Green Lakes via Fall Creek Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead
- End point: Green Lakes
- Hike type: Out and back
- Distance: 8.4 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1150 feet
- High point: 6,565 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer - early fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Yes
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Hike Description
This has long been one of the most popular hikes in the Three Sisters Wilderness, and you can expect lots of company on the dusty, rutted trail in any period of good weather during the summer. However, the new permit system, instituted in 2021, is designed to keep the crowds at bay and protect fragile alpine meadows. Overnighters will have to reserve campsites well ahead of time if they are camping at the Green Lakes. The payoff here is almost continuous, however: the waterfalls along rushing Fall Creek, closeup views of South Sister and Broken Top, and the shallow alpine basin harboring the lakes themselves. For longer backpacks that incorporate the Green Lakes area, see the Broken Top Loop Hike and the Three Sisters Loop Hike.
Two trails, Soda Creek and Green Lakes, leave the parking area. The Green Lakes Trail crosses Fall Creek right after entering the Three Sisters Wilderness and follows the creek up its west bank. After the first half mile, a spur leads right to a view of 30-foot Fall Creek Falls. For the next 1.5 miles, you'll continue up past a series of low but impressive waterfalls along the creek. Eventually the trail and the creek level out at about 6000 feet, where you'll reach the junction with the trail to Moraine Lake.
Continuing on the Green Lakes Trail, you'll begin to encounter alpine meadows. Once you get through the meadows, you'll cross two footbridges, the second over Fall Creek, and slowly climb again. There are two switchbacks on this part, the only switchbacks you encounter on the whole route. There's a lava flow across the creek that contains glinting obsidian. The trail keeps close to the right bank of Fall Creek. You'll pass the junction with the Broken Top Trail, which heads east, as well as a confusing web of user trails.
The official Green Lakes Trail passes north of a pond that offers a reflection of South Sister. Then it bears up the east shore of the largest of the Green Lakes. The northwest ridge of Broken Top rears above. Official campsites are scattered near the south shore of the main Green Lake, just south of the reflecting pond, and between the main lake and the northern lake. The trail continues from Green Lakes up to Green Lakes Pass, from which there are tremendous alpine views. During the hike and at Green Lakes, you'll be getting views of South Sister, Broken Top and Mount Bachelor. User routes from the south shore of the main lake lead towards the summits of South Sister and Broken Top.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Topozone map of the area
- Green Trails Maps: Three Sisters #621
- Green Trails Maps: Bend – Three Sisters #622SX
- Geo-Graphics: Three Sisters Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Sisters Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Deschutes National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Willamette Cascades
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Central Oregon Cascades
- Adventure Maps: Three Sisters Wilderness Trail Map
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Bend – Three Sisters
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required
- Central Cascades Wilderness Permit required: $6 overnight permit; $1 per person day use (June 15th - October 15th)
- Self-issued wilderness permit
- There are limited camping sites available in Green Lakes area, and backpackers can only camp in designated areas.
- Dogs on leash at all times from July 15th to September 15th
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Green Lakes
- South Sister Summit / Green Lakes Loop - June 24, 2015
- Green Lakes Trail/Elk Lake/Sparks Lake 9/4 & 9/5
- Green Lakes August 13-14, 2011
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Green Lakes
- Green Lakes Trail EAST of Fall Creek
Guidebooks
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Trips & Trails: Oregon by William L. Sullivan
- Day Hiking; Bend & Central Oregon by Brittany Manwill
- Best Hikes Near Bend by Lizann Dunegan
- Bend, Overall by Scott Cook
- Extraordinary Oregon! by Matt Reeder
- Oregon's Wilderness Areas by George Wuerthner
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
- 60 Hiking Trails: Central Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Central Oregon Wilderness Areas by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon's Southern Cascades: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Trail Running: Bend & Central Oregon by Lucas Alberg
- Trail Running: Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Best Hikes With Dogs: Oregon by Ellen Morris Bishop
- Best Dog Hikes: Oregon by Adam Sawyer
More Links
- Green Lakes Trail (USFS)
- backpack: Three Sisters Wilderness – Green Lakes (I Heart Pacific Northwest)
- Green Lakes (Hike Oregon)
- Green Lakes (Outdoor Project)
- Tackling The Green Lakes Trail Near Bend, Oregon (Oregon Is for Adventure)
- Hike to Green Lakes (The Outbound)
- Green Lakes (Hiking Project)
- Green Lakes Loop Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- "Green Lakes hike in Oregon’s central Cascades is a stunner" (Oregon Live)
- "Crowds in Three Sisters Wilderness challenges balance between preservation and recreation" (Statesman Journal)
- Green Lakes/Broken Top (Northwest Wildflowers)