Coast Range Landslides Close Little Elk Mountain Road; Windy Peak Road Remains Closed
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EUGENE, Ore. — Bureau of Land Management officials will close Little Elk Mountain Road for the winter season, starting around November 1. BLM officials determined the closure is necessary during the wetter portions of the year, when the slope is less stable.
The existing landslide continues to encroach on the road, also known as BLM Road 16-8-36, around mile marker 1.4. Warning signs and the closure order will be posted on the gate at the closure junction before the slide.
“We are closing the area to protect public safety,” said Sarah Bickford, field manager for the BLM Siuslaw Field Office. “Without a stable shoulder, the road is increasingly dangerous for drivers during the wet season.”
Soil has continued to slowly migrate downhill, steepening the existing drop-off. The area continues to experience active erosion, and the stability of the hillside and road template may be further compromised in heavy rain events. The winter closure will maintain public safety by removing the potential for drivers to be caught on, or trapped behind, deteriorating road conditions at the landslide location. The slide behavior is expected to continue, and the seasonal closure will remain in effect during wet soil conditions, through approximately May 1.
“Once the weather dries out in the spring, we will inspect the road to determine whether the ground has stabilized enough that we can reopen the road,” said Bickford. “We anticipate continued winter seasonal closures for the next few years, while we conduct ongoing evaluation for a re-route or permanent road closure.”
Little Elk Mountain Road was previously relocated after a minor landslide in 2021. After another major slide in April 2023, BLM officials closed the road for public safety along the steep drop-off on the road shoulder.
Landslides are common throughout the Coast Range due to the underlying geology where shallow soils overlay hard, fractured sandstone. Wet conditions and damaged vegetation—from wildfire, ice storms, or other disturbance—can create sudden, fast-moving debris flows on these steep slopes.
More information about the Little Elk Mountain Road closure, including the closure decision and supporting categorical exclusion documentation, are available in the BLM NEPA Register: Little Elk Mountain Road Temporary Closure.
Windy Peak Road (BLM Road 17-8-3.1) in Lane County also remains impassable and closed due to a 2024 landslide, and Bureau of Land Management officials are reminding the public to seek alternate routes. Public safety warning signs to block vehicle traffic are posted where the pavement ends. Since the slide occurred, erosion has stabilized at the site, but Windy Peak Road is still not passable. More information and documentation on this slide can be accessed on the BLM NEPA Register at Windy Peak Road Temporary Closure CX.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.