Siuslaw National Forest Approves Project to Restore Administrative Access on Forest Road 1861
Contact Information: Joanie Schmidgall 541-750-7075 joan.schmidgall@usda.gov
Hebo, Ore., February 26, 2025 - The Hebo Ranger District on the Siuslaw National Forest has approved a project for temporary improvements to Forest Service Road (FSR) 1861 for administrative use. This allows access for scientific research, monitoring, search and rescue operations, and fire suppression activities. Actions include removing hazard trees, building a temporary bridge, and constructing a retaining wall.
The road is located approximately 8 miles north of Lincoln City in the congressionally designated Cascade Head Scenic Research Area (CHSRA). In November 2021, a landslide catastrophically impacted the road in three separate areas a short distance from Hwy 101. Initial assessments determined that extensive damage and the potential for additional slides was too significant for a short-term fix.
“Restoring interim administrative access allows critical scientific work to proceed and provides for the safety of Forest Service employees and the public,” says District Ranger Shawn Rivera. “We realize the community desires full access by permanently repairing the road. Unfortunately, this geologically dynamic area requires extensive surveys as we work towards a long-term solution.”
FSR 1861 is the most direct route to the western most point of CHSRA and the popular Heart’s Cove trails. FSR 1861 has been closed to vehicle traffic since the slide occurred. Non-motorized travel – biking and hiking – is permitted by the public. Users may traverse the slide but are encouraged to exercise extreme caution as the terrain is uneven and unstable. Heart’s Cove can also be reached by hiking from Knights Park through Nature Conservancy managed land or from the Rainforest Trail on the Siuslaw National Forest.
Access may be limited to the area as work proceeds this spring. Updates will be posted to the Siuslaw National Forest webpage and social media platforms. For photos and more information about the area and landslide, visit the Story Map or project webpage.