Cultus Lake boat launch, day-use area reopen Friday
(Update: Adding Walden statement)
The Deschutes National Forest will open the Cultus Lake Boat Launch and Day Use Area to the public at noon on Friday, but the campground remains closed for hazard tree removal, officials said Thursday.
Officials reminded the public to use caution , as heavy equipment continues to operate in the area and on Forest Road 4635 into Cultus Lake.
Cultus Lake Campground remains closed while hazard tree removal continues. The campground, including the shoreline adjacent to the campground, remains dangerous as heavy equipment operators process and removes dead trees.
Visitors are asked to stay clear of the campground and use extreme caution on the shoreline for their safety. Winopee Trailhead also remains closed at this time.
All boat-in camp sites around Cultus Lake (Little Cove, Big Cove and West Cultus) are open and will be accessible once again when the boat ramp opens on Friday .
Reservations for Cultus Lake Campground are not being accepted at this time. The public will be notified when the campground reopens for the season. When the campground opens, the public will be able to make reservations for the remainder of the season by visiting recreation.gov or hoodoorecreation.com .
The Cultus Lake Lodge remains open to the public.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., who had pressed the Forest Service over its initial plans to close the campground all summer, applauded news of the boat launch and day-use area opening, issuing this statement:
“After expressing my deep frustration with the initial closure of Cultus Lake, I was pleased to see the Forest Service went into high gear to find a better way forward.
“While no one disputed the need to protect campers from harm, shutting down the campground for the whole season didn’t make sense from a practical view. That is why as soon as I learned of the closure, I put together a meeting and a tour of the campground with Forest Service and Cultus Lake officials to get a better sense of the situation on the ground.
“There’s more work to be done, but today’s announcement is an encouraging sign. I will continue to work alongside the Forest Service to help make sure this progress continues so the campground can open as soon as possible.”
