The Three Sisters Loop is a spectacular 42.8-mile circumnavigation of three volcanic peaks—South Sister, Middle Sister, and North Sister—all exceeding 10,000 feet. This route traverses the Three Sisters Wilderness in Oregon's Cascade Range, showcasing the region's volcanic geology, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and dramatic lava fields. The loop offers varied terrain from dense forests to high alpine passes, with views of glaciers, obsidian flows, and dozens of pristine mountain lakes.
This is a moderate to strenuous backpacking trip typically completed in 3-6 days. The route combines sections of the Pacific Crest Trail with wilderness trails, passing through areas of both stunning beauty and significant wildfire burn scars. Backpackers should be prepared for challenging water logistics, potentially aggressive mosquitoes in early summer, and variable weather including afternoon thunderstorms. The loop is best suited for experienced backpackers comfortable with route-finding through burned areas and managing long waterless stretches.
A Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required for all overnight trips between June 15 and October 15. The permit costs $6 per group (up to 12 people) and is non-refundable. Approximately 40% of daily permits are released on the first Tuesday in April at 7:00 AM PDT. The remaining 60% become available seven days before your trip start date. All permits must be reserved through Recreation.gov—they are not available at Forest Service offices.
Day-use permits ($1 per person) are also required at 19 popular trailheads during permit season. These are released on a 10-day and 2-day rolling window.
Fire Restrictions: Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet elevation. Fire bans are typically enacted July through November. Plan to use a backpacking stove only.
Group Size: Maximum 12 people per group.
Bear Canisters: Not required, but proper food storage is mandatory. Hang food at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from tree trunks, or use bear-resistant containers. Rodents (chipmunks, mice) are more common than bears.
Northwest Forest Pass: Required for trailhead parking (annual or day-use).
Optimal Window: Late August through September
This timing offers the best combination of snow-free trails, minimal mosquitoes, stable weather, and spectacular fall colors. September is particularly ideal—cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and permits are often easier to obtain.
July: Snow lingers on high passes (especially Chambers Lakes area and PCT sections) into mid-July or later in heavy snow years. Mosquitoes are relentless, particularly around lakes and meadows in the southern half of the loop. Water is abundant.
Early August: Still possible to encounter snowfields at higher elevations. Mosquitoes remain aggressive but begin to diminish. Crowds peak. Water sources are reliable.
Late August: Snow is typically gone. Mosquitoes have largely disappeared. Temperatures are warm. Some smaller creeks may be dry, requiring careful water planning.
September: Excellent conditions. Cool nights, warm days, brilliant fall colors, and fewer bugs. Some water sources may be dry. Weather remains generally stable.
Early October: Shoulder season with cooler temperatures and higher precipitation risk. New snow possible at higher elevations. Limited water sources.
Wildflowers: Peak bloom varies by elevation. Green Lakes and Broken Top areas peak early July through mid-August. Hand Lake Meadows peak mid-June through late July.
McKenzie Pass Highway 242 Access: The highway to northern trailheads (Lava Camp Lake, Matthieu Lakes) is closed November through mid-June, limiting trailhead access during shoulder seasons.
Water management is one of the most challenging aspects of this loop. Despite numerous lakes shown on maps, many streams are intermittent or dry by late summer, and some water sources are glacial silt that clogs filters.
Critical Waterless Stretches:
Reliable Water Sources (Late Season): - Mesa Creek - Moraine Lake - Green Lakes - Alder Creek (barely flowing in some years) - Soap Creek - Pole Creek (both forks—north fork clear, south fork silty) - James Creek - Whychus Creek (both forks—south fork glacial silt)
Water Strategy: Always know the distance to your next water source. Carry extra capacity (3+ liters) for dry stretches. Fill up at every reliable source. Avoid stagnant ponds and heavily silted glacial melt when possible.
Resupply: This is a self-supported loop with no practical mid-trip resupply. Carry all food for 3-6 days. The town of Sisters is approximately 15 miles from Lava Camp Lake Trailhead but requires hitchhiking. McKenzie Bridge has a general store but is not convenient to the loop. Plan food carefully based on your itinerary.
Wildfire Burn Areas: The Pole Creek Fire (2012, 26,000 acres) and Milli Fire (2017, 24,000 acres) created extensive burn zones, particularly on the west side of the loop from Park Meadows to Matthieu Lakes. Expect: - Scorching exposed terrain with no shade - Dusty, sooty trails - Fallen trees and difficult navigation - No camping areas with water and flat ground for 16+ miles - Mentally and physically taxing conditions
Some hikers recommend staying on the PCT instead of the official loop trail through the southwest burn section between James Creek and Linton Creek due to poor trail conditions and route-finding difficulties.
