UPDATED 5/7/24:
Helicopter work begins again today, May 7th, in Siskiyou Moutain Park (SMP). With weather delays in the last week of April, there are still 2 to 3 days left in SMP before moving to the lower Ashland Watershed which will take place as described below, but later this week instead of early this week.  

PREVIOUS POST: 
Crews from Timberline Helicopters are working hard to finish removing trees from Siskiyou Mountain Park by the end of Saturday, April 27, weather permitting. The helicopter project will then be on pause for a week starting Sunday so the aircraft can get annual fire season certifications completed, along with a small project out of state. Trails in Siskiyou Mountain Park (White Rabbit and the Mike Uhtoff Trail) will reopen on Tuesday, April 30.

When helicopter work resumes the week of May 6, they will move operations to the lower Ashland Watershed and remove already-cut trees from the White Rabbit Trailhead area west to Ashland Creek and along the lower west-side 2060 road. At that time, road access will close at the upper end of Granite Street and Glenview Drive to allow logs to be flown over the road to the drop zone.

Wonder Trail, Wasabi, the Fairy Ponds, and access to trails farther up the west side of the Ashland Watershed will close on or about May 6. This closure will last for up to two weeks. Logs will be hauled out Granite Street and through downtown before turning back north and leaving town via exit 19.

Also during the week of May 6, the Ashland Loop Road above Morton Street accessing the White Rabbit Trailhead will closed for up to two days to remove dead trees along the roadside. Though trees were thinned in that area, road hazard trees were left uncut until the helicopter was ready to remove them, which has allowed the Loop Road and trails like Lizard, Caterpillar and Lewis Loops to stay open. NOTE: Lewis Loops is closed at the very end where the trail enters City of Ashland land.

Information about the project and a trails map are at ashland.or.us/ashlandforest.
Released April 26, 2024