Metolius Preserve
​Larch Loop
​Hike details:
Mileage: 2.8 mile loop w/ 60 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 10 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium during prime larch season
Highest elevation: 3,125 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,048 ft.
General location: 16 miles west of Sisters - Metolius Preserve
Accessible: Year-round
(Best time to go to see the larches is the last week of October/the first week of November).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes (a porta-potty)
Trail allows: Dogs on leash only, mountain biking
Possible dangers: N/A
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 10 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium during prime larch season
Highest elevation: 3,125 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,048 ft.
General location: 16 miles west of Sisters - Metolius Preserve
Accessible: Year-round
(Best time to go to see the larches is the last week of October/the first week of November).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes (a porta-potty)
Trail allows: Dogs on leash only, mountain biking
Possible dangers: N/A
Description: |
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The Metolius Preserve is 1,240 acres of protected forest and offers 10+ miles of easy trails open for foot and bike traffic. At the preserve you can see over 80 species of birds throughout the year, elk, deer, black bears, cougar and bobcats. Lake Creek flows through the preserve and is home to otters, beavers and redband trout, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon. During the fall season the preserve is a great place to see the Western larch trees that grow in groves here, their needles turning a beautiful bright yellow and golden during the end of October/early November.
(bridge over North Fork Lake Creek)
The Larch Trail Loop starts out at the North Trailhead and quickly crosses North Fork Lake Creek. Along the creek you will see vine maples growing, which turn yellow, orange and red during the fall. After the bridge, the trail opens up into a stunning open meadow surrounded by larches. Here you will come to where the loop part of the hike begins. This description has you going clockwise.
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After passing through the meadow you will cross Middle Fork Lake Creek and then meander through more stands of stately trees. The yellow needles of the larches seem to glow among the dark green of the pines. Throughout the loop, the trail is fairly wide and there is signage at every junction, making this a very easy route to follow. Larch trees are deciduous conifers. Their needles turn from green to yellow and then fall off.
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After hiking for a mile on the south side of Middle Fork Lake Creek, the trail crosses the creek again, taking you into a little bit of a denser forest and through lush meadows. After another 0.8 miles of hiking, you will arrive back at the first trail junction which will complete the loop. Take the trail to the left back to the parking lot. The parking lot is large, enough room for about 12 cars and is also the start of the Lake Creek Trail, which can be made into a much longer loop if you're wanting to hike more miles or you're out for a bike ride.
The Larch Loop is the perfect autumn outing for the whole family. This is a spectacular place to come during the last week of October/the first week of November if you want to see the Western larch trees at their golden prime. Even the drive to the trailhead is stunning! Enjoy the lush meadows which are great for bird watching, and let the kids run up and down the trail collecting leaves. The Metolius Preserve is truly an amazing spot to explore for any length excursion.
(the road to the trailhead)
Directions:
From Sisters
- Drive 9.8 miles west of Sisters on Hwy 20/126. Take a right on Road 14 (Camp Sherman/Metolius River turnoff). Drive 2.6 miles on Road 14 until you come to a “Y.” Stay left at the “Y" then continue on Road 1419 for another 2.2 miles until you reach a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Road 1216 and drive 1.4 miles and then take a left onto Road 600 at the large Metolius Preserve welcome sign. Drive approximately 0.25 miles to the parking area. (Total of 16.25 miles)
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To get a more in-depth view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
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-This trail write-up was last updated November, 2022-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer *Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
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