Major Hike to Oregon Coast's Cascade Head Shut Down for Repair, Geotechnical Study

Published 02/25/26 at 7:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) - A well-loved central Oregon coast hiking route will be off-limits for several weeks as federal officials move ahead with long-planned geotechnical work. You won't be able to use one of two routes to Cascade Head for awhile. (Courtesy Siuslaw National Forest)

The Siuslaw National Forest just issued a closure order restricting pedestrian, bicycle and other non-motorized access on Forest Service Road 1861 from February 24 through March 31, 2026. The announcement came this week. A separate order barring motor vehicles on the same road has also been renewed through 2028. Both measures are tied to ongoing evaluations of a landslide that severely damaged the route in 2021.

FSR 1861 sits about eight miles north of Lincoln City within the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area. The November 2021 slide tore up the road in three locations just off Highway 101, and early inspections showed the instability was too extensive for a temporary repair. The agency is conducting geotechnical studies to help determine whether the road can eventually reopen to vehicles or be converted into a trail.

“Cascade Head is a truly special place, and this work is an important step towards determining the best long-term solution,” said Hebo District Ranger Bryan Wilson. “Limiting public access temporarily will allow work to proceed efficiently while providing for public and employee safety.”

Once the evaluations are complete, the Hebo Ranger District will begin developing a long-term plan, triggering the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process - a review that could take one to two years. The extended vehicle closure through 2028 provides a buffer for that work and any construction that follows.

There is still the Nature Conservancy Trail - Lower Trailhead, a two-mile-long route that hits two sides of the headland. Take Three Rocks Road from Highway 101 to Knight Park, where the trailhead can be found at Savage Road.

More details, including photos and background on the damaged area, are available through the Forest Service’s Story Map. Additional updates can be found on the Siuslaw National Forest website or by contacting the Hebo Ranger Station at (503) 392-5100.

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