Crews to Begin Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Phillips Ridge
Road and Trails Closures will be in Place for Public Safety
Jackson, Wyo., July 2, 2025—Crews will begin mechanical thinning operations on Phillips Ridge, adjacent to the BPA powerline corridor north of Teton Pass (Hwy 22), on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, from July 15 through October, weather permitting. Mobilization of heavy equipment will require closing Phillips Ridge Road to motorized vehicles starting July 9 for public safety.
Phillips Ridge Area, Road and Trail Closure Order 04-03-25-302 (map) will be in place 7-days a week during this time. The closure will include Phillips Bench and Snotel Site roads, as well as Phillips Ridge and Snotel trails. Ski Lake, Arrow and Phillips Pass trails will remain open throughout operations. All trail and road closures will be posted on the ground. Public cooperation during these closures will be needed to ensure public safety and safety of the crews working. Contractors will work from north to south on the 146-acre project area and hope to implement a phased reopening of these roads and trails as soon as practical and safe to do so.
Thinning operations are being done here as part of a multi-year effort to reduce hazardous fuels in the Teton to Snake River Fuels Management Area and will include a combination of decking logs for public firewood permit sales and machine cutting and piling for prescribed fire operations later in the fall. The public will be notified when these log decks become available.
Mechanical thinning improves forest health and reduces wildfire risk by using heavy equipment to remove trees and other vegetation and thus reduces tree density and fuel load. These treatments can benefit ecosystems and people by reducing the probability of catastrophic fires, restoring healthy and resilient ecosystems, and protecting communities.
For other news, events and information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/bridger-teton and follow the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Facebook and X @BridgerTetonNF.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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