Getting into the holiday spirit starts with the timeless tradition of setting up the Christmas tree. Around this time of year, families are heading out together to find that perfect tree—but why not elevate the experience with a new tradition? This year, visit one of the many tree farms in the Bay Area to cut your own. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, breathe in the fresh scent of pine, and make lasting memories. Afterward, cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and soak in the joy of the season with your loved ones.
Check out my list of the best tree farms in Silicon Valley to find your perfect Christmas tree and kick off the holidays in style! Many farms provide saws, along with seasonal treats like hot chocolate or apple cider. Make it a full day of festive fun—pack a picnic, roast marshmallows by the fire, hop on a holiday train, and embrace your inner lumberjack. Just remember to dress warmly and bring boots; a little mud is all part of the adventure!
Check out my blog post Silicon Valley's Dazzling Holiday Light Displays and my upcoming events page for more holiday fun!
ABC Tree Farms has been a family-owned and operated business for over 70 years. They offer a wide variety of pre-cut Christmas trees ranging from 2 feet to over 12 feet, including Noble Fir, Nordmann Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, and Silver Tip. Fresh Christmas wreaths, garlands, and tree stands are also available to complete your holiday decor. At no extra charge, their friendly staff will fresh cut, trim, load, and secure your tree to your vehicle. Delivery and flocking services are offered at most locations. All major credit cards are accepted with a 3.99% processing fee.
- Address: Located throughout San Francisco Bay Area including the South Bay, East Bay and Peninsula, with multiple locations in Santa Clara and San Jose. Check ABC Tree Farms for the location nearest you.
- Phone: (408) 393-6303
- Email: info@abctreefarms.net
- Hours: Lots will begin opening on November 23rd for the 2024 season, with hours varying by location. Generally, they are open Monday to Friday from noon to 9 PM, Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 9 AM to 8 PM. However, exact hours may differ by location, so it's best to visit the ABC Tree Farms website for the most accurate schedule.
Black Road Christmas Tree Farm
Located just west of Los Gatos, Black Road Christmas Tree Farm extends over three charming farms on Black Road. Choose from an extensive selection of trees, including Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, White Fir, Sierra Redwood, and Scotch Pine, all priced at $80. Enhance your home decor with one of their freshly-made wreaths, and pick up some complimentary firewood from Farm 3. Families can enjoy the picnic area at Lakeside School, adjacent to Farm 1, complete with picnic tables, a play structure, and a sprawling lawn for children's play.
- Address: 20259 Black Road, Los Gatos, CA 90533
- Phone: (408) 354-8472
- Email: blackrdtreefarms@gmail.com
- Hours: After Thanksgiving Day, all three farms are open on weekends and fully staffed during daylight hours. Farm 3 will also be open on weekdays. Check their Facebook page for the latest information on hours and weather conditions, as well as for parking availability.
At Four Winds Ranch, located on a sprawling 60-acre farm, guests are provided with a saw and twine to select and cut their ideal Christmas tree. The farm boasts a diverse array of trees in various types and sizes, including Douglas Fir, White Fir, Grand Fir, Spruce, Blue Spruce, Silvertip, Noble, and Sequoia, all available for $80. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and create new family traditions amidst the festive atmosphere. On weekends, Four Winds enhances the experience with complimentary candy canes, hot chocolate, apple cider, and firewood, while supplies last.
- Address: 19969 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 90533
- Phone: (408) 399-9020
- Email: glahann@yahoo.com
- Hours: Open Thanksgiving until Christmas: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on weekends and the day after Thanksgiving, and 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekdays and Thanksgiving Day. Outside those hours you may visit the farm by appointment by contacting glahann@yahoo.com.
Located a short and scenic drive from Los Gatos, Frosty's offers a unique and engaging Christmas tree hunting experience. Upon arrival at the farm, guests are provided with a small handsaw, setting the stage for an authentic tree-selection adventure. Visitors have the option to either drive or stroll through the rows of lush, pesticide-free, naturally-grown Christmas trees. The selection includes Douglas Fir, Monterey Pine, Noble Fir, Sierra Pine, and Scotch Pine, with all trees priced uniformly at $90, irrespective of size or variety. Adding to the festive atmosphere, hot chocolate and coffee are available for guests, and on weekends, everyone can enjoy complimentary candy canes.
- Address: 19965 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 90533
- Phone: (408) 395-3789
- Email: info@frostystrees.com
- Hours: Open starting November 28th – December 22nd from 8 am to 4 pm, seven days a week.
Patchen farms, comprising two locations – 'Old Town' on Old Santa Cruz Highway and 'Rancho' on Old Summit Road – cater to a variety of preferences. Visitors can either embark on a quest across the hillsides to personally select and cut their ideal tree or opt for one of the freshly-cut trees available. The farms feature a wide array of tree varieties, including Douglas Fir, Sierra Redwood, Coast Redwood, Monterey Pine, Noble Fir, and more. Prices range from $85 to $105 for trees up to 7 feet, depending on variety. For those who prefer a living tree, the gift shop offers an assortment, which changes annually. Additionally, Mistletoe, holly, and handmade wreaths are available for purchase in the gift shops, adding to the festive offerings.
Make a day of it by packing a picnic. Enjoy the bonfire, free hot-mulled cider and candy canes. During the week, there is free wine tasting, and on the weekends, you can have your picture taken with Santa Claus. Snap a picture of the PATCHEN Grinch to enter to win a Stocking Stuffer.
