Broken Top Loop
- This 3-day, 2-night loop around Broken Top provides epic views of the Three Sisters Wilderness and the Central Oregon Cascades.
- This loop trip around Broken Top is one of the premier backpacking loops in Oregon. The trail winds past numerous alpine lakes, including the popular Green Lakes area, and offers near-constant views of Broken Top, the Three Sisters, and Mount Bachelor. Additionally, the clear skies of central Oregon in the summer allows views as far as Mount Adams in southern Washington and east to the Ochoco Mountains.
- For a detailed itinerary, click here. (https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/backpacking/backpack-around-broken-top#) You will be taken to The Outbound Collective which is an online, community-driven platform for outdoor discovery.
Tenas Lakes
- The hike to Tenas lakes provides multiple clear blue lakes for great swimming, and amazing views. Its a great short trail as well for overnight backpacking.
- Starting from Scott Lake in the Willamette National Forest, take the Benson Lake Trail head that starts at the end of the road. This climbs gradually up to Benson Lake, a large, deep, cold lake. From there follow the trail up until you see a junction and a sign to Tenas Lakes. Follow this trail until you find the lakes.
- There are lots of trails that will lead to multiple different lakes all of which have great swimming and if you explore you will find great views. You can also take this trail to the summit of Scott Mountain for a more difficult hike.
Canyon Creek Meadows/Three Fingered Jack
- Canyon Creek Meadows is a beautiful, moderate hike through alpine forest into spectacular wildflower meadows at the base of the craggy and colorful Three Fingered Jack. This is a very popular route, and for good reason. The 7-mile loop starts at Jack Lake after a rough drive up to the trailhead, and it gradually climbs out of the 2003 B&B Complex burn area into an old alpine forest and stream fed meadows. The distance from the trailhead to the meadows is short, and one can either turn around and head back or continue the loop around Jack Lake. If you plan to make the loop, Forest rangers request that you follow a clockwise path around the loop.
- The best time to visit these meadows is in July, when the wildflowers take center stage. Permits are required to camp in this area, however. Due to overuse and inconsiderate visitors, the area needs rehabilitation. The Forest Service has posted signage in the most damaged areas. Please read the literature at the trailhead and abide by the guidelines. This will help ensure the place stays beautiful for the next generation of visitors.
Obsidian Trail
- The Obsidian Trail provides an excellent perspective on the many facets of this unique Cascade environment, from dense forests to rugged mountain views, gentle streams to open meadows, lava flows to obsidian cliffs. These cliffs were popular with Native Americans who used the obsidian to craft tools. The area is only accessible once the seasonal snowpack on Highway 242 clears, and you will see snowpack on the trail well into July. August is a popular time of year as the meadows are full of wildflowers.
- The trail can be done in a day or broken up into several days according to your time frame. The trail connects with the Pacific Crest Trail just after Obsidian Falls, and from there you can take trails to any of the Sisters or to Collier Cone and the Collier Glacier. The Obsidian Trail generally doesn’t provide the sweeping Cascade views you may expect from the area, but getting to higher elevations is easy from the falls.
Moraine Lake/South Sister Summit
- In the Three Sisters Wilderness, Moraine Lake sits nearly half way up the South Sister and is a perfect goal for a day hike into the Three Sisters Wilderness. It is best however, to backpack to the lake for basecamp, and summit the South Sister. The lake lies at the base of the Lewis Glacier moraine. Like many alpine lakes, Moraine Lake stays frozen for several months a year. The trail to the lake can also be packed with snow as late as August, especially in the areas shaded by mountain hemlock.
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