Santa Cruz · California
Crest Ranch Tree Farm
A family choose-and-cut farm 2,600 feet up on Ben Lomond Mountain that calls itself California’s oldest, with Monterey pine, Douglas fir, redwood, cedar, cypress and white fir, free saws, netting and twine, and a short season that opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
At a glance
Your tree visit.
- Tree choices
- Cut your own · Pre-cut trees
- Choose-and-cut tree, 5-foot minimum
- $75–$85 to 5 feet
Priced by tree type with a 5-foot minimum, tax included: $75 to 5 feet for Douglas fir, sequoia, pines, cedar and cypress, $85 to 5 feet for white and Greek fir, and a Monterey pine special at $75 any size.
Prices & conditions ↓ - Visit times
Saturday, November 21 through Sunday, November 29, 8:30am–4:30pm, open Thanksgiving 10am–3pm; limited fields open December 5 and 6. While supplies last.
Full schedule ↓
Find your tree
Choose your Christmas tree.
Crest Ranch says it is known for more varieties of Christmas tree than any other California farm. The price page names Monterey pine, Douglas fir, Sierra redwood (the giant sequoia, or bigtree), Atlantic cedar, cypress, white fir and Greek fir, and the farm says other types, among them Nordmann and Turkish fir, coastal redwood, Noble fir, Norway and blue spruce, are limited. After the fire, the north and east fields were replanted and trees need five to ten years to reach cutting size, so stock varies and the farm sells only while supplies last.
The farm says it does not currently have Noble firs or Silvertips because they do not do well in this climate. It prefers white fir for its short, stiff needles, and calls the Arizona cypress its most fragrant tree.
Published varieties
- Monterey pine
- Douglas fir
- Sierra redwood (giant sequoia)
- Atlantic cedar
- Cypress
- White fir
- Greek fir
Which variety suits your decorations?
General tree guidance; the farm’s selection, sizes and services are described above.
- Concolor fir
- Longer, silver-blue needles with a citrus scent when crushed.
- Douglas fir
- Soft needles and more flexible branches, suited to lighter ornaments.
Learn more: University of Wisconsin Extension ↗ · National Christmas Tree Association ↗
Compare the options
Trees & prices.
Payment is cash or check with ID. The farm does not take credit cards, and an ATM is available. The price page is not dated, and whether these rates apply unchanged this season is not stated, so confirm at the farm.
| Selection & size | Price |
|---|---|
| Monterey pine special, any size | $75 Shown as a special on the farm’s price page. The farm’s blog explains it as a first crop from fields recovering after the fire, with part of the field sectioned off, so confirm it still applies when you arrive. |
| Douglas fir, sequoia, pines, cedar and cypress | $75.00 to 5 feet Plus $5 for each additional half foot. Sales tax is included. |
| White fir and Greek fir | $85.00 up to 5 feet Plus $7 for each additional half foot. Sales tax is included. |
| Tabletop trees, already on a stand | Individually priced For trees under 5 feet; no figures are posted. |
| Fresh wreaths | Individually priced No figures are posted. |
| Saws, tree netting and twine | Free Saws are always free to use; netting and twine are free. |
| Sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts | Not published Sold at checkout; no prices are posted. |
Choose-and-cut, step by step
Staff direct you where to park and where to find the office. Saws are always free to use and are kept near the office and register, and tree carts are available. Staff can point you to a type or size. Cut just above the bottom greenery with the saw perpendicular to the trunk, leaving enough trunk to fit your tree stand and some greenery on the stump so it regrows.
Bring the tree back to the office to be measured and paid for; netting and twine are free; snip the netting off at home once the tree is in its stand, and the farm suggests recycling it in a milk jug. At home, trim a half inch off the trunk and water daily. For trees under 5 feet, tabletop trees already on a stand are available. The farm does not publish a chainsaw rule, parking size or parking fee.
Prices by tree type
All prices include sales tax and are based on a 5-foot minimum tree. Payment is cash or check with ID, with an ATM available; the farm takes no credit cards.
