BEND, Ore. — The Deschutes National Forest has announced a temporary closure of the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project area, located south of Bend, beginning May 1. The closure, which will last at least one year, is intended to ensure public safety and facilitate critical forest restoration efforts.
The 34,600-acre area will be closed to all access, including day use, overnight camping, and recreational activities, while crews work on thinning, prescribed burns, and the removal of hazardous materials. The project, part of the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, aims to reduce wildfire risks and restore ecosystems in the wildland-urban interface near Bend, where communities are particularly vulnerable to wildfires.
Holly Jewkes, supervisor of the Deschutes National Forest, emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “This project is essential for improving forest health and reducing wildfire risks in our community. Closing the area allows us to conduct this work safely and effectively.”
The closure will impact several popular recreation areas and access points, including Horse Butte Trailhead, Coyote Butte OHV area, Bessie Butte Trailhead, and Boyd Cave. In addition, well-known rock pits used for recreational shooting within the project area will also be off-limits. Key roads, such as Forest Service Roads 18, 1801, 1810, and others, will be closed as well. Signs will be posted at the closure boundaries, and Forest Service staff will be on hand to enforce compliance. Those who violate the closure could face fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
The Cabin Butte project will involve a combination of thinning, mowing, mastication, and prescribed fire treatments across the affected area. As the project progresses, the Forest Service will reevaluate the need for the closure to ensure safe and effective implementation of the work.
The Forest Service is also working with local governments and nonprofit organizations to address the needs of individuals living in unauthorized encampments within the closure area. Early notifications will be made to minimize the impact of the closure on displaced individuals.
“This work will make our forests healthier, safer, and more resilient to wildfire,” Jewkes added. “We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as we take this important step.”
The closure is part of broader efforts to restore forest health in the region and mitigate the increasing threat of wildfires, which have become a growing concern in Oregon’s forested areas. The Forest Service encourages the public to stay informed and respect the closure to help ensure the safety of all involved while the vital restoration work is carried out.
