You can get your own Christmas tree from a national forest. Here's how it works.

Snow-covered pines in the Tahoe National Forest.
Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

Even in a global pandemic, the Christmas spirit remains strong.

One fun way to find a Christmas tree is to cut your own in a national forest. People can purchase Christmas tree permits through Recreation.gov/tree-permits, which allows them to go to the listed national forest of their choosing and chop down their own trees.

“A memorable experience, cutting a holiday tree is a special tradition to share with family and friends while helping to maintain a healthy forest,” the website says. “For many families, venturing into the forest to cut a Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations, while others may just be discovering the thrill of searching for the perfect holiday centerpiece.”

The permits help maintain the forests' overall health by thinning out the densely populated stands of small-diameter trees, the website explains.

Not only is the practice environmentally conscious, but the trees are also affordable. The permits for California parks cost $10 per tree and have a maximum amount of two trees per permit.

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The website also includes several tips for the process. Recommendations include carrying the tree out of the forest instead of dragging it, since it would rub off the needles and bark; measuring the height and width of the space you intend to place the tree and of the vehicle you will be transporting it with; and more.

But in one popular area, permits have already sold out, according to a Facebook post by the U.S. Forest Service.

“Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin sold out today, Nov. 17, 2020,” reads the post. “This week, 2,000 online permits were issued on a first-come, first served basis. No additional permits will be authorized for this season.”

However, there are still permits available for the Eldorado, Humboldt-Toiyabe and Tahoe national forests, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Start the process to find your own national forest Christmas tree here.