Wallowa Whitman National Forest fuelwood harvest begins May 1; personal use permits on offer
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, March 23rd, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest reminds forest visitors that the forest’s annual fuelwood harvesting season opens May 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
While warmer spring weather in the region may create an eagerness to begin gathering firewood early, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s opening date for issuing fuelwood and other popular forest product permits remains May 1 each year. Annual fuelwood guidelines are established through a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision that determines when woodcutting can occur.
Several factors guide this seasonal determination. One consideration is limited early-season access due to snow or wet ground conditions, which increase the risk of off-road resource damage.
Another key factor is larch, a highly sought-after deciduous conifer. These trees lose their needles each fall, making them appear dead to an unsuspecting woodcutter, when they are in fact alive and off limits for cutting. In spring, they begin to bud and regrow their needles, making it easier for woodcutters to identify them as live trees.
Visitors should also be aware that high fire danger in the summer or early snowfall in the fall may limit access to firewood and affect the ability to use permits.
Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Maps showing where you can gather fuelwood will be provided with your permit or accessible online.
Free personal-use fuelwood permits, with a limit of 10 cords per household per year, will be available at local ranger district offices and through a variety of local vendors. Local vendors may charge a processing fee of up to $2 per transaction.
Commercial-use fuelwood permits will also be available at local ranger district offices at the regular price of $10 per cord, with a minimum purchase of two cords. Commercial permits are valid for two weeks from the date of issuance.
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels and public use restrictions can be found on our website or by calling the hotline at (541) 523-1234.
Please contact your local district office to confirm permit availability and vendor locations, as it may vary by district.
| Whitman Ranger District Baker City, OR (541) 523-6391 | La Grande Ranger District La Grande, OR (541) 962-8500 | Wallowa Mountains Office Joseph, OR (541) 426-5546 |
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
