The Deschutes National Forest will extend a reduced version of the temporary area closure of the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project area south of Bend, Oregon, beginning May 1, to ensure public safety and support critical forest restoration efforts. The 32,565-acre closure will remain in effect through at least April 30, 2027.
The closure restricts all access, including day use and overnight camping, while crews operate heavy machinery, conduct prescribed burns and clean up hazardous materials. The work aims to reduce wildfire risk and restore damaged habitats in the Wildland Urban Interface near Bend.
All developed and dispersed recreation sites and National Forest System roads and trails within the closure area will be closed. Forest Service Road (FSR) 9710 and FSR 18 south of its junction with FSR 1820 will remain open.
Closed Developed and Dispersed Recreation Sites:
- Horse Butte Trailhead and butte area
- Boyd Cave Picnic Area
- Bessie Butte Trailhead and butte area
- Cabin Butte
- Coyote Butte
Closed Trails:
- Trail #61, Swamp Wells – between Horse Butte Trailhead and FSR 1816
- Trail #62, Coyote Loop – partial closure, the trail is open between Horse Butte Trailhead and the junction with FSR 1814, the trail is closed north of the trail junction with FSR 1814
- Trail #63, Arnold Ice Cave – between Horse Butte Trailhead and FSR 18
- Trail #66, Boyd Cave
- Trail #68, Bessie Butte
The Forest is reducing the size of the closure because mechanical fuels reduction treatments are complete in units west of Highway 97. Areas west of Highway 97 and south of Deschutes River Woods will be open starting May 1, 2026. Future temporary closures may be implemented in this area if needed as mowing, pre-commercial thinning and prescribed fire work continue in these units.
Violators of the closure could face fines up to $5,000 or $10,000 for an organization, imprisonment for up to six months or both.
The Cabin Butte project includes a combination of thinning, mowing and mastication and prescribed fire treatments which will be implemented across the project area. As work is completed, the Forest will reevaluate the continued need for the closure to provide for safe, effective project implementation.
The temporary closure order and closure area map can be found on the Deschutes National Forest’s website. For more information about the project, please contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-5300 or visit the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project webpage.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
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