Moraine Lake
​via South Sister Climber Trail
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Moraine Lake is one of the easiest accessible and most beautiful high mountain lakes in the Three Sisters area. Because it's not far from the town of Bend, this is the perfect destination to test out your first time backpacking skills, or to take your small kids on their very first backpacking outing. The trailhead is located at Devil's Lake, and it requires a Northwest Forest Pass or a $5 day permit. If you are arriving after 10am on a weekend, it is very likely that the parking lot will be full. A lot of people park on the shoulder of the Cascade Lakes Highway, but you are technically not allowed to do so and you do risk getting a ticket. |
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(Broken Top)
The official trailhead, where you will fill out your wilderness permit, is located across the highway from the parking lot. From here the trail immediately takes you steeply uphill through a dense hemlock forest. After 1.5 grueling and viewless miles, the trail suddenly pops out of the forest at the edge of a vast plateau with views of South Sister and Broken Top.
(view of South Sister from the climber trail)
(Mt. Bachelor)
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(trail split to Moraine Lake)
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At a 4-way trail junction, head to the right at signs pointing to Moraine Lake. This trail trends downhill and across rolling hills for close to a mile before you suddenly see beautiful blue Moraine Lake with South Sister looming above it.
(Moraine Lake in June 2015)
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(Moraine Lake in June 2016)
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Moraine Lake Management Area has 22 designated primitive campsites and if you choose to camp within the boundary you must camp at one of these sites. The campsites are clearly marked by a post with the site number on it. Some of the sites are among the trees on the hill on the east side of the lake, and some are on the west side high above the lake.
Moraine Lake is perfect for swimming because it's not very deep, so later in the season (late August/early September) the water tends to warm up a bit.
If you want to set up camp here and do various day hikes from here, you can head over to Green Lakes, which is only 4.8 miles away. And you can also easily access the South Sister climber trail from here as well, if you want to summit the mountain.
If you want to set up camp here and do various day hikes from here, you can head over to Green Lakes, which is only 4.8 miles away. And you can also easily access the South Sister climber trail from here as well, if you want to summit the mountain.
(Moraine Lake and South Sister)
Once you are ready to head back to the car, you can either go back the way you came, or you can take the trail around the lake and up the hill. This will connect you back to the South Sister climber trail. Take a left and head back via the vast plateau and back down into the forest. In July the mosquitoes can be quite vicious in these woods, so make sure to bring some spray!
Overall, this is the perfect day hike or first time backpacking trip for you and your kids. Even though the first 1.5 miles of the trail are steep, the trail is extremely family friendly and well maintained. Due to the popularity of this area, the trails are always well marked and in great condition. This place is a must-see, and you will not believe that a gem like this is so close to town! Keep in mind that each year is going to be different in terms of conditions. There are years where you can get up to the lake entirely snow free in early June, and there are years where you won't be able to see the lake and surrounding area snow free until end of July.
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 20 minutes w/ an average pace of 1.8 mph
Suggested seasons: Late-June through October
(Best time to go is August, September, October. Avoid the month of July due to horrendous mosquitoes in the area).
Trail usage: Moderate to heavy
Permits needed: Limited Entry Permit for day hikes & over night (May 28 - Sept. 24, 2021)
Outside of those dates, self issue wilderness permit & Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
Directions: From the town of Bend travel 29 miles west on the Cascade Lakes Highway. Turn at the sign for Devil's Lake Campground and park in the large parking lot.
Suggested seasons: Late-June through October
(Best time to go is August, September, October. Avoid the month of July due to horrendous mosquitoes in the area).
Trail usage: Moderate to heavy
Permits needed: Limited Entry Permit for day hikes & over night (May 28 - Sept. 24, 2021)
Outside of those dates, self issue wilderness permit & Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
Directions: From the town of Bend travel 29 miles west on the Cascade Lakes Highway. Turn at the sign for Devil's Lake Campground and park in the large parking lot.
*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.