Momentous Adventures -The Three Sisters Loop

The Sisters from the Tam McArthur Rim (not on the loop)

This is the grand slam of Central Oregon’s Three Sisters area, as you get to see most of the best spots in one fantastic trip. Start off on this 59 mile loop that includes a vast wild flower meadow, deep green lakes and high passes that get you closer to this volcanic family. It is almost like a small range of mountains actually and their many faces will surprise your senses with every turn. Cool off in a mountain stream flowing ice cold from the peaks’ many glaciers, or take a dip in the emerald waters of Green Lakes instead. Iconic spots ahead include an ancient forest sealed in obsidian (lava glass), and miles of open views as far north as Mt. Adams in Washington from Opie Dillock Pass. All of this and more on a relatively moderate trail that never gets too steep or rough. I recommend a clockwise direction for the loop, getting the east side done first and saving the PCT portion for the desert.

Green Lakes

Moraine Lake

This trip usually is free of snow by late July and is ideal in August or September when the mosquitoes are mostly gone and the huckleberries are ripe. I recommend a bare minimum of 4 days for this trip but 5 or even a week is not unheard of and makes for a far better experience. A great feature of this landscape is its more rolling ridges and less steep river valleys than usually accompany most of the other round the mountain trails. They invite you to take your time, as there is literally no end to the side trips you can take to higher basins, summits or just taking the afternoon to finish a book and take a dip.

Middle and North Sisters from the east

Views stretch to Mt. Adams