The farm’s blog describes the Monterey pine special as $75 for any height, averaging 5 to 12 feet, a first harvest from fields replanted after the fire, with the rest of that field closed to leave trees for the next year. The price page still shows the special, so ask whether it is available on your day.
| Tree | Price | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey pine special | $75 | Any size or height |
| Douglas fir, sequoia, pines, cedar and cypress | $75.00 to 5 feet | $5 per additional half foot |
| White fir and Greek fir | $85.00 up to 5 feet | $7 per additional half foot |
| Tabletop trees | Individually priced | Already on a stand; for trees under 5 feet |
| Fresh wreaths | Individually priced | No figures posted |
Tree types and the recovery after the fire
The farm’s tree varieties page describes the Sierra redwood, known as the giant sequoia, and lists Monterey pine, Atlantic cedar and Douglas fir. Its Growing Trees page explains how trees are shaped through the year, by species. Trees take five to ten years to grow to cutting size, and the north fields, a total loss in the fire, were replanted.
The farm’s growing page shows that sequoias are pruned in March, pines in May and June, Douglas fir in July and August, and white fir stumps in September. A blog on the site follows the recovery of the fields.
Refreshments, wreaths and extras
Cider, hot cocoa and other snacks are for sale; no prices or separate hours are posted. The farm also sells fresh wreaths and tabletop trees, both individually priced, crew and hooded sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts at checkout, and gift certificates, whose terms are not posted.
The farm describes its fields as a place to find a tree, enjoy a picnic and spend time in nature. It does not mention Santa, group or school visits, rentals or photography.
Hosting an event
The farm invites inquiries about hosting an event, through a contact form on its Events page. Event types, capacity and prices are not published, so ask about availability.
Weather, dogs and terrain
Dogs are always welcome on a leash. The ground can be muddy in places after rain; it is decomposed granite that drains well, and the farm suggests shoes suited to the outdoors. The farm is on top of Ben Lomond Mountain at 2,600 feet. Restrooms and accessibility are not published.
History and family
Crest Ranch says it is California’s oldest choose-and-cut tree farm, established in 1948, and describes itself as the oldest in the western United States; families have been visiting since the early 1950s. Louise Jensen-Moran and her husband Ed run the farm on 46 acres, and Louise took it over from her father, Fred Jensen. The farm’s dogs are Bud and Blossom.
Pick your day
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Saturday, November 21 through Sunday, November 29; limited fields open December 5 and 6; while supplies last
The farm’s home page lists cutting from Saturday, November 21 through Sunday, November 29, 8:30am to 4:30pm, with Thanksgiving Day open 10am to 3pm, while supplies last. Limited fields open December 5 and 6; hours for those two days are not posted. The farm’s FAQ gives an 8am start, so the home page’s later 8:30am opening is the safer time. The fields are not lit, and the sun sets at 5pm.
| Christmas season | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 21 through Sunday, November 29, except Thanksgiving | 8:30am–4:30pm, while supplies last |
| Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 | 10am–3pm |
| Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6 | Limited fields open; hours not posted |
The fields are not lit after sunset, and the sun sets at 5pm. The farm’s page says some pictured varieties are unavailable while fields regrow after the CZU Lightning Complex fire.
Before you go.
- Cash or check with ID only; no credit cards. An ATM is available.
- Limited fields open December 5 and 6; hours are not posted.
- Dogs are welcome on a leash; wear shoes for the outdoors.
- The farm’s email is CrestRanch@ymail.com.
12200 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Keep exploring
Other farms to compare.
Grass Valley, California
McBurney Tree FarmIndividually tagged choose-and-cut trees near Grass Valley, cut it yourself or let staff cut it, open daily November 20 to December 24, with campfire weekends and a Winter Solstice Walk.
Placerville, California
McGee Christmas Tree FarmAn Apple Hill choose-and-cut farm with one price for any tree: $145 cash or $150 by card, packaging and tax included. Open Thanksgiving weekend, 8am to dusk.
Camino, California
Indian Rock Tree FarmAn Apple Hill choose-and-cut and fresh-cut farm open Thursday to Monday from about November 27, with saws and staff help provided, a gift shop, and entry tickets needed November 27 to 29.