Christmas tree hunts are a great way to spend some quality time with the family while hiking through the stunningly beautiful and glistening white wilderness. Bundle up and bring some gloves. You never know when an impromptu snowball fight might spring up. Bring a thermos of hot cocoa or homemade chili to stave off the cold. You could even bring a sled or two while you head out into the forests in search of that perfect tree.

But where to find that perfect tree?

The Shasta Cascade Region is covered with prime Christmas tree hunting territory. Three of the best places to go are Shasta, Trinity and Lassen Forests. But with so many places to choose from, how can you tell where to go?

Here are some tips for making the decision less painful:

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree depends largely on what you are looking for. You have to know what you want in order to know where to go. Stop and think about how you will be decorating the tree.
- Do you have large ornaments that require space between the branches?
- Will you be trying to fit garland and twinkle lights, or icicles?
- Perhaps you have smaller ornaments and twinkle lights and need a bushier tree to fill in the blanks.

• Douglas Firs are great for smaller ornaments as they are dense and bushy. They are also very easy to find as they grow at lower altitudes and can be found along most of the highways running through the National Forests. These are great for a short trip, especially if you are looking to avoid snow or long hikes.

• White firs are a bit less bushy and their branches are stronger because they grow at higher altitudes than Douglas Firs. They are good for any size ornaments because they are a bit more spread out and can hold twinkle lights.

• For many families, the Christmas tree of choice is the Silvertip, or Red Fir. Of the three mentioned, these trees are the least bushy and the strongest, making them great for piling on the decorations. While many people prefer this type of tree, the silvertip is the hardest to come by as they grow in the higher elevations, often requiring a bit more of a hike and even a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Your hunt will need to begin at at least 5,000 ft. But for the more adventurous family, it makes for great sport.

WHEN BEGINING YOUR JOURNEY:

- You will need a  tree cutting permit issued by the USFS.  The Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association has permits for sale!  Stop by for all your pre-hunting preparations.
-don’t forget to bring a bow saw, rope, tarp, and shovel for cutting and securing the tree.
-Be prepared for snow. Carry chains and if at all possible, 4 wheel drive vehicle is best.
-Pack plenty of food, water and warm dry clothing.

If you are heading out to Lassen National Forest:

- There are great places along highway 44 to find Douglas Firs. For the family with smaller children, the area around Gomaz Campground is a great place to hunt and play without having to hike too far.

- Or you could head up to the Bogard area and get in some sledding and snow play while you are at it.

- For White and Red Firs, Ashpan Snowmobile Park is a great place to hunt, with easy access to Lost Creek, Red Lake and Bunchgrass.

- Check out the North Battle Creek Reservoir area for Silvertips, just 6 miles up forest Road 16.

-Just East of Old Station is another popular place for White Firs, around the Baker lake area up 32N56.

If you are going west into Trinity National Forest:

- Papoose Gulch Trail, which connects the Brandy Creek Falls trail to the Boulder Creek Trail out near Whiskeytown, is a great place to go for white firs and silvertips if you are willing to hike.

- The Scott Mountain area offers a great selection of trails to choose from for finding white firs and silvertips including Mill Creek Lake, Tangle Blue Lake and Eastern and Upper Boulder Lakes.

- Hayfork Summit is a great place to go because it is a high altitude but is also very road accessible. While you will still need to be prepared for the weather, not as much hiking is necessary. Just north of the summit and south of Big Bar, Hayfork Bally is a very popular place to go as well, though 4WD is recommended as the roads get tougher.

- Dubakella out Wild Mad Rd. is a very popular place for both Silvertips and White Firs. Most Silvertips are found above the 5,000 ft. mark. Be prepared for snow with chains or 4WD.

If you are going north into Shasta National Forest:

- There are some great places around Castle Crags SP for all three kinds of trees.
For White Fir and Silvertip, try up around Castle Lake and Gumboot Lake. Again, you are going to want to be above the 5,000 ft marker for the better trees so bundle up.

- Another great place is Military Pass around the back of Mt. Shasta off Highway 97. This is a very popular area.

- Pilgrim Creek Rd near McCloud is also a great place to go for White Firs the road is maintained up to the snowmobile park for those with less adventurous vehicles.

For more information on purchasing Christmas Tree Cutting Permits, or for questions on the tree cutting process, Contact:

The Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

(530)365-7500

1699 Hwy. 273, Anderson, CA 96007

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