Middle Sister

getting there

From SR-242, turn left (south) onto Forest Road 15 and drive ~7 miles. Bear left onto Forest Road 1524 and follow it to to the Pole Creek Trailhead (5,290 ft).

Approach & Ascent

middle sister (10,047 ft)

14 miles round trip with  4,500 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: Basic Alpine climb

 Hike the the Pole Creek trail for 5 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain to camp at timberline and the foot of the Hayden Glacier. Climb another 3,000 feet in about 2 miles takes to reach the summit. Travel is mostly on snow in late spring and early summer.  Late summer and fall the route is mostly a rock and scree scramble.

Middle Sister (10,047 ft), South Sister (10,358 ft) & Broken Top (9,175 ft)

40 miles one-way with 14,000 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: basic alpine climb

A  one-way traverse from the Pole Creek Trailhead to the Three Creek Lake Trailhead climbing Middle Sister, South Sister, and Broken Top along the way. Middle Sister/North Ridge is a basic alpine climb but has very steep snow and possibly ice on the North Ridge. South Sister/East Route is a scramble, and Broken Top/Northwest Ridge is a Class 3-4 scramble with a one 10-foot low Class 5 section. Here's a suggested itinerary:

• Day 1: Drive to Sisters, OR.  Leave a car at Three Creek Trailhead and then drive to the Pole Creek Trailhead. Hike to Soap Creek at treeline and the base of the Hayden Glacier.
• Day 2: Climb the North Ridge of Middle Sister and return to Soap Creek.
• Day 3: Hike from Soap Creek to Green Lakes.
• Day 4:  Climb the East Route of South Sister and return to Green Lakes.
• Day 5: Climb the Northwest Ridge of Broken Top descend to the saddle at 7,900 ft. Traverse on the north and east side of Broken Top to connect to the Tam MacArthur Rim Trail, and descend to the Three Creek Lake Trailhead.

notes

• Guidebook: Best Climbs: Cascade Volcanoes by Jeff Smoot (FalconGuides 2012).

• Suitable Activities: Climbing
• Climbing Category: Basic Alpine
• Seasons: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast
• View avalanche forecast.

• Difficulty: Basic Alpine Climb
• Length: 14.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 4,500 ft
• High Point: 10,047 ft

• Land Manager: Deschutes National Forest
  Three Sisters Wilderness, Sisters Ranger District (DNF)
• Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12