FSR 46 road closure

Important travel information - please read!

Last updated: Friday May 9, 2025 at 9:30 am

FSR 46 (Breitenbush Rd, from Breitenbush to Detroit) near Cleator Bend Campground is UNDER CONSTRUCTION until at least June 2025. See below for more information about closure times and alternate routes.

The Estacada route (via 224 & 46) is OPEN and recommended to anyone traveling to/from or through the Portland area. See below for directions (DO NOT USE GPS).

Last summer the Forest Service performed an extensive repair on Forest Service Road 46–also known as Breitenbush Rd–which is the road between Breitenbush and Detroit. We’ve been informed by the Forest Service that part of this repair is failing and urgently needs reconstruction.

On Thursday May 1st we found out that work on this repair, which is at mile 8.73 near Cleator Bend Campground, would begin on Monday May 5th. Starting that day, the road may be closed according to the calendar/schedule below. If this road closure is in effect and you would like to arrive or depart during times the road is closed, you will have the following options:

  1. The route to Portland through Estacada (via 224 & 46) is OPEN and available to use. We recommend this route if you are traveling to/from or through the Portland area. See below for directions.

  2. The Forest Service says they will be providing a detour route to Detroit via Forest Service Road 4696. This is a mostly gravel road that adds about 20 miles (and about 1 hour) to the trip between Breitenbush and Detroit. See below for a map of this route as well as turn-by-turn directions.

A note about Google Maps and other GPS navigation apps: Google Maps (and other navigation apps) should never be used to get to Breitenbush, and that is especially true right now. We see several errors commonly occurring with these apps right now:

  • These apps show FSR 46 as completely closed, even on weekends or days when there are times the road is open. Please refer to the schedule below to see when the road is actually closed/open.

  • Additionally, Google Maps etc is routing people to Breitenbush via a closed logging road (2231) from Idanha. This road is not open to the public - please do not attempt to take this route. If you are coming from Detroit, please use FSR-46 when it is open, or use the 4696 detour route described below.

  • Finally, Google Maps shows that a section of 46 between Estacada and Breitenbush is closed, and because of this it unnecessarily routes people through gravel logging roads. The full, paved route between Estacada and Breitenbush is open - if you are using this route, you do not need to take any unpaved roads (other than the couple miles closest to Breitenbush). See below for more detailed driving directions for this route.

This page will be updated regularly, so check back for updates as your visit approaches.

Closure schedule

Below is the current closure schedule for the full project, provided by the Forest Service:

Alternate routes

Between Breitenbush and Portland area: the Estacada route

For anyone traveling to/from or through the Portland area, we highly recommend taking the route through Estacada (via 224 and 46). This route is closed in the winter, but as of May 1, 2025 it is fully open for the summer Please do not use GPS, as Google Maps and other similar apps show parts of this route as closed and will unnecessarily send you onto gravel logging roads. Between Portland and where you turn onto the Breitenbush entrance road, you do not need to leave the paved roads. See driving directions below:

Coming from Portland via Estacada, OR (OPEN as of May 1, 2025): Head South on SE Highway 224 and drive 29 miles. Continue on 46 South at Ripplebrook General Store. Continue left at the fork at Riverford Campground and drive 30 miles. You’ll see a wide left turn, and a sign for Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center. Cross the bridge and turn left, then at each fork take a left to follow the gravel road and signs to our parking lot and Gatehouse.

Between Breitenbush and Detroit: the 4696 detour

When FSR 46 is closed (see schedule above) an alternate route has been provided by the Forest Service via 4696. This route adds about 20 miles and about 1-1.5 hours to the drive between Detroit and Breitenbush. Note that this route is mostly unpaved logging roads, and at times it is steep and narrow. Please use caution on this route and drive slowly.

There is no cell reception along this route, so it is recommended you take a screen shot or print these directions prior to departing:

From Detroit to Breitenbush, via 4696 detour

  • In Detroit, turn off Hwy 22 onto FS-46. Drive 4.4 miles. 

  • Turn left onto 4696. Reset the trip odometer in your car to 0. Drive 6.4 miles.

  • At mile 6.4, turn right onto 850. Drive 2.8 miles.

  • At mile 9.2, turn left onto 6370. Drive 3.1 miles.

  • At mile 12.3, turn right onto 220. Drive 2.9 miles.

  • At mile 15.2, turn right onto 6355. Drive 0.3 miles.

  • At mile 15.5, turn right onto 6350. Drive 4.8 miles.

  • At mile 20.3, turn right onto FS-46 (paved road). Drive 8.4 miles.

  • At mile 28.7, turn left onto the Breitenbush entrance road. Cross the bridge and turn left. Follow signs for Breitenbush until you arrive in the parking lot. 

From Breitenbush to Detroit, via 4696 detour

  • Leave the parking lot and follow the gravel entrance road to FS-46 (paved road) and turn right. Drive 8.4 miles.

  • Turn left onto 6350. Reset the trip odometer in your car to 0. Drive 4.8 miles.

  • At mile 4.8, turn left onto 6355. Drive 0.3 miles.

  • At mile 5.1, turn left onto 150. Drive 2.9 miles.

  • At mile 8.0, turn left onto 6370. Drive 3.1 miles.

  • At mile 11.1, turn right onto 850. Drive 2.8 miles.

  • At mile 13.9, turn left onto 4696. Drive 6.4 miles.

  • At mile 20.3, turn right onto FS-46 (paved road). Drive 4.4 miles to Detroit.

Below is a map of the detour route that was provided by the Forest Service: