Obsidian Trail to Obsidian Falls

Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest (McKenzie Highway, OR 242)

The Obsidian Trail climbs from the McKenzie Highway toward the Sunshine area between Middle Sister and Little Brother, a high plateau of meadows and snowmelt streams. Oregon Hiking describes brooks running through wildflower meadows and tarns on plateaus scattered with obsidian glass.

The Bend Bulletin noted in August 2026 that the Obsidian Trailhead “required a limited-entry permit for hikers long before any other trailheads” in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Overnight stays still need their own limited-entry permit.

The hike

The Obsidian Hiker Trailhead is off Forest Road 250, about 17 miles up Highway 242 from its junction with Highway 126, according to the Forest Service. From there, the Bend Bulletin’s 2026 route climbs through a sandy burn, then dense Douglas fir, and switchbacks to the base of the Obsidian Cliffs, with a view of North and Middle Sister.

Green meadows lead to the junction with Glacier Way, a steep 0.6-mile trail along White Branch Creek up to the Pacific Crest Trail. The Bend Bulletin’s loop follows about a mile of the PCT past small ponds and a glacial pool to Obsidian Falls, where the PCT meets the east end of the Obsidian Trail, then descends back to the trailhead. It puts that loop at 10.6 miles; a longer version runs 15.8. The author’s own trip took nearly five hours with about 2,700 feet of gain. Oregon Hiking lists a 12-mile loop with about 1,800 feet of gain and calls it difficult.

The Outbound describes an approach from the Frog Camp or Scott trailheads on Highway 242 that reaches the PCT at Obsidian Falls. It mentions Sisters Spring, which flows from the base of North Sister near the plateau entrance; the contributor calls the water “crystal clear” and refreshing. The longer approach from the Scott trailhead, the same page says, passes Four-in-One Cone, Yapoah Crater, and Collier Cone.

Oregon Hiking reports that a September 2024 fire spared the route but burned trees near Obsidian Falls. Oregon Hiking lists the season as mid-July through October.

For a multi-day trip through this plateau, see the Three Sisters Loop.

Tips

Reserve the Obsidian overnight permit on Recreation.gov; it’s separate from a general Three Sisters permit.
Don’t count on late-season water on the plateau.
Stay on trail across the fragile obsidian and meadow areas.
Check OR 242 status. The highway closes in winter.
Leave obsidian where it lies. Deschutes National Forest wilderness rules say not to collect rocks or other natural items.

Camping

The 2024 forest order requires a limited-entry overnight permit for the Obsidian area from June 15 to October 15. Inside the area, which includes Sisters Springs, Arrowhead Lake, Glacier Creek, Obsidian Creek, Obsidian Meadows, and White Branch Creek, camping is not allowed within 100 feet of a lake or water source. Long-distance PCT permit holders may not camp there at all, the 2026 PCT FAQ says. Campfires are banned above 5,700 feet, and Oregon Hiking says rangers strictly enforce a total campfire ban. Groups are limited to 12.

CleverHiker notes that hikers on the PCT can pass through the Obsidian area without the limited-entry permit; the permit is needed to park at or camp in the Obsidian area.

Inside Intel: A contributor on The Outbound says “camp spots abound well away from Sisters Spring and Obsidian falls,” with “many … located to the left of the waterfall tucked away in the trees.”

Trail facts

Distance: 10.6-mile loop (Bend Bulletin); 12-mile loop (Oregon Hiking)
Route type: Loop (Obsidian Trail, Glacier Way, PCT)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: Dispersed in the Obsidian area, 100 feet from water, with a limited-entry permit
Water: White Branch Creek, snowmelt pools, Sisters Spring; scarce late in summer; treat all water
Permits: Obsidian limited-entry overnight permit, June 15 to October 15
Fires: Prohibited above 5,700 feet
Trailhead: Obsidian Hiker Trailhead, Forest Road 250 off Highway 242
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

A night on the Obsidian plateau:

Camps near Obsidian Falls sit on an open plateau of snowmelt pools and meadows below Middle Sister. See which sleeping bags testers recommend for high camps.

See the picks →

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.