Boise National Forest Wildfire Reduction Project Resumes Near Bogus Basin on May 11
BOISE, Idaho — The Deer Point Stewardship Project, a targeted forest thinning effort designed to reduce wildfire danger near Bogus Basin in the Boise National Forest, is set to resume Monday, May 11, after snowstorms delayed the project’s spring startup. The effort is now in year two of a four-year logging plan aimed at removing dead and diseased trees from one of the Treasure Valley’s most heavily used recreational areas.
Background: Protecting Boise’s Backyard Forest
The Deer Point Stewardship Project was launched to address growing wildfire risk in the Boise National Forest, particularly in areas surrounding Bogus Basin — a recreation hub used by thousands of Ada County families for hiking, mountain biking, and skiing each year. The four-year plan involves selective thinning of overgrown, diseased, and dead timber that can act as fuel during wildfire season.
Michael Williamson of the Boise National Forest described the approach as deliberate and surgical rather than wholesale clear-cutting. “It’s a targeted approach to remove some trees. We’re leaving the Ponderosa Pines, which are very resilient to wildfire,” Williamson said. “It’s not going to be a clear-cutting operation by any stretch. This is about thinning out the woods that, again, will make it more resistant, more resilient to a wildfire.”
A hike along Pat’s Trail in the area revealed a significant number of dead trees, some of which had already fallen to the forest floor — exactly the kind of dry fuel that accelerates wildfires. Many of the standing dead trees have been marked for removal as part of the project. Residents living in the foothills near the Boise River corridor and throughout Ada County are familiar with the threat that summer wildfires pose to both property and public access to Idaho’s open spaces.
Trail and Road Closures Begin May 11
Beginning Monday, May 11, and running through an expected completion date of June 19, a series of trail and road closures will be in effect on weekdays to allow logging crews to operate safely.
Pat’s Trail and the popular Freddy’s Stack Rock Trail will be closed to the public Monday through Friday during active logging hours. Both trails will remain open on weekends. Additionally, Bogus Basin Road will be closed at mile marker 12 — near the point where the road enters the forest on the traverse — during the following weekday windows:
- 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Road closed
- 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Road open
- 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Road closed again
The public has until May 11 to access the full recreation complex from mile marker 12 to Bogus Basin without restriction.
Impact on Ada County Residents and Recreationists
Williamson emphasized the importance of the area to the broader Boise community, noting that homes, critical telecommunications infrastructure, and the full Bogus Basin recreation complex are all within the project zone. “That area is really important, there’s a lot going on up there,” he said. “We have homes nearby, we have critical infrastructure, telecommunications sites, and then we have all the recreation infrastructure of Bogus Basin itself, the trails.”
Forest officials are also asking the public to take the closures seriously. Last year’s logging work was disrupted multiple times when hikers and mountain bikers entered active logging zones, creating dangerous conditions and causing significant delays for equipment operators. “Last year we had numerous instances, actually, of hikers, bikers coming into active logging areas, presenting a dangerous situation,” Williamson said. “It caused quite a bit of delays for the operators, so we ask the public to respect the closures this year.”
For outdoor enthusiasts looking for alternative recreation options while the closures are in effect, Lucky Peak State Park recently debuted a new dog beach and kayak launch along the Boise River, offering another accessible outdoor destination for Ada County families.
What Comes Next
The Deer Point Stewardship Project is expected to run from May 11 through June 19, 2026. Trail and road closures apply Monday through Friday only; full public access resumes each weekend. The project is part of a larger four-year forest management plan, meaning similar seasonal operations will continue in the coming years.
Residents and recreationists are encouraged to check with the Boise National Forest for updated closure information before heading out. Respecting posted closures not only keeps the public safe but ensures logging crews can complete the work that will make the forest more resilient for generations of Ada County families to enjoy.