Three Sisters Wilderness: Deschutes

Three Sisters Wilderness area covers 286,708 total acres. There are approximately 260 miles of trail within the wilderness. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the wilderness for 40 miles. Most trails entering the wilderness begin in dense forests of Douglas-fir on the western slopes of the Cascades and ponderosa pine on the eastern slopes.
Major peaks are: the North, Middle, and South Sisters (all above 10,000'), along with Broken Top, the best example in the Pacific Northwest of the effect of glaciation. Collier Glacier is the largest glacier in Oregon. Other geologic features include Rock Mesa, Collier Cone, and Yapoah Crater. Alpine meadows, waterfalls, lava fields, glaciers, and glacial lakes are abundant. Fish populations include brook and rainbow trout.
Forest in this Wilderness consists mainly of Douglas-fir, silver fir, sub-alpine fir, mountain hemlock, western hemlock, true fir, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine. Alpine meadows are abundant.
Help protect your Wilderness! Key areas in the Three Sisters Wilderness are heavily used. Recreation related impacts include: opportunities for solitude, loss of vegetation, soil compaction, erosion, loss of woody debris and waste and sanitation issues. Help reduce impacts by following Wilderness regulations and the 7 Leave No Trace stewardship principles.
- Key access points: Trail and trailhead access information.
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Three Sisters Wilderness Georeferenced Permit Map
This map highlights which trailheads require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for day use and those trailheads with day use opportunities requiring a free, self-issue permit at the trailhead.
At a Glance
Current Conditions: | Visitors to the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for all overnight use and some require one for day-use. |
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Fees: | Trails in the Three Sisters Wilderness area require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for ALL overnight use and SOME require one for day-use.
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Permit Info: | There are two types of entry permits required between June 15 and October 15 for entering all designated wilderness areas.
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Usage: | Heavy |
Restrictions: |
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Closest Towns: | Bend, Oregon; Sisters, Oregon |
Passes: | Some trailheads require a recreation pass. Check our Recreation Passes & Permits page for details. |
Information Center: |
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General Information
General Notes:Topo Maps
Belknap Springs, Black Crater, Broken Top, Cougar Reservoir, Crane Prairie, Elk Lake, French Mountain, Harvey Mountain, Irish Mountain, Linnton Lake, Mt. Bachelor, North Sister, Packsaddle Mountain, South Sister, Sunstitute Point, Trout Creek Butte, Tumalo Falls, Waldo Mountain. Download free U.S. Forest Service Topo maps.
Buy maps online
Go to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map store: https://store.usgs.gov/maps
Wilderness.net
Go to Wilderness.net for online maps and other important Wilderness information.
Know Before You Go
- All overnight and some day use visitors to the Three Sisters Wilderness must carry a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit if visiting between June 15 and October 15.
- Learn about Wilderness Regulations, including special area regulations in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.
- ''Leave No Trace'' techniques are encouraged in Wilderness areas, including properly disposing of human and pet waste and carrying out all trash.
- There are no facilities within the Jefferson Park area or the Wilderness area.
- Find out about the Weed Free Feed Requirement and other good Know Before You Go tips.
Directions:
Trail and trailhead access to Three Sisters Wilderness:
From Bend, OR via Highway 46- Cascade Lakes Highway:
- Broken Top trailhead
- Corral Swamp trailhead
- Crater Ditch trailhead
- Devils Lake – South Sister trailhead
- Elk Lake trailhead
- Green lakes/Soda Creek trailhead
- Lucky Lake Trailhead
- Many Lakes trail
- Sisters-Mirror trailhead (Mirror Lakes Trail)
- Six Lakes Trail
- Todd Trail via Todd Lake day Use area-
- View a Google map of access point to Todd lake
- Winopee Lake Trail (access near Cultus Lake Campground)
From Sisters, OR via Highway 242 and Forest Service Roads 15 and 16:
- Black Crater trailhead
- Pole Creek trailhead
- Millican Crater trailhead
- Park Meadow Trail
- Scott Pass Trail
- Lava Camp Lake trailhead
- Tam McArthur Rim trailhead
From the Willamette Valley via Old McKenzie Highway (State 242):
- Willamette National Forest Three Sisters Wilderness information.
Activities
Day Hiking
Backpacking
Horse Riding
Alerts & Warnings
- West Bend Area Trail Closures (Dec. 11, 2024)
- Bachelor Complex Fires Emergency Closure (November 15, 2024)
- Firestone & Flat Top Fires Emergency Closure (October 11, 2024)
- Blue-Green Algae Information (Summer 2024)
- Recreating in the Cedar Creek Fire Burned Area (June 2023)
- Willamette NF Fire Closures