An organic, chemical-free farm that sold out completely in 2025 - with 2025 pricing of $70 choose-and-cut Fraser firs, $80-200 pre-cut, and wreaths at $35-45 - so visiting the first of its three open weekends is a real strategy, not just a suggestion.
2025 pricing per the farm's own site: choose-and-cut trees $70 each, pre-cut Fraser firs $80-$200, garland $25 per 20 feet, wreaths $35-$45. Not yet confirmed as current for 2026.
Cash only. This farm doesn't take cards, based on what we found — bring cash or confirm ahead if that's changed.
Bear Swamp is one of the more data-rich records in this research, and also one with the clearest warning sign: its own website displayed “closed (sold out!) for the 2025 season” at the time of research, with 2025 pricing still posted and no 2026 dates yet published. That combination - real numbers, but from last year, plus a documented sell-out - is worth reading carefully rather than skimming past.
The farm’s site listed 2025 pricing directly: $70 for a choose-and-cut tree, $80-200 for a pre-cut Fraser fir depending on size, $25 for 20 feet of garland, and $35-45 for wreaths. None of this is confirmed as this year’s pricing, but it’s genuine, farm-stated data rather than a guess, and it’s useful as a reference point for what to expect roughly - even a modest year-over-year increase would likely keep costs in a similar range. One thing worth noting using only those 2025 figures: the gap between a $70 choose-and-cut tree and an $80 pre-cut Fraser fir at the low end of its range was just $10, which is a small premium to skip the cutting work entirely, if that math holds again this year.
The farm operates on a pattern of three weekends after Thanksgiving, resolving to November 28 through December 13, 2026. Because the farm sold out its full stock in 2025, this isn’t a season where “there’s always December” applies. If a tree from Bear Swamp specifically matters to you, the first of those three weekends is your best shot, not a fallback plan.
Cutting here comes with a real constraint: only hand saws are permitted, with a limited number of loaners available, and chainsaws or personal power tools are explicitly not allowed. That’s a stated safety policy, not a minor detail, and it does mean the cutting itself may take more physical effort and time than at a farm where power tools are permitted.
The farm describes its trees as grown using natural, chemical-free practices - a genuine differentiator if that matters to your household. Payment is cash-only, though the farm mentions an on-site ATM as a backup if you arrive without enough cash. Sources disagree slightly on the farm’s exact address (81 vs. 83 Otterhole Road); this record uses 83, matching the farm’s own site.
Given the sell-out history and the three-weekend season, treat this less like a flexible, come-whenever farm and more like a limited-window opportunity - show up early, bring cash, and expect to do your own hand-sawing.
Resolved to the first three weekends after Thanksgiving, November 28 through December 13, 2026, from the farm's typical pattern. Given the farm sold out completely in 2025, the earliest of those weekends is the strongest bet for finding a tree.
A standard cut-your-own visit, shorter if you're picking a pre-cut Fraser fir instead.
Not directly documented for wait times, but a farm that sold out completely in the prior season and only operates three weekends is likely to see concentrated demand, especially on its opening weekend - a reasonable inference from the sell-out history, not a confirmed crowd report.
Not documented. The farm's own site mentions an on-site ATM, which suggests some level of visitor infrastructure.
Not documented. Assume an unpaved field.
Skip if you're planning a mid-to-late December visit, since the farm sold out its full stock in the 2025 season and is only documented as open for three weekends total (Nov 28-Dec 13, 2026).
None documented in this record.
Choose-and-cut trees were $70 each, and pre-cut Fraser firs ran $80-200, per the farm's own site. This is 2025 pricing and hasn't been confirmed as current for 2026.
Yes, the farm's own site displayed 'closed (sold out!) for the 2025 season' at the time of this research.
No. Only hand saws are permitted for safety reasons, and the farm has a limited number of loaner saws available.
The farm describes itself as using natural, chemical-free growing practices.
November 28 – December 13, 2026. Saturday-Sunday. Hours: 9am-3pm.
Trees start at $70. 2025 pricing per the farm's own site: choose-and-cut trees $70 each, pre-cut Fraser firs $80-$200, garland $25 per 20 feet, wreaths $35-$45. Not yet confirmed as current for 2026.
Yes. It's cut-your-own, and a saw is provided.
83 Otterhole Road, West Milford, NJ 07480, in Passaic County. It is one of 9 farms we track in Northwest NJ.
We track 9 farms in Northwest NJ, 6 of which let you cut your own tree. At $70 to start this one sits right on the regional median of $70, undercutting 1 of the 4 priced farms we track here.
Its season runs about 16 days against a regional average of 22, so it is a shorter window than most of its neighbours — miss it and it may be sold out before nearby farms close.
bearswampfarmnj.com
Checked September 2026.