It’s Tree Hunt time!

Join the Land Trust for this fun, festive, family-friendly event! Cut your own free-range holiday tree while helping restore the forests of the Land Trust’s Metolius Preserve. Enjoy hot drinks, wreath making, and merriment!

The Tree Hunt will be held at the Land Trust's Metolius Preserve North Trailhead weather permitting. Please check our website for weather updates as we get closer to the hunt.

Important details:

• RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. Register for the Tree Hunt today!
• We will be cutting grand fir trees. Learn more about these trees and how to identify them.
• Trees are free-range and not sculpted to be the perfect Christmas tree. But they are beautiful and available in lots of sizes.
• Trees are scattered throughout the forests of the Metolius Preserve, so you will have to hunt for them!
• Bring your own hand saw (no chainsaws please), gloves, and rope.
• Dogs are allowed on leash only.
• No drones/UAVs, firearms, smoking, drugs, or alcohol are allowed at Land Trust events.
• Dress for the weather.
• Please wear closed toe shoes. You will be walking off-trail on uneven ground to find your tree.
• Parking is limited at the Metolius Preserve North Trailhead. Expect to park further away and walk to the Tree Hunt. Our volunteers will help you with parking!
• We'll provide hot drinks and encourage you to bring reusable mugs.

There is a suggested $20 donation. On the day of the Tree Hunt, cash or checks will be the only accepted donation type. You can also make your suggested donation online. This donation is nonrefundable; thank you for supporting our work.

The Tree Hunt will mostly take place off-trail on grassy, uneven terrain that may be snowy. Attendees can use the Larch Trail to get part of the way to finding their ideal tree. The Larch Trail is a mostly flat, natural surface trail of variable width (some portions <36 inches, others >36 inches).

The Land Trust is working to make our events as accessible as possible. Please let us know at least one week in advance if there is something we can do or provide to support you in participating in the Tree Hunt to the fullest and we will accommodate as possible.

Thank you for helping us make the 2024 Tree Hunt safe and fun for everyone!

The Fine Print: The Tree Hunt has been held since 2004 and we’re pleased to report that you are doing a fabulous job restoring our forest! However, it also means that trees ripe for cutting are getting further afield. Please be prepared to hunt accordingly.

Driving directions to the Metolius Preserve North Trailhead. Know exactly where you are during the Tree Hunt by downloading a georeferenced map for use in mapping apps like Avenza.