Three Sisters
Three volcanoes over 3,000 meters arranged west of Bend, the signature landscape of the Cascade Range. South Sister is one of Oregon's most popular climbing routes.
The Three Sisters consist of North Sister, Middle Sister, and South Sister, all more than 3,000 meters high. South Sister, at about 3,157 meters, is Oregon's third-highest peak and lies within the Three Sisters Wilderness. The classic route is the South Sister Climber Trail, which starts at the Devils Lake trailhead. The round trip is about 19 km with roughly 1,500 meters of elevation gain. No technical gear is needed to reach the summit, which offers views over a crater lake and the entire Cascade range. The climb usually takes 8 to 10 hours. Visitors who don't climb can enjoy the views from Pilot Butte, Dee Wright Observatory, or along the Cascade Lakes scenic route. Entering the wilderness requires a free wilderness permit. Some trails require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit reserved in advance in summer, along with a parking pass. From Bend, the drive along the Highway 46 scenic route to the trailhead takes about 40 minutes. The road is closed in winter.
Opening hours
All day; climbing season approx. July–Sep; some trails require advance wilderness permits
Nearby sights
- Green Lakes Trail
- Sparks Lake
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
- Mt. Bachelor
- Dee Wright Observatory (McKenzie Pass)
- Tumalo Falls
- Sisters
- Shevlin Park