Looking for the perfect holiday tree? Local lots, u-cut tree farms have abundance of evergreens

For anyone still looking for the perfect evergreen tree to brighten the winter holidays this year, there are several local options in Camas and Washougal, including buying a pre-cut tree to benefit local Boy Scouts and chopping down your own tree at one of the area’s u-cut tree farms.

Boy Scout Troop 562 Christmas Tree Sale: This annual Boy Scouts fundraiser sets up shop in the parking lot outside Lutz Hardware in downtown Camas every Thanksgiving Weekend.

This year’s sale includes pre-cut Doug and Noble fir trees, as well as tabletop trees, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 13.

Boy Scout Troop 562 members are on hand to assist in the finding of a tree, but cannot help tie trees to vehicles this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Christmas Tree Sale also has a few other COVID-prevention safety rules this year, including the wearing of face coverings, a one-way entrance and exit, hand sanitizing stations and the recommendation that all visitors remain at least six feet apart from non-household members.

The tree lot will be open while supplies last, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10; from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.

Farrell Farms: This 150-acre tree farm, located just 10 minutes from downtown Washougal at 3000 S.E. 362nd Ave., Washougal, offers three types of Christmas trees: Noble, Nordmann and Doug firs.

Visitors can buy pre-cut trees or wander the farm looking for their perfect tree. Farrell Farms makes the process easy: If you want to cut down your own tree, they give you a handsaw and then come around with a vehicle to bring the tree back to “home base,” where crews will shake it to get debris and dirt off its branches, then put it through a baling machine to make transporting the tree as easy as possible.

Eager to pick your own tree, but don’t want to cut it down? Not a problem — the Farrell Farms workers are happy to come cut the tree down for you.

The farm offers complimentary hot cocoa or cider and candy canes, for visitors to enjoy by an outdoor campfire while their trees are being shaken and baled. Friendly dogs are welcome.

The farm, which also allows friendly dogs as long as their humans bring their own dog waste bags and clean up after their pets, is open from 9 a.m. until it gets dark, seven days a week through Wednesday, Dec. 23.

For more information, visit klopmanfarms.com.

Washougal River Christmas Trees: This 160-acre farm, located a little more than 7 miles up the Washougal River at 39336 N.E. Washougal River Road in Washougal, has been family owned and operated for more than 30 years.

The farm offers pre-cut and u-cut trees and will shake, bale and drill the trees for free.

Along with Noble, Grand, Doug, Fraser and Nordmann fir trees, the farm also sells evergreen wreaths for $19.95.

Washougal River Christmas Trees farm allows friendly pets, has a covered animal viewing area, and offers free cocoa and candy canes in the farm’s “warming area.”