FSR 46 road closure
Important travel information - please read!
Last updated: Monday May 26, 2025 at 10:15 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.
Work on this repair, which is at mile 8.73 near Cleator Bend Campground, has now begun. Now through at least June 22nd, the road may be closed according to the calendar/schedule below. If you would like to arrive or depart during times the road is closed, you will have the following options:
The route to Portland through Estacada (via 224 & 46) is fully OPEN and available to use. We recommend this route if you are traveling to/from or through the Portland area. See below for directions.
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 1-1.5 hours) 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, Apple Maps, etc should never be used to get to Breitenbush, and that is especially true 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 scheduled to be 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 - there is a locked gate and it is impassable. 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:
FS-46 is scheduled to be closed starting at 7:00 am on Monday the 19th, and is not supposed to reopen until Thursday the 22nd at 5:00 pm. This is a 4-day total closure.
After that, FS-46 is scheduled to be open for Memorial Day weekend from 5:00 pm on Thursday the 22nd until 7:00 am on Tuesday the 27th.
After the holiday weekend, FS-46 is scheduled to have another total closure starting 7:00 am on Tuesday May 27th, and is not supposed to re-open until 5:00 pm on Friday June 6th. This is an 11-day full closure.
Beyond that FS-46 is scheduled to go back to partial closures from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm with two half-hour open windows at 9:00 and 12:30 for a couple more weeks to wrap up the project.
Note: This is the projected schedule for a large-scale excavation and construction project. It is very possible that the schedule will change based on how the work is progressing. If we find out about any schedule changes that will affect your reservation, we will reach out to you immediately via email.
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)
Fill up on gas! There are no gas stations between Estacada and Breitenbush.
Head southeast on East OR-224 (paved road) and drive 29 miles.
Landmarks to watch for: Promontory Park, Memaloose Road, Lockaby Campground, Sunstrip Campground, Oak Grove Powerhouse (sign says “Portland General Electric Company”), Alder Flat trailhead
At Ripplebrook, OR-224 turns into FS-46. Continue on FS-46 (paved road) for 36 miles.
Landmarks to watch for: Rainbow campground, Riverside campground, Riverford campground, “Road closed ahead” sign (don’t turn there!), Breitenbush Campground.
Just past Breitenbush Campground (on your left) you’ll see a wide left turn, and a sign for Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center. Turn left there, cross the bridge, and turn left onto the gravel road. At each fork take a left to follow the gravel road and signs to our parking lot and Gatehouse.
The map below shows the correct route to Breitenbush through Estacada via 224.
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 that 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 6.5 miles.
At mile 6.5, turn right onto 850. Drive 2.8 miles.
At mile 9.3, turn left onto 6370. Drive 3.1 miles.
At mile 12.4, turn right onto 220. Drive 2.9 miles.
At mile 15.3, turn right onto 6355. Drive 0.3 miles.
At mile 15.6, turn right onto 6350. Drive 4.8 miles.
At mile 20.4, turn right onto FS-46 (paved road). Drive 8.4 miles.
At mile 28.8, 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 220. 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 6.5 miles.
At mile 20.4, turn right onto FS-46 (paved road). Drive 4.4 miles to Detroit.
Along the 4696 detour route, watch for signs that look like this:
You may need to look around carefully at each intersection to see the signage. If you don’t see a sign, you can rely on the directions listed above.
Below is a map of the detour route that was provided by the Forest Service:
Between Hood River and Breitenbush
Coming from Hood River, OR (reported open as of May 21, 2025):
From Hood River head south on to OR-35 South. Drive for 38.7 miles.
Merge onto US-26 E. Drive 8.8 miles.
Fill up on gas! The last gas station will be on your left about 2.4 miles after getting on US-26.
Turn right onto Skyline Drive/NF-42, following signs for Timothy and Olallie Lakes. Drive for 8.3 miles.
Stay left at the signed junction to continue on NF-42, following signs toward the “Historic Ranger Station”. Drive 10.4 miles.
Follow paint on the road for “Olallie” at this junction only – do not follow any signage you encounter hereafter towards “Olallie”. The road will become a single lane.
Important Note: You won’t be traveling any gravel roads until you reach the last step in these directions. If you’ve gone off the pavement in this area, you’re on the wrong road!
Keep right at the minor junction with NF-200 to stay on NF-42. Drive 5.0 miles.
Keep right at the minor junction with NF-370 to stay on NF-42. Drive 2.1 miles.
Keep right at the minor junction with NF-4230 to stay on NF-42. Drive 0.9 miles. (You will cross a small bridge)
Turn left at the major junction with NF-46 and follow signs for Detroit. Travel 20.9 miles.
In the last mile, there will be a prominent sign for the Forest Service’s Breitenbush Campground – continue straight.
Just past Breitenbush Campground (on your left) you’ll see a wide left turn, and a sign for Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center. Turn left there, cross the bridge, and turn left onto the gravel road. At each fork take a left to follow the gravel road and signs to our parking lot and Gatehouse.