Delivery available. Discounts for Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and other First-Responders. Dogs on leash welcome.
- Address: 22217 Old Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos, CA
- Phone: (408) 605-1522, (408) 353-1615 (text messages only)
- Email: Jim@PatchenCalifornia.com
- Hours: The Old Town location opens on November 23rd, and the Rancho location opens on November 29th. Hours vary by location. Check their website for details. Also available on the website is the schedule for appearances by the "real" Santa. Free wine tasting every weekday afternoon. Download a free wine-tasting card here.
Battaglia Ranch Christmas Tree Farm
Battaglia Ranch, a popular choose-and-cut Christmas Tree Farm, is conveniently situated about 15 minutes south of San Jose, CA. Recognizable by its 35-foot-tall Santa Claus landmark off U.S. 101, between Morgan Hill and Gilroy, the farm offers a choice of three choose-and-cut tree varieties: Monterey Pine, Monterey Cypress, or Leyland Cypress. Additionally, pre-cut Fir trees sourced from Oregon are available.
The farm is renowned for its Christmas Tree Farm Train and Reindeer rides, cherished as a family tradition. Rides are complimentary for children under 3 years (lap children), with tickets for all other riders priced at $4, available for purchase at the Gift Shop. The shop also serves Hot Coffee, Hot Cocoa, a new delightful Mulling spice, assorted cold drinks, and packaged snacks. Santa Claus will be visiting Battaglia Ranch on November 24th, 25th, and 26th from 10am to 4pm.
Since 2020, Battaglia Ranch has offered the convenience of online ordering for pre-cut trees. Customers can choose a pick-up date and time, and the farm will prepare the tree for collection. Both delivery and contactless pickup options are available. For added convenience, they also provide a drive-thru service, allowing customers to select their tree from a variety of types and sizes without leaving their car.
If you're looking for a tree that has the look of freshly fallen snow, you can take home one of their trees flocked in one of four styles.
- Address: 13580 Murphy Ave, San Martin, CA 95046
- Phone: (408) 683-4730
- Email: battagliaranch@sbcglobal.net
- Hours: Soft Opening November 23rd – November 27th from 9am – 5pm. Closed November 28 (Thanksgiving). Extended hours from November 29th to December 15th from 9am – 7pm. December 16th - December 23rd from 10am - 5pm. Choose-and-Cut lot closes at 4:30 daily. Hours subject to change pending weather conditions, so check their Facebook page.
Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm
Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm, nestled in the East Bay Hills just north of Castro Valley, operates as a choose-and-cut tree farm. This farm offers an extensive range of trees in various varieties and sizes. Their selection includes Monterey Pine, Douglas Fir, White Fir, Cedar, and Redwood. Additionally, they provide pre-cut Noble and Nordmann Firs for those seeking ready-to-go options.
- Address: 7001 Miller Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546
- Phone: (510) 634-2186 / (510) 889-1992 (Open during business hours only)
- Email: cvtreefarm@gmail.com
- Hours: Due to Thanksgiving falling later this year, the tree farm will open on Sunday, November 24th—the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Following that, it will be open on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 29 - December 1), as well as on the next two weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Check their Facebook page for up-to-date information and hours.
Santa's Tree Farm and Village spans a vast 487 acres and operates as a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm. Offering a selection of six different types of Christmas trees all cultivated on the farm, they provide a saw for guests to select and cut their own Douglas Fir, White Fir, Noble Fir, or Monterey Pine. The pricing for choose-and-cut trees is a flat rate of $86.86, regardless of size, while the cost for pre-cut trees varies based on size. Additionally, for those desiring flocking or fire retardant, these services are available at an extra charge of $10 per foot.
Apart from trees, the farm also sells handmade wreaths, garlands, and tree stands. The festive spirit is further enhanced on weekends with holiday activities including train rides and visits with Santa. Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen offers an array of snacks for purchase, including soda, cookies, and hot chocolate, perfect for a cozy holiday experience. Santa Claus will be visiting the ranch on Saturday, December 2nd, 12:30 – 4:30 pm.
Complimentary cider, candy canes and a visit with Santa with every tree purchase. Delivery is available, but you still must make the trip to the farm to select your tree. Credit cards are accepted. Dogs are welcome.
- Address: 78 Pilarcitos Creek Road (Hwy 92), Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
- Phone: (650) 726-2246
- Email: info@santastreefarm.com
- Hours: The farm is open year-round. Holiday activities and tree-cutting start November 23rd through December 23rd from 8 am – 5 pm on weekends and 9 am – 5 pm on weekdays.
Ward Ranch Christmas Tree Farm
Ward Ranch is a small, family-owned and operated choose-and-cut tree farm located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They offer a large variety of trees including Douglas Fir, White Fir, Incense Cedar, Sierra Redwood, Grand Fir, Monterey Cypress, Arizona Cypress, Leyland Cypress, and Coastal Redwood. Each tree is priced at $95, with this cost covering all taxes, cleaning, and netting services. Additionally, they have pre-cut trees, with prices varying based on the species.
Visitors can enjoy complimentary hot tea or hot chocolate, along with popcorn freshly made over an open fire. The farm is dog-friendly, welcoming canine companions as long as they are kept on a leash.
- Address: 4820 Bonny Doon Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Phone: (831) 423-6975
- Email: ward-ranch@comcast.net
- Hours: Open the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 29th) and every Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 22nd from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
