Bend, Ore. – Starting May 1, the Deschutes National Forest will close the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project area, located south of Bend, for at least one year to support critical forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction efforts. The 34,600-acre area will be off-limits to all public access, including day use and overnight camping.
The closure is part of the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires and restoring habitats within the wildland-urban interface near Bend. Crews will be conducting a range of activities including operating heavy machinery, carrying out prescribed burns, and cleaning up hazardous materials during the closure period.
“This project is essential for improving forest health and reducing wildfire risks in our community,” said Holly Jewkes, supervisor of the Deschutes National Forest. “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, Boyd Cave, and rock pits used for recreational shooting. In addition, several key roads within the area, such as Forest Service Roads 18, 1801, 1810, and others, will be closed to all traffic. Signs will be posted at closure boundaries, and Forest Service staff will be on hand to enforce compliance.
Violators of the closure could face significant penalties, including fines 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 designed to reduce fire hazards and restore forest health. As the work progresses, the Forest Service will reassess whether the closure remains necessary for the safe and effective implementation of the project.
In addition to the forest restoration work, the Forest Service is collaborating with local governments and nonprofit organizations to assist people living in unauthorized encampments within the project area. Early notifications will be made to minimize displacement impacts.
“The work we are doing will help make our forests healthier, safer, and more resilient to wildfire,” Jewkes said. “We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as we take this important step.”
