Big changes coming to trails west of Bend: USFS plans miles of new trails, route changes and unauthorized trail removals

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Deschutes National Forest has signed off on a final decision on the West Bend Trails project. This project is located on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District west of Bend.

The goal of the West Bend Trails Project is to provide quality trail recreation opportunities for trail users of all experience levels while minimizing disturbance and negative impacts to other resources. Public comments wanted last March on the original plans, now completed.

“We expect work to begin within the next two years,” forest spokeswoman Caitlin Webb told KTVZ on Tuesday.

Lees said the final solution involves rerouting about 8.8 miles of roads, building about 17.5 miles of new roads, travel management measures on about 33.3 miles of system roads and decommissioning about 17 miles of unauthorized roads.

“These actions will provide better trail connectivity, improve trail intersection confusion, reduce visitor conflict, and provide additional types of trail opportunities,” it said. “Additionally, decommissioning unauthorized trails will reduce the effects of wildlife disturbance and the potential for illegal activity affecting winter shelters and trails.”

Specific details of this decision can be viewed on an interactive map here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b74242b5ab504fec821dda37081741f9.

The project area includes areas parallel to Forest Road 4601 (also known as Skyliner Road) from the forest edge to the west side of Tumalo Lake, areas parallel to Cascade Lakes Highway from the forest edge to the Vista Butte parking area, areas near Kiva Butte, FSR 4613 and FSR 4133 and also near the Deschutes River along FSR 4100-292.

The Final Environmental Assessment and Notice of Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact can be viewed on the Deschutes National Forest website here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/deschutes/?project=65732.

Members of the public may also contact Emily Bedard, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Planner, at [email protected] with questions about the project.

For more information on the final decision on the West Bend Trails project, please contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-5300.