Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Oregon / Central Cascades

Green Lakes via Fall Creek

Three Sisters Wilderness, Deschutes National Forest (Cascade Lakes Highway, west of Bend)

Green Lakes sits in a high basin between South Sister and Broken Top, about 4 miles up Fall Creek from the Cascade Lakes Highway. Oregon Hikers describes “near-constant payoff”: waterfalls, close views of both peaks, and the lake basin at the top.

Oregon Hikers calls it very popular. Camping in the basin is limited to designated sites, and the trailhead is on the Central Cascades permit system for day hikers as well as backpackers.

The hike

From the Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead, about 26.7 miles west of Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway (Forest Service), Green Lakes Trail #17 follows Fall Creek. Oregon Hikers points out a spur on the right in the first half mile to a 30-foot waterfall, Fall Creek Falls. Wheatless Wanderlust says the first 2 miles stay in forest, with wooden bridges over the creek.

At about 2 miles, near 6,000 feet, the trail and creek level out at the Moraine Lake junction. Past meadows and a second footbridge, the trail runs along a lava flow studded with obsidian. The Broken Top Trail branches east, and a small reflecting pond north of the trail mirrors South Sister. Oregon Hikers notes there are only two switchbacks on the whole route, both on the climb after the meadows.

The trail reaches the basin a little over 4 miles in and follows the east shore of the largest lake. Wheatless Wanderlust describes a sign at the basin boundary with a map of the overnight sites, and suggests looping around the big lake and returning past the smaller lake to the southeast, which has the best Broken Top views. Continuing past the lakes leads to Green Lakes Pass, which Oregon Hikers describes as having wide alpine views. User trails near the south shore lead toward the summits of South Sister and Broken Top.

Oregon Hikers rates the round trip moderate, about 8.4 miles with 1,150 feet of gain and a high point of 6,565 feet. Moraine Lake adds about 3 miles and 500 feet, Wheatless Wanderlust says, and makes a good swim spot. Expect a dusty, rutted trail and many people on good summer days.

For a multi-day trip that passes through this basin, see the Three Sisters Loop.

Tips

Camping

Overnight stays in the Three Sisters Wilderness require a Central Cascades Wilderness overnight permit from June 15 to October 15, reserved only on Recreation.gov, according to the Forest Service. In the Green Lakes and Moraine Lake basins, the 2024 forest order allows camping only at designated campsites, within 15 feet of an established campsite post. Oregon Hikers says the official sites are near the main lake’s south shore, just south of the reflecting pond, and between the main and northern lakes.

No camping is allowed within a quarter mile of No Name Lake (Broken Top Tarn), and groups are limited to 12. The trailhead itself is day use only.

Inside Intel: Wheatless Wanderlust says a lake farther north is quieter for camping, while not worth the extra walk for day hikers.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Supper at a campsite post below Broken Top:

Green Lakes camping happens only at designated sites marked by posts, and fires are banned at this elevation, so dinner comes off the stove. See which backpacking meals testers like.

See what testers chose →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.