Clear Lake Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farm

The farm sits about eight miles north of Becker and twenty minutes from St. Cloud, which is how most people find it: Clear Lake itself is a township of a few hundred. B&J Evergreen has been a choose-and-cut destination in Central Minnesota for over 40 years, and Clear Lake is our main office. Our original farm spreads over hundreds of scenic acres a short drive from the Twin Cities or St. Cloud, and it’s the one that landed on national TV, a season of The Bachelor filmed a scene here.

You’ll find seven species of tree to cut yourself, from Balsam and Fraser fir to Serbian spruce, in sizes from 6 feet up to 20 feet, plus a full pre-cut selection if you’d rather skip the saw. We provide the saws either way; no need to bring your own.

What to expect

You drive your own vehicle out into the fields on marked roads to find your tree; greeters and maps point you toward the section that has what you’re after. Trees aren’t pre-tagged: cut any tree you like in the fields shown on the map. (Watch for the giant Frosty snowman near the entrance; it’s the easiest landmark for finding your way in.) Hundreds of acres sounds like a lot of ground, but there’s no real fear of getting lost, you’ll always be able to see your way back.

Once you’ve cut your tree, it goes through free shaking and baling: a quick process that knocks the loose needles off before the tree ever reaches your living room, measures it, and wraps it for the ride home. You’ll get a tag showing your tree’s size, bring that tag to the cashiers to pay. Staff can help load your tree, and tie twine is available if you need it.

On event weekends, the farm turns into a full family outing: Santa visits, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, horse-drawn wagon rides, a playground, character visits, chainsaw carving, a fire pit, and Clark the camel, who arrived as a baby and got his name from a guest vote. The local Cub Scouts run a food tent with hot chocolate, coffee, hamburgers, hot dogs, and more (cash, card, or check). Bring a leashed dog if you like, pets are welcome.

Good to know

• No need to bring a saw; we provide them free of charge.
• Free shaking and baling comes with every tree.
• Pets are welcome on a leash.
• We accept cash, checks, or credit card. There’s no ATM on site.
• Show your tree receipt at Jack & Jim’s for a free pitcher of beer or pop.

Come spring, the farm doubles as a landscape tree nursery: maples, birches, spruces, and pines for anyone planting rather than decorating.