Despite federal lawsuit, Forest Service holds to next week’s closure of large area south of Bend for fuels reduction work

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes National Forest said Thursday it still plans to close a large area south of Bend in one week for a year-plus fuels reduction project, including along China Hat Road, where dozens of homeless people live and have filed suit in federal court, seeking to block or delay the move.

However, the forest also indicates the area closure might not last that long, saying in a news release: "As work is completed, the Forest will reevaluate the continued need for the closure to provide for safe, effective project implementation."

Court records show the government's response to the requested temporary restraining order is due by 5 p.m. on Monday, just three days before the closure is set to take effect.

Here's the new Forest Service news release:

Cabin Butte Project Area to Close for Forest Restoration

Closure goes into effect May 1 to allow for safe project implementation

Bend, OR, April 24, 2025 —The Deschutes National Forest will temporarily close 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 34,600-acre closure will remain in effect through at least April 30, 2026.

The closure will restrict 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

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.  

For more information about the project, please contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-5300 or visit: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8b742621deab4a89865e590836c2b071.