Over the next few years, nearly 1,700 acres between Cache and Game Creeks could see vegetation thinned, trees trimmed and dead trees removed.
The effort is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s proposal for more hazardous fuels reduction, an ongoing effort that has seen a resurgence in the Jackson Ranger District in the last 15 years. Clearing dense undergrowth of thick, dry vegetation can slow down the spread of a wildfire.
“The main intent for the project is to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to Jackson,” said Eric Hawes, north zone fuel manager for the forest service.
The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), a term for where important infrastructure such as homes, schools and power lines meet forest boundaries or dense vegetation, is particularly at risk for potential wildfire damage. All private land in Teton County is considered part of the WUI as of 2025.
Hikers and bikers in one of the forest’s more popular trail systems may come across smaller burn piles, but not large prescribed burns.
After a century and a half of suppressing wildfires, Hawes said the science has shifted toward more preventive measures ahead of a fire, like fuels reduction. The Jackson Ranger District has several ongoing fuel reduction projects underway right now.
Earlier this month, Hawes joined Jackson District Ranger Todd Stiles on the trails to hike with the public and explain the project.
Both fielded questions on how much change to expect, why the edge of town is at risk from a fast-moving fire and whether wildlife would be negatively impacted.
Workers will target so-called ladder fuels, Stiles said while on the Hagen Highway trail during the first public field-trip. That includes undergrowth that can inch up taller trees and help fire spread from grass to branch.
Some fear forest thinning will go beyond a healthy trim. Depending on size, dead logs and some isolated trees could be removed.
Jackson District Ranger Todd Stiles said the forest will likely remove some dead trees near trails, like these ones killed by mountain pine beetles close to the Cache Creek trailhead. (Jenna McMurtry/KHOL)
Trail-lovers like Jackson resident Cathy Centrella worry that trimming trees and cutting back on vegetation could change the nature of the robust trail network she’s recreated in for most of her life.
“I’m not convinced that this clearing of the forest is the answer,” said the former forest service visitor center employee. “Why destroy such a beautiful area?”
But Hawes said impacts will be minimal and that fuel reduction is more necessary now than ever for a safer forest. It’s already been a busy fire season.
“We’ve had a number of fires pretty atypical for this time of year,” Hawes said.
This year, Teton Interagency Fire has battled the forest’s largest May fire in Spread Creek, smaller burns in the National Elk Refuge and most recently, the Kinky Creek Fire near Darwin Ranch.
The forest service aims to chew off one section at a time starting in 2027. The plan is to continue as long as funding is available.
“Because of capacity and funding, we find it’s probably pretty unlikely that we’re gonna be working in too many spots [at] any one time,” Stiles said. “It’ll be broken up in time and space.”
