Five Hikes Around Sisters, Oregon

By Stacy Larsen

Small, but brimming with charm and activity, Sisters (population 1,745) is widely known for its rodeo, quilt show, and jazz and folk festivals. It is also surrounded by dozens of opportunities for hikes that meet all ability levels and offer deep blue alpine lakes, flowery meadows, and extraordinary views of its namesake mountains. The hiking season around Sisters can be short—many areas are only accessible from July-October, when they become popular destinations for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. These easy-to-moderate hikes are just an introduction to this beautiful part of Central Oregon.

Head of the Metolius

Open April to November, this paved, wheelchair accessible trail is well under a half-mile round-trip, so all ages and ability levels can experience the source of the Metolius, designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988. Drive 9.6 miles northwest from Sisters on Hwy. 20, then 4.4 miles north on Road. 14. Follow signage to the large parking area with interpretive signs and a restroom. Leashed dogs only.

Metolius River and Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery

Continue on Road 14 past the Head of the Metolius site and watch for signs to the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. The hatchery has fish viewing ponds, interpretive displays, and picnic areas in a park-like setting. Restrooms and water are available. The hatchery is open year-round, and surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest. For an out-and-back hike of 5.4 miles, you can connect with the southbound trail to Canyon Creek Campground that follows the Metolius River. Terrain is a mix of flat and rolling, with a very few short, slightly steep climbs. A northbound 6.4-mile loop begins at the hatchery and to Lower Bridge Campground before turning back. The trail is open year-round except during winter storms, and dogs are permitted off leash on the trails. They must be leashed at the hatchery.

Suttle Lake

Suttle Lake is located fourteen miles west of Sisters on highway 20. Turn left at the sign for Suttle Lake Resort and Marina. The 3.5-mile loop trail is very well maintained, and is an excellent choice for beginners and children. This year-round hike offers lake views and access all around, as well as picnic areas, water, and restrooms at the several campgrounds and day-use sites. Mt. Washington and Black Butte are visible at points along the trail. Leashed dogs are permitted, and amenities at the nearby Lodge include boat rental and a full-service restaurant.

Little Three Creeks Lake or Tam McArthur Rim

Little Three Creeks Lake is easily accessible June to October, and sometimes as early as April. Rowboat rental is available on larger Three Creeks Lake in the summer, but no motorized boat traffic is allowed, which makes for a particularly peaceful environment. The Little Three Creeks 3-mile loop trail is surprisingly little used, even in summer. Winding through ponderosa, lodgepole, fir, and hemlock trees, the gently rolling trail is dotted with flowered meadows and runs across small creeks. Delightful and quiet, with Tam McArthur Rim as a backdrop. Dogs are allowed off-leash out of the camping areas. From Sisters, turn south on Elm Street at the Three Creeks sign and drive for about 16 miles on Elm Street, which becomes Road 16. The road gives way to gravel at this point, which can be bumpy. Continue for 1.7 miles and then watch for the Driftwood Campground sign and make a right. Continue for less than a mile until the end of the road and the trailhead.

For those seeking more challenge, the Tam McArthur Rim trailhead is just opposite the turnoff for Driftwood Campground. The moderate 5-mile roundtrip includes spectacular views of the Three Sisters, and very often Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood. Both hikes are possible to do in the same day, depending on your ability and trail conditions. The 1200-foot elevation gain for Tam McArthur Rim means fewer months of accessibility, generally late July to mid-October.

Sisters Tie Trail

This is a year-round, out-and-back hike that begins just a half-mile from downtown Sisters, past the Ranger Station on Pine Street. The flat, 6.6-mile round-trip is good for children or beginners, and takes you through second growth ponderosa pine, juniper, bitterbrush, and the occasional view of Black Butte. Adjust for ability level by turning back earlier than the 3.3 end point, or combine with other trails. The Sisters Tie Trail is part of the Roads to Trails Program, which manages abandoned roads as part of the trail system, and connects to the Butte Loops and Suttle Lake trails. Be prepared, as neither water nor restrooms are available until the turnaround at Indian Ford campground. Leashed dogs are permitted.

Additionally, dozens of miles of trails can be accessed just blocks from downtown Sisters on the Sisters Community Trails system. The system links both residential and business areas with the neighboring U.S. Forest Service Trail system. A printable guide to non-motorized trails and paths is available from the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation.

An excellent resource for hiking in the Sisters area, including the Three Sisters Wilderness, is William Sullivan’s 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades, which includes detailed maps, driving directions, and points of interest along the trail.

Finally, as you plan any hike in the Sisters area, be sure to check what recreational pass might be needed. Most hikes are covered with a Northwest Forest Pass. Forest Service, State Parks Service, and Wilderness regulations can vary. The Forest Service has an excellent online tool to determine what pass may be necessary for the type of trip or trail you are taking.

The following sites are also excellent resources for determining pass requirements, trail conditions and accessibility, and the availability of restrooms, water, and other services.
USDA Forest Service – Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department – Explore Central Oregon

Get out there and enjoy!