Road to Pilot Butte summit closes Sunday for winter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Friday it will close the gate to the Pilot Butte summit road for the season at 8 p.m. on Sunday. The road will remain closed to public vehicle traffic until spring 2020 out of safety concerns.

"The forecast predicts rain, snow and temperatures below freezing next week, and the stretch of road on the north slope of the butte often remains very slick, even when everything else has thawed," said Park Manager Joe Wanamaker.

The summit road closes to vehicles each winter, officials noted, but the eastside parking area remains open, allowing year-round access to the butte's hiking trails.