Weather & Lightning: Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, bringing sudden rain, hail, thunder, and dangerous lightning. High passes like Green Lakes Pass (7,000 feet) and Opie Dilldock Pass are exposed with little shelter. Avoid exposed ridges during storms. Morning starts help you reach camp before afternoon weather develops.
River/Creek Crossings: Most creeks are easily crossed by late summer, but in June and early July, snowmelt can make crossings challenging and potentially dangerous. Major creeks include Soap Creek, Pole Creek, Alder Creek, James Creek, and Whychus Creek. Plan crossings for morning when water levels are lowest.
Snow: Lingering snowfields on high passes and PCT sections can persist into early August in heavy snow years, particularly around Chambers Lakes. Hikers should carry microspikes and be prepared for basic snow navigation if traveling before late July.
Mosquitoes: The Three Sisters Wilderness is notorious for aggressive mosquitoes from late June through early August. The southern half around lakes and ponds is particularly brutal. Bring a head net and strong repellent if hiking before mid-August.
Rocky Terrain: The lava fields are tough on feet. Wear sturdy, well-broken-in boots or trail runners with excellent tread and foot protection.
Nearest Airport: Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) / Roberts Field, 20 miles east of Sisters. Direct flights from Portland, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and seasonal service from other cities via Alaska, Delta, United, American, and Avelo.
From Airport: Rental cars available at RDM. Sisters Delivery and Shuttle offers airport transportation service.
Driving to Sisters: From Bend (22 miles southeast), take US-20 west. Sisters is the main staging town for the loop.
Public Transportation: Limited but possible. Central Oregon Breeze provides bus service Portland–Bend. From Bend's Hawthorne Station, take Cascades East Transit Route 29 to Sisters (30 minutes, $3). From Sisters, you'll need to hitchhike approximately 15 miles to trailheads like Lava Camp Lake. Hitchhiking is relatively easy due to familiarity with PCT hikers.
Main Trailheads: - Lava Camp Lake / Matthieu Lakes Trailhead (north): Access via McKenzie Pass Highway 242, closed mid-November through mid-June - Devils Lake Trailhead (south): Most popular starting point for counterclockwise loops - Green Lakes Trailhead (south): Popular access point - Pole Creek Trailhead (west): Alternative start for clockwise routes - Scott Trailhead (east): Less common starting point
Road Conditions: Most trailheads are accessible via paved roads (Highways 242, 126, 372). Some forest roads may require high-clearance vehicles. Check current conditions with Deschutes or Willamette National Forests.
Parking: Northwest Forest Pass required at all trailheads. Trailheads can fill on summer weekends—arrive early or consider weekday starts.
Direction of Travel: Most hikers go counterclockwise starting from Devils Lake Trailhead. This provides flexibility to summit South Sister (optional side trip), spreads out elevation gain more evenly, and saves the dramatic volcanic scenery of the west side for later in the trip. Clockwise from Pole Creek Trailhead allows you to split the challenging Pole Creek burn zone restriction into two days instead of one brutal push, and reduces total elevation gain by about 200 feet.
Pole Creek Burn Zone Strategy: The 16-mile waterless, shadeless burn section with no camping is the crux of this loop. If going counterclockwise, camp at James Creek the night before and make an early morning start to push through before afternoon heat. Carry 3+ liters of water. If going clockwise, camp before the burn and power through, or split it by camping outside the restricted zone.
Camping Recommendations: - Counterclockwise from Devils Lake: Night 1: Moraine Lake or Mesa Creek; Night 2: Green Lakes or Alder Creek; Night 3: Soap Creek or beyond Pole Creek; Night 4: South Matthieu Lake or exit - Avoid camping at Green Lakes if possible—it's beautiful but extremely crowded. Nearby Moraine Lake or Camp Lake offer more solitude. - Chambers Lakes area is scenic but snow lingers late.
Water Filter Maintenance: Carry a backup filter or purification tablets. Glacial silt from South Sister's Prouty Glacier and Lewis Glacier clogs filters quickly.
Timing: Start hiking by 7:00 AM to cover miles before afternoon heat and thunderstorms. This is especially critical in the burn zones.
Wildlife: Bear sightings are rare. Focus food storage efforts on protecting against rodents. No bear spray necessary.
Side Trips: South Sister summit (10,363 feet) is a popular add-on from the south end of the loop, adding 5+ miles and significant elevation gain. Middle Sister and North Sister are technical climbs requiring mountaineering skills.
Trail Conditions: Check recent trip reports on Oregon Hikers forum before departure. Snow conditions, water availability, and trail maintenance (especially in burn areas) vary significantly year to year.
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