South sister was my first big mountain I ever summited so it will always hold a special place in my heart. At 10,358ft it's no joke! The first time I did it, it felt like the hardest thing over ever done. I recently went back and did it again (after years of mountaineering in Colorado) and it felt very easy. To put it in perspective, it's a long hike (13-14miles) with over 5K elevation. However it's a gradual gain and only a class one! No equipment needed. So as long as you hike a lot and have good endurance it's completely doable and very low risk. Just bring lots of water and food! The view at the top is soo breathtaking and makes it worth all of the hard work. It feels like you can see every mountain in Oregon and you're just right next to middle and north sister. It's incredible! There's a gorgeous lake on the way up called teardrop lake. It's a nice place to rest before the last final push which is the hardest part. Once you get to the top, it's an easy 1/4 mile walk to the true summit. Don't miss it! read more

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South Sister is an absolutely beautiful hike. I started off around 6am in the silence of the forest, hit the morning sun above the treeline, and summited by 10am. A number of other hikers in the upper parts of the trail. The views were amazing and the trail is gorgeous the entire way up. Don't forget to grab your permit. read more

South Sister - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Awesome hike! Prepare for the false summit! Very challenging, but worth it once you peak!

Beautiful hike after flying out from Virginia a week before Labor Day. I got to the trailhead around 7 AM on a Monday and ended up being the fifth person to reach the summit that morning. I saw plenty of people on the hike down, so this one is clearly popular and for good reasons. Beautiful views, a challenging climb and varied vegetation. A Northwest forest pass is required and be sure to follow the recommendations from various hiking websites. I wore trail running shoes plus a 3L Camelback and was sure to bring layers, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, headgear and snacks. I made it up and down in around five hours, but was moving pretty fast. Most everyone else was wearing hiking boots and having hiking poles was definitely nice for a lot of the others I saw along the trail. Plenty windy at the summit and the steep sent after the fall summit with the small pond was the most challenging part. Being from the East Coast and not having hiked up to this elevation in a while I definitely appreciated the challenge and the views were well worth it! I made sure to reward myself with a visit later that day to Deschutes Brewery and Bonta Natural Artisan Gelato in Bend. read more

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I have hiked the whole thing in one day and camped to split the trek into two. For me, the best way to experience this mountain is to camp. Climbing up the South Sister is just too much to rush in one day. That's because there is just so much to take in. You travel across many different forests, all which are at different altitudes. Though if all you have to spare is one day, and want to summit one of the prettiest and easiest cascade peaks, then it makes sense to rush it. The first thing you will notice is that this is a very busy trail. On a busy summer weekend, this trial looks like a trial of ants up an ant mound. The reason is that it's the third tallest peak in Oregon and can be hiked without climbing gear. The first section of this trail is steep and runs through a beautiful conifer forest. After you get to the top of this section, you will enter an alpine desert. Then after walking through the last bit of trees, it suddenly dawns on you that you have a long way to go. The view of the mountain from here is outstanding. At the end of the little alpine desert, you will see a few lakes that make for a great place to backcountry camp. If this is your first time camping in the backcountry follow the Leave No Trace link at the end of this review to keep yourself on track. From the base of the mountain, it starts to get steep as you might imagine. It stays steep the whole way up after this point. Eventually, after climbing up some granite-like rocks you will reach a false summit. I have been deceived by this summit a few times. Just know that if you see the top and it's not made of red cinder, you're not at the top. Once you reach the false summit, you will reach a little lake. If you have water purification, this could be a great stop to refuel on water. Don't be tempted to drink this water without filtering it first. You may think it looks majestic and untouched, but there are a lot of people who hike this trail. The last stretch of this trail is the most difficult by far. It gets steeper and the trail can be hard to see. The cinder at the top will slide backward, and you will feel like your sliding back one step for every two that you take. Once you reach the top, it will be obvious. You will see a giant crater at the top with a blue glacier lake in the center. The trail travels along the crater and you will see one of the most rewarding views in Central Oregon. The other mountains will appear to be fake like you're in some sort of postcard. But it's real, you can see the other cascade volcanoes all in a line and even see some mountains into Washington. Overall this is one of the most rewarding experiences. Just remember to respect the land, bring plenty of food, water, fill out a permit at the trailhead and pay for your parking to avoid a ticket and you will have a great time. Here is a link for the best "Leave No Trace" practices https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles Here is a link for the trail map and elevation details https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/south-sister-summit Here is a link to the land management agency that manages this trail https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=39000 read more

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Summary: 6 miles out and same back; 5,000 elevation gain Duration: ~3.5 hours to peak (if quite fit, but much longer for most) When: hiked in summer to avoid snow or highly sandy conditions (caught 80-degree day in late Sept) Which: there is only one trail to summit, which means there will be traffic coming/going Where: park at Devil's Lake Trailhead (get there early for spot;) hike past restroom over creek via narrow bridge for short bit, then cross highway, which brings you to actual South Sister Climber Trail No. 36 sign (trailhead) Action: complete trail pass document, which you will find at South Sister Climber Trail No. 36 sign (trailhead) Route: straight-shot all the way, but there are signs to keep you on track to summit versus detour to Moraine Lake Ascent: climbing is early and in earnest; trail is easy-to-follow; scree or more accurately loose cinder sand and gravel is encountered traversing "ridge" to false summit and is mile segment where most will suffer, but then you're at the glacier and can either loop around to the right or simply cross the snow and ice to true summit Descent: same steep "ridge" makes descent interesting; wearing gaiters will help avoid scree seeping into boots, but not required Pets and Children: both are allowed, but have common sense Provisions: may be long day, which warrants ample food and water Equipment: headlamp, if starting in the dark to enjoy alpenglow; although not necessary/recommended for first 10+ miles, my friend appreciated poles during final mile descent to trailhead (i.e. tired and sore knees) Caution: per hike's steep nature, a little preventative care is suggested; for example, ankles will be flexed for extended periods and may cause unexpected friction to back of heels read more

My most difficult hike yet. A climb of 5,00ft elevations and 12.4 miles round trip over volcanic rocks and unsteady ground. My left knee hurts and 4 of my toenails hve turned black but well worth it read more

The trailhead is at a great campground on Devils Lake next to a stream. There are stunning views before even beginning the climb. Speaking of the climb, it starts going UP almost immediately for about a mile and a half through a hemlock forest. At this point, climbers are welcomed by gorgeous views of alpine meadows and the formidable-looking volcano they are about to attempt to conquer. There is a mile or so break in the elevation gain as one wanders through an alpine meadow and views of Moraine Lake. After this, the real climbing begins. Dry scree, loose dirt, higher altitudes and steep terrain made frequent breaks necessary. Once at 9000 ft., Teardrop Pond greets those still able to go on. At this point, the red pumice stones and sand and a steep ridge are all that stand between climbers and the summit. Once at the summit, a circle around the volcano is necessary to get to views of North and Middle Sister, and it is well worth it. Amazing views of Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top round out the day. This is a 12.5 mile, 5000 ft. elevation gain climb that will leave you gasping for air due to the thin air and the stunning views. I am so glad I did this and hope to go back again next summer. read more