Three Sisters Wilderness

281,000-acre wilderness area surrounding the three Cascade volcanoes

The Three Sisters Wilderness covers 281,000 acres of the central Cascades just west of the town of Sisters, named for the three glaciated volcanoes that dominate the skyline — North, Middle, and South Sister, each over 3,000 metres. The wilderness is the second-largest in Oregon and contains over 250 lakes, hundreds of kilometres of streams, and miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Trailheads accessible from Sisters town include Pole Creek (the standard approach to climb the Sisters themselves), Green Lakes (a popular alpine lake hike via Sparks Lake), Tam McArthur Rim (with panoramic views over the wilderness), and the Park Meadow trail. Most of the high country is snowed in until July and again from October. A self-issued wilderness permit is required for entry; on the most popular trails, a quota system applies during the summer season.

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A story
The Three Sisters — North, Middle, and South — are stratovolcanoes, each topping 3,000 metres. They were originally called Faith, Hope, and Charity by white settlers in the mid-19th century, with the names assigned in that order from north to south. The names mostly fell out of use within a generation, leaving the more straightforward modern names behind.

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