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Huckleberry Season on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Vancouver, WA , July 23, 2021 – As August approaches, many in the Northwest look forward to collecting huckleberries and other wild berries on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Forest staff would like to remind the public that a permit is required to remove any berries from the Forest.

A free-use permit for personal consumption is available to remove up to one gallon of berries per day and a total of three gallons per year.  Berries obtained under a free-use permit may not be sold.  There is no cost for free-use permits.  To apply for a free-use berry permit, visit: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/gp/.  This is the only means to obtain this free-use permit.  Remember to print your permit or save it to your mobile device, along with conditions for use, and a map of the locations open to free-use berry collection.

Some important areas on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest closed to all berry removal include the legislated Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, all legislated Wildernesses, and the “Handshake Agreement” area of Sawtooth Berry Fields.

Beginning Monday, August 9, commercial charge berry permits will be available for purchase at Ranger District offices and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters through walk-up service windows.  Check the forest website for locations and hours of operation https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/about-forest/offices.

COVID 19 precautions: If you have not yet been vaccinated, you need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing (6 feet).  Availability of walk-in services at each office are subject to change due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following regulations apply to charge berry permits:

• Permits cost $60 for 14 consecutive days, or $105 for the season.
• Rakes or mechanical devices to remove berries are not permitted.
• A map is issued with each permit indicating areas open or closed to charge permit collection. This map can also be viewed online for free by uploading the Avenza app and searching for and uploading “Gifford Pinchot NF – Special Forest Products Map.”
• Permittees may camp for up to 14 days, but not within any area closed to charge berry collection.
• All garbage and human waste are to be contained and removed from the Forest.  Remember to pack out what you pack in to keep places healthy and accessible for other users.

Under Washington State law, berry buyers and sellers must document their sales transactions. For more details, visit the Forest’s permits page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/giffordpinchot/passes-permits/forestproducts

Violation of any regulation for berry permits is subject to a citation and fine.

For the safety of all forest users, berry harvesters are asked not to park vehicles in the roadway.  Remember that parking in some developed recreation sites requires a Northwest Forest Pass.

All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited under a Forest Order, including in developed campgrounds.  Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off. Additionally, target shooting is temporarily prohibited because of the risk of wildfire.

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