SISTERS IN 3 DAYS

If your plans bring you to Sisters for at least three days, let us help you get the most out of them. With so much to do, it’s nearly impossible to lay out all the options. Hopefully this helps. We’ve divided the fun into two options depending on whether you’re traveling with younger children or taking a more relaxed approach to your visit for those seeking a bit of adventure.

Day 1. That’s easy. The same for everybody (see page 16).

Day 2. Casual route. The 242-McKenzie Pass/Santiam Pass Scenic Byway loop tour. It’s an 82-mile scenic drive. Here are outstanding examples of both ancient and recent volcanoes, cinder cones, lava flows, and deep, glaciated canyons. Forests along the Byway contain rare old-growth fir and ponderosa pine and are home to a great variety of fish and wildlife, including several endangered species, such as bald eagles, northern spotted owls, Chinook salmon, and bull trout.

The route takes you to Proxy, Koosah, and Sahalie Falls, each short, but magical hikes to panoramic cascading flows.

On the way back to Sisters stop at Suttle Lake for some canoeing or standup paddle boarding. Rentals available.

Drop into Black Butte Ranch for a guided horseback ride or tee up on the Little Meadow Putting Course. This resort features twelve holes of putting with planned lengths between 45 and 105 feet. However, this course can play as eighteen slightly shorter holes or nine longer holes. There is also plenty of room to change tee and hole locations on any given day. Each hole will feature interesting contours that will test even the best putters. All of the holes will have its own ‘fairway’ and provide ample variety.

Picnic along the way or dine at either the lake or the Ranch. Head home for a night out in Sisters, including a movie or one of our many music venues.

Day 2. Adventure route. Head out to one or more of the more challenging and breathtakingly beautiful hiking options like Scout Camp, Tam McArthur Rim, or Strawberry Lake (see hiking guide page 46).

Or if water is your thing, take a half-day or full-day whitewater rafting trip on the McKenzie Wild and Scenic River where a handful of guides offer thrilling outings through deep canyons about an hour from Sisters.

Day 3. Casual route. Jump on your bike — or rent one at either of our two pro downtown bike shops — and head out Peterson Ridge at the edge of town. Ride as little or as far as you’d like on over a hundred miles of single-track trails for all skill levels.

Before or after, drive up to Three Creek Lake, about 15 miles, and do all those fun things you did as a kid or wished you had — fish, swim, canoe, paddleboard, hike, picnic in the shade. 

Take your furry friends almost anywhere you go in Sisters Country as dogs are welcome just about everywhere.

Going to or from Three Creek Lake, stop at the Whychus Creek Overlook Trail for a superb, short, accessible hike to the Cascades viewpoint.

Day 3. Adventure route. Drive or bike to Smith Rock State Park. It’s a 37-mile (each way) spectacular ride past rich farm and ranch land, thousands of alpacas, longhorn and Highland cattle, streams, a winery, vast hay fields, and ending at the second most visited place in Oregon — Smith Rock.

If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs in the park. More than a thousand are bolted routes offering miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along your trip through the canyon you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter, and beaver.

You can switch any of this out with golf or fishing. We have prized courses and trophy fish. Learn more as you explore Sisters Oregon Guide.