Canyon Creek Road has been closed by a rock slide, the U.S. Forest Service announced Monday.
The slide occurred along the bluffs at milepost 5.1, just south of a small bridge over a tributary of the creek. A number of large boulders were lying on the roadway last week, behind a closed gate at the bridge.
Canyon Creek Road, formally known as Forest Road 2022, has experienced small-scale rockfalls in the area before, but the timing was surprising, according to USFS officials.
“This is an interesting event, especially given that the failure occurred during the dry season,” said Mark Truebe, Willamette National Forest engineer and an expert on the geotechnical aspects of this road. “Unfortunately, (because) it is a large failure and the rock bluff above the road still shows signs of instability, we will likely have to close the road for an extended period of time. We will complete a safety analysis and seek funds to repair the site.”
The road is cooperatively managed with Cascade Timber Consultants (CTC), which is working with the Willamette National Forest to assess and repair the site. Visitors to the Canyon Creek area can use the following alternate routes:
– Forest Road 2032, which follows Gordon Creek just east of Canyon Creek.
– Forest Road 2022-417, which follows Flim Flam Creek and joins Roads 2022 and 2032, and
– Forest Road 2024, which follows Two Girls Creek.
For additional information contact the Sweet Home Ranger District at 367-5168.