Three Sisters Loop

Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette and Deschutes National Forests (between Sisters and Bend)

The Three Sisters Loop circles North, Middle, and South Sister through the Three Sisters Wilderness, using the Pacific Crest Trail for part of the way. CleverHiker puts the inner loop at 46.3 miles, or about 50 with an approach from a trailhead, and suggests three to six days.

The route crosses lava fields, obsidian slopes, meadows, and the burn from the 2012 Pole Creek Fire, and it touches several of the wilderness’s most regulated camping areas.

The hike

Guides list several starting points: Lava Camp Lake near McKenzie Pass (about 3 miles off the loop, per CleverHiker), Devils Lake (about 1.5 miles), Green Lakes (about 2 miles), and Pole Creek. Backpacking Routes started at Lava Camp Lake and hiked counterclockwise.

Going that way, the PCT heads south past North Sister into the Obsidian Limited Entry Area, past Obsidian Falls. Backpacking Routes lists Obsidian Falls as one of the reliable water sources on the northern half. The trail continues past Mesa Creek and onto the Wickiup Plains south of South Sister, near Le Conte Crater. Side trips here include Sisters Mirror Lake and Eileen Lake, CleverHiker says, and climbers can head up the South Sister trail past Moraine Lake. Backpacking Routes notes there is no water above Moraine Lake on that summit route.

The loop swings east to Green Lakes, below Broken Top, then turns north through the Pole Creek burn toward Alder Creek and Scott Pass, closing back toward McKenzie Pass. CleverHiker also lists Camp Lake, Husband Lake, Golden Lake, and North Matthieu Lake among the lakes and side trips on or near the route.

CleverHiker describes most climbs as 500 to 700 feet and rates the trip moderate to strenuous. It recommends late July through October, with August and September the most reliable but also the busiest. Snow can linger on the crest into June or July, Backpacking Routes says, and late-summer smoke can obscure views. The author of Backpacking Routes suggests the Dee Wright Observatory at McKenzie Pass as a stop.

For shorter trips in the same wilderness, see Green Lakes via Fall Creek, the Obsidian Trail, and Sisters Mirror Lake via Wickiup Plain.

Tips

Reserve early. About 40% of overnight permits open in April; the rest open seven days before each date (Forest Service).
Don’t plan to camp at Obsidian without the separate limited-entry permit. Passing through on the PCT is fine, CleverHiker says.
Carry extra water on the north and east sides, especially late in summer.
Store food against chipmunks, mice, and marmots. CleverHiker says bear canisters aren’t required.
Leash dogs July 15 to September 15 in the Green and Moraine Lakes areas.

Camping

A Central Cascades Wilderness overnight permit, reserved on Recreation.gov, is required for all overnight stays in the Three Sisters Wilderness from June 15 to October 15. All group members must start the same day and camp together, groups are limited to 12, and stays are capped at 14 days, according to the Forest Service.

The 2024 forest order adds rules along the route. In the Green Lakes and Moraine Lake basins and at North and South Matthieu Lakes, camp only at designated sites within 15 feet of a campsite post. Camping is banned within a quarter mile of No Name Lake and within 250 feet of Golden Lake, and within 100 feet of water at Linton Meadows, Minnie Scott Springs, and the Obsidian area. Overnight stays in the Obsidian area need a limited-entry permit. Campfires are banned above 5,700 feet.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific campsite on the loop were found. Backpacking Routes says the designated sites at Green and Moraine Lakes fill quickly on weekends.

Trail facts

Distance: 46 to 46.3 miles for the loop; about 50 with an approach
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: Dispersed outside restricted areas; designated sites at Green Lakes, Moraine Lake, and the Matthieu Lakes
Water: Most reliable at Mesa Creek, Moraine Lake, and Green Lakes; Obsidian Falls, Alder Creek, and Soap Creek also listed as reliable (Backpacking Routes); treat all water
Permits: Central Cascades Wilderness overnight permit; Obsidian limited-entry permit to camp there
Fires: Prohibited above 5,700 feet
Bear canister: Not required (CleverHiker)
Trailheads: Lava Camp Lake, Devils Lake, Green Lakes, Pole Creek
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Three volcanoes, several nights out:

The Three Sisters Loop strings together lava fields, burned forest, and alpine meadows over 46-plus miles, so a light, packable shelter earns its keep. See which tents testers rate.

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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.