Cabin Butte Area Closure

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the following described area on the Deschutes National Forest, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, as described below and in the attached Exhibit A. This Order is effective from May 1, 2026, and will remain in effect through April 30, 2027, unless rescinded sooner.

PROHIBITIONS:

1. Going onto or being within an area closed for public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53(e).
2. Being on the road within the Closure Area, with the exception of NFSR 9710, and NFSR 1800 south of the junction with NFSR 1820. 36 CFR 261.54(e).
3. Being on a trail within the Closure Area, with the exception of Trail #62 - Coyote Loop Trail between NFSR 1814 and NFSR 1816. 36 CFR 261.55(a).

The area described below will be closed to public access/entry to ensure public safety and support critical forest restoration efforts. 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. It is necessary to implement a full area closure to provide for public health and safety, and to allow Forest Service employees and contractors to complete the project in a safe and timely manner.

AFFECTED AREA/CLOSURE AREA:

All lands managed by the US Forest Service within the following boundary: beginning at the Forest boundary on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 1800, the closure area boundary goes west along the Forest boundary, to Oregon State Highway 97. From there, the western boundary of the closure follows the highway to its junction with Highway 97 and NFSR 9710 and continues southeast along NFSR 9710 to the junction with NFSR 9714 and then continues east on NFSR 9714 to the junction with NFSR 1810. From the junction of NFSR 9714 and NFSR 1810 the boundary continues east along 1810 to the junction with NFSR 1816, and. from there continues east on NFSR 1816 to the junction with Trail #62 (Coyote Loop). The closure boundary then follows Trail #62 (Coyote Loop) north to the junction with NFSR 1814; Trail 62 (Coyote Loop) is closed north of its junction with NFSR 1814. All land west of the trail is closed. From the junction of Trail #62 (Coyote Loop) and NFSR 1814, the closure boundary continues east along NFSR 1814 to the junction with NFSR 1800, and then southeast along NFSR 1800 to the junction with NFSR 1820 and then along NFSR 1820 due east to the Forest boundary. At the Forest boundary, the closure boundary goes north and northwest along the Forest boundary to NFSR 1815 and then continues west along the Forest boundary to NFSR 1800.

CLOSED DEVELOPED AND DISPERSED RECREATION SITES INCLUDED:

• Horse Butte Trailhead and butte area
• Boyd Cave Picnic Area
• Bessie Butte Trailhead and butte area
• Cabin Butte
• Coyote Butte

CLOSED TRAILS:

All National Forest System Trails found within the closure area are closed.

• Trail #61, Swamp Wells – Between Horse Butte Trailhead and NFSR 1816.
• Trail #62, Coyote Loop – partial closure - Between Horse Butte Trailhead and the junction with NFSR 1814 the trail is open. North of the trail junction with NFSR 1814, the trail is closed. 
• Trail #63, Arnold Ice Cave - Between Horse Butte Trailhead and NFSR 18.
• Trail #66, Boyd Cave
• Trail #68, Bessie Butte

ROADS:

All National Forest System Roads found within the area closure are closed. National Forest System Roads to remain open are: 9710 and the 1800 road south of the junction with NFSR 1820.

See Attachment “A” below for a list of closed Forest System Roads.

See Exhibit A for a map of the closed area, trails, and Forest System Roads.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571 and 3581.