-409-5525
๐Ÿ“… Voting open Sept. 5โ€“15
๐Ÿ“ Support Yreka. Support local music. Support community vibes.

Please share to help spread the word!

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Shaped by fire and time, Siskiyou is home to some of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes in the American West ๐ŸŒ‹ From the towering majesty of Mt. Shasta to the surreal lava tubes of Lava Beds National Monument and the bubbling caldera of Medicine Lake, Siskiyou invites you to explore a world where geology and beauty collide.

Our top picks? @lavabedsnps,  Medicine Lake/Glass Mountain, Black Butte, and Captain Jack's Stronghold

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๐ŸŽถ YREKA NEEDS YOUR VOTE! ๐ŸŽถ

Help bring more FREE summer concerts to our community!

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series grant, and public voting opens this Friday. If we win, we will be able to expand the Yreka Summer Concerts in the Parks for the next three seasons, adding more shows and booking bigger bands! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŒž๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ—ณ Mark your calendar: Voting opens FRIDAY!
๐Ÿ“ Link to vote will be shared soon โ€“ stay tuned!

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Labor Day Weekend = one last summer adventure. โ˜€๏ธโ›ฐ๏ธ From lakes to trails, Siskiyouโ€™s the place to savor every mom#peaceofmind 

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Still soaking up summer? Us too. ๐Ÿ˜Ž But trust usโ€”fall in Siskiyou is worth planning ahead for. Golden trails, cozy nights, and mountain views are waiting. Link in bio for our top five spots to find fall color in Siskiyou ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿ 

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Trail to the sky. โ›ฐ๏ธโœจ Hiking Castle Crags State Park means big views, fresh air, and feeling on top of the world. 

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โœจSURPRISE ENCORE SHOW!โœจ

Just when you thought the Yreka Summer Concert Series was overโ€ฆ weโ€™ve got one more night of free music for you! ๐ŸŽถ

Join us for a special encore concert on Friday, 9/12 at Miner Street Park as we celebrate community, live music, and our chance to bring even more free concerts to Yreka in 2026-2028!

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ We are in the running to receive a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which would allow us to expand the Yreka summer concert series over the next three years. We have advanced to the semifinals round, which is PUBLIC VOTING from Sept. 5-15. 

We'll share the voting link when it's live! For now, spread the word about this special encore concert and let's rally together - Yreka deserves it. ๐Ÿ’›

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๐ŸŽถ Don't miss the final Yreka Summer Concert in the Park! ๐ŸŽถ

This Friday, August 1, wrap up the season with a sunset performance by the Seth Charles Band โ€” known for their soulful blend of rock, blues, and Americana vibes. Bring your lawn chairs, pack a picnic (or grab local eats from a variety of vendors at the show), and enjoy one last evening of live music under the Siskiyou sky. ๐ŸŒ„๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐Ÿ•• Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ’ƒ Free & family-friendly!

Letโ€™s end the summer series on a high note โ€” weโ€™ll see you there! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŽถ

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๐ŸŒฟ Tucked just off the highway in Dunsmuir lies a little slice of magic โ€” Hedge Creek Falls! This easy walk leads to a waterfall you can literally walk behind, with mist on your face and views of Mt. Shasta peeking through the trees. A perfect quick stop that feels like a secret. ๐Ÿ’ฆโœจ

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๐ŸŽถ Southern Oregonโ€™s legendary Rogue Suspects are bringing the groove to the Yreka Summer Concert Series this Friday, July 18! ๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŒŸ

Join us at the park for a night of classic, high-energy jams you wonโ€™t want to miss. Bring your lawn chairs, your dancing shoes, and your summer vibes! โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿ’ƒ

๐ŸŽค Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free & family-friendly!
๐ŸŒฎ Food + Beverage Trucks On-Site

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