South Sister Summit
(I do not have an official GPS track for this hike, this map is from www.karl-helser.com)
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The South Sister is one of the easiest Cascade Mountains to summit, and hundreds of people do it every year. This however, does not mean it is an easy hike, and you have to remember that you are climbing a 10,358 ft. mountain and gaining over 5,000 ft. of elevation! The parking for this hike is at Devils Lake, however this is also the trailhead parking for a few other hikes, as well as camping at Devils Lake, so it can often be very crowded, so you can opt to park along the Cascade Lakes Hwy.
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Once you have crossed the Cascade Lakes Hwy., you will see the official trail sign and you must register your hiking group. The first 2 miles start off in a dry wooded area, and the trail goes up pretty steep, as you make your way in between Kaleetan Butte and Devils Hill. The many switchbacks are brutal. |
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Once you have climbed your way up through these hills, you end up at a plateau where you will see your first trail intersection. The trail to the left takes you to Wickiup Plain and the trail to the right takes you down to Moraine Lake. Keep going straight to endure more of South Sister's wrath.
(South Sister)
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(Broken Top)
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This next 1 mile section is the tamest part of the entire hike. Enjoy this part, as you easily climb along the ridge here, marveling at the many views this hike has to offer. Broken Top and Moraine Lake to the east, Mt. Bachelor to the southeast, and grandiose South Sister looming out in front of you. From here it is hard to imagine that you are only 3 miles from the summit, since the mountain looks so far away. But these are 3 of the most strenuous miles! Even if you are in generally good shape, work out 4-5 days a week, eat healthy and hike with a pack at least once a week, these 6.25 miles with 5,000 ft. of elevation gain will take it out of you!
As quickly as it came, the semi-easy section of the hike is gone. The next 1.5 miles up to Lewis Glacier are incredibly steep, but here you will have larger rocks to step on like stairs, which is a huge help.
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(Lewis Glacier lake)
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Once you hit sight of Lewis Glacier, you start to walk on much smaller shale type rock, where you are stepping two steps upwards, and sliding one step back down. This is extremely frustrating and exhausting. By this point you will have seen about 3 false summits, and then all of a sudden you see a long stretch of trail with tiny dots of people up ahead of you. From this point it is another 1.3 miles to the crater rim.
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When you get to the rim of this majestic volcano, you will hike .25 mile around the crater to the other side where you can see the Middle Sister and North Sister. Even though in the summer it can be close to 90 degrees at the trailhead, being up at 10,358 ft. can be quite cold and windy, especially when you are next to the glacier. Make sure to bring an extra wind layer with you for the top.
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(Middle Sister and North Sister)
On the way down your legs will most likely feel like rubber, and because of all of the loose rock it is easy to slide and fall. Trekking poles help a lot in this kind of scenario and especially on the way down, gators are a must-have on this hike so that you don't end up with piles of rocks and sand in your shoes.
(Left: my parents and I at age 7 climbing South Sister Right: me 20 years later doing the same hike)
Overall, this is a TOUGH hike! I recommend training for this one as much as you can. Keep in mind that the majority of this hike is above the tree line so there is no shade and it can get extremely hot.
The trail is easy to read, as it has become quite wide over the years due to its popularity, and at every trail junction there are signs. This hike is not for the faint of heart, but if you take your time, take lots of water and snack breaks, you will be rewarded by epic views from the top, and you will feel incredibly accomplished as you will have just climbed the 3rd tallest mountain in Oregon!
The trail is easy to read, as it has become quite wide over the years due to its popularity, and at every trail junction there are signs. This hike is not for the faint of heart, but if you take your time, take lots of water and snack breaks, you will be rewarded by epic views from the top, and you will feel incredibly accomplished as you will have just climbed the 3rd tallest mountain in Oregon!
Approximate hike time: 7 hours w/ an average pace of 1.7 mph
Suggested seasons: Summer, early fall (no later than early-October)
(Best time to go is early to mid-July when there are still some snow fields on the mountain. The snow makes the hike much easier because it is easier to walk on than the scree rocks. During July you will encounter mosquitoes during the first 1.5 miles in the forest but none after you exit the tree line).
Trail usage: Heavy
Directions: From Bend drive 27 miles west on the Cascade Lakes Hwy. After passing the Mt. Bachelor Ski area, continue 6.5 miles and turn left into the Devils Lake campground.
You will need your Annual Northwest Forest Pass, or pay $5 for parking if you don't have one.
Suggested seasons: Summer, early fall (no later than early-October)
(Best time to go is early to mid-July when there are still some snow fields on the mountain. The snow makes the hike much easier because it is easier to walk on than the scree rocks. During July you will encounter mosquitoes during the first 1.5 miles in the forest but none after you exit the tree line).
Trail usage: Heavy
Directions: From Bend drive 27 miles west on the Cascade Lakes Hwy. After passing the Mt. Bachelor Ski area, continue 6.5 miles and turn left into the Devils Lake campground.
You will need your Annual Northwest Forest Pass, or pay $5 for parking if you don't have one.
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*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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To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
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