Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project Area Closure Extended

Deschutes National Forest to keep reduced closure in place through April 2027 for critical forest restoration work

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:51am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted greens, grays, and blues, depicting a dense forest with towering pine trees shrouded in mist, the distant silhouette of a mountain range barely visible on the horizon, conveying a sense of the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural world.The Deschutes National Forest's efforts to restore and protect the Wildland Urban Interface near Bend underscore the overwhelming scale and power of the region's natural landscapes.Bend Today

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, 2026, 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.

Why it matters

The closure aims to reduce wildfire risk and restore damaged habitats in the Wildland Urban Interface near Bend by allowing crews to safely operate heavy machinery, conduct prescribed burns, and clean up hazardous materials. This work is crucial for protecting the local community from potential forest fires.

The details

The closure restricts all access, including day use and overnight camping, while crews conduct thinning, mowing, mastication, and prescribed fire treatments across the project area. All developed and dispersed recreation sites and National Forest System roads and trails within the closure area will be closed, with the exception of Forest Service Road (FSR) 9710 and FSR 18 south of its junction with FSR 1820, which will remain open.

  • The temporary closure will begin on May 1, 2026.
  • The closure will remain in effect through at least April 30, 2027.
  • Areas west of Highway 97 and south of Deschutes River Woods will be open starting May 1, 2026.

The players

Deschutes National Forest

A national forest located in central Oregon, managed by the USDA Forest Service.

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What’s next

The Forest Service will reevaluate the continued need for the closure as work is completed in the project area.

The takeaway

This closure is a necessary step to ensure public safety and allow for critical forest restoration work to be carried out in the Wildland Urban Interface near Bend, Oregon, reducing the risk of devastating wildfires in the region.