Green Lakes Backpacking Trip – Three Sisters Wilderness

The Green Lakes are nestled in a valley between South Sister and Broken Top in Central Oregon. On this 3 night trip, we setup a basecamp and day hiked to Golden Lake and explored the Broken Top Trail.

TRIP PLANNING

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4.8 miles, 1,100 ft. gain
• day hike options: Golden Lake, Park Meadows, meadows below Broken Top
• best months: mid-July to September
• location: Three Sisters Wilderness; nearest town: Bend
• land management: Deschutes National Forest
• trail conditions: Green Lakes Trail
• hike description: OregonHikers.org – Green Lakes via Falls Creek Trail
• permits: Central Cascades wilderness permits are required for all backcountry campsites
• trailhead pass: NW Forest Pass required

Day 1: hike in to Green Lakes camp

4.8 miles, 1,100 ft. gain

This was my second time backpacking in the Green Lakes area – the first time was in 2016, before the Central Cascades permitting system was in place. On that trip, we passed about 200 hikers coming out as we hiked in, so I was interested to see how the new permit requirements would impact crowding. While 40% of available permits are released in April, 60% are saved for release seven days before a trip begins, which is how I obtained the permit for this trip. I’ve had permits and had to cancel four times due to weather or snow conditions, so I appreciate the ability to get them closer to trip dates when I know what the conditions will be. Exactly seven days before this trip, I logged in to see if permits were available and was able to get what I wanted.

The hike in parallels Falls Creek for most of the way through forest. It’s easy to see how the creek was named, with multiple waterfalls on the creek.

The last time I was here, two of the bridges were low planks without railings. Both have been replaced with bridges that sit higher above the creek, and both have new railings on them.

The Devil’s Chain and Newberry Lava Flows become visible as you get nearer to the Green Lakes. Large chunky blocks of obsidian shine in the sun, yet none is found on the trail side.

In the Green Lakes area, camping is only allowed in one of 22 designated campsites marked with a post, and no campfires are allowed at any time of the year. The sign shows where the camps are located.

On my previous trip, we had six people and a ranger directed us to one of the larger sites (#14) that would accommodate our group. On this trip, we had four tents so I planned to stay at the same site if it was available. This is located next to the smaller of the three Green Lakes, the first one accessed on the hike in.

In the pic below, the campsite is in the trees below Broken Top.

Most of the campsites were empty when we arrived, so we were able to get the larger site and stayed there for all three nights of our trip so we could do day hikes from there instead of moving camp each night.

Our first night was quite cold, with a low of 33 degrees, so I was glad that I brought my 0 degree sleeping bag for this trip.

Day 2: day hike to Golden Lake

8 miles, 1,225 ft. gain

On our second day, we headed north on the trail, passing the other two Green Lakes on the way.

We were a couple of weeks too late for wildflowers, now all past their prime, but fall color was getting a start in some of the sparse vegetation that remained. The landscape in the Three Sisters is much drier and rockier than in other parts of the Cascades, with large expanses of pumice hills mixed with sections of mountain conifer forests.

At the pass, we stopped for a snack break and enjoyed the views of Middle Sister, North Sister, and a different side of South Sister than we’d seen near our camp.

We continued on the Green Lakes Trail, with expanding views as we hiked on.

There are two trails that head into Golden Lake and the basin below Broken Top, both are unmarked at the junctions but are good trails to follow. The first is 0.4 miles after the pass, and the second is 1 mile from the pass.We made a lollipop loop out of the trails so we could see more of this scenic area, taking the farther of the two trails in, then crossing the pumice meadows near the lake to take the closer trail out.

Golden Lake and Broken Top

We had planned to hike another mile up from the lake to a couple of tarns, but once we reached the lake we decided to stop here instead. To reach the trail that heads to the tarns, cross the outlet for Golden Lake on the northern end of the lake, then turn right and follow a side trail to a waterfall cascading down the steep hillside. We took a long break next to the stream before heading back to camp.

From Golden Lake, the views are impressive – with South, Middle and North Sisters to the west, and Broken Top to the east.

View of Broken Top from the Green Lakes Trail

Heading back to camp, we could see ridges of the Central Cascades to the south as we approached the Green Lakes.

Sunset is my favorite time for photography on backpacking trips, so I usually spend time exploring and taking pics after dinner. This view is about a quarter-mile from our camp.

Day 3: day hike on Broken Top Trail

6.25 miles, 315 ft. gain

On our last full day of the trip, we got a late start hiking on the Broken Top Trail. This was the hottest day of our trip so far, and the trail is mostly exposed, so we didn’t go as far as we had planned before turning around to head back to camp due to the heat. Highlights of this hike were the views to the south of the Central Cascades Lakes Basin, and the blue ridges of the Cascades in the distance.

 

Back at camp, we explored the Green Lakes area at sunset again.

 

Day 4: hike out to trailhead

4.8 miles, 1,100 ft. loss

On our last morning, I got up early to spend time taking photos at sunrise. As I wandered around the Green Lakes area, I realized how much more vast it is than what I thought. On a future visit, I’d love to spend a full day exploring more of it.

The temps were much hotter on our final day, but the hike out is mostly downhill and through forest, so it was fairly easy to do without needing breaks.

Back at the trailhead, we chatted with the volunteer rangers checking permits for a few minutes, then changed clothes and shoes before heading home.

To satiate our post-trip hunger, we stopped in Tumalo for wood-fired pizza and meatball grinders at Paisano’s, and then in Sisters for milkshakes at the Sno Cap Drive In. Both are highly recommended. 🙂