Skyline Forest Community Updates
James Parsons
Skyline Forest remains closed to the public
With spring in full bloom, many people are wondering if Skyline Forest will be open to the public again. In short, we don’t know.
In August 2022, Skyline Forest was closed to all public access due to increased seasonal fire risk. During the winter, the area remained closed as a part of the annual Tumalo Winter Range Cooperative Closure that protects habitat for mule deer, from December 1 to March 31. As of now, Skyline Forest remains closed. Because this 33,000-acre forest property is privately owned, the decision to reopen the area to the public is up to the current landowner.
While this ongoing closure is a tough loss for those who walk, run, ride, and recreate throughout Skyline Forest, it is important to respect the landowner’s decision.
It’s also an important reminder that we need to keep working together to find a conservation solution that puts sustained public access and improved wildfire safety at the heart of Skyline Forest’s future. We’re moving in the right direction.
Conservation at the heart of Skyline Forest’s future
The Save Skyline Forest campaign is a community-driven, grassroots movement to protect this 33,000-acre landscape for wildlife, wildfire safety, water quality, and sustained outdoor access paramount to the well-being of Central Oregon communities.
Over the past year, the Central Oregon community has come together in an inspiring effort to save Skyline Forest from large-scale, luxury development once and for all. We’ve built a movement of over 1,850 community leaders, local businesses, and Central Oregonians who have stepped up for our backyard forest.
The effort to save Skyline Skyline Forest has entered a new phase. Our partners are actively exploring funding opportunities and acquisition scenarios that could help move a conservation strategy forward.
This phase might seem a bit quieter, but there is lots of work going on behind-the-scenes. Acquisition always requires a willing seller. Developing a financing strategy for a large conservation property is a complex process that often requires partnerships with philanthropic funders and state, federal, and local agencies. While securing that financing can take many forms, we know that any acquisition scenario will require widespread community support when the time comes.
Your passion for Skyline and this place we call home has helped make this progress possible. We’ll keep you updated as we continue our work with funding and acquisition partners on how best to put conservation at the heart of Skyline Forest’s future. And if you have ideas or resources you’d like to contribute to this ongoing effort, please reach out: corie@colw.org.
Get involved in community-driven conservation
A community-driven conservation solution is our best chance to permanently conserve Skyline Forest for wildlife habitat, community wildfire safety, regional water quality, and outdoor access paramount to the wellbeing of Central Oregonians and our communities.
Ready to step up for the place you love? Join the effort to Save Skyline Forest.