| Three Sisters Wilderness | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
|
|
| Location | Lane / Deschutes counties, Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | Sisters, OR (20 miles NE) Bend, OR (20 miles E) |
| Area | 286,708 acres (1,160 km²) |
| Established | January 1, 1964 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Three Sisters Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Cascade Range, within the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests in Oregon. It comprises 286,708 acres (1,160 km²), making it the second largest Wilderness area in Oregon. It was established by the United States Congress in 1964 and is named for the Three Sisters Mountains.[1]
State Highway 242 separates the Three Sisters Wilderness from the Mount Washington Wilderness to the north, while the Waldo Lake Wilderness shares the southern boundary.[1]
Contents |
The Three Sisters Wilderness ranges in elevation from 2,000 to 10,358 feet (600 to 3157 m). The Three Sisters (North Sister at 10,085 feet, Middle Sister at 10,047 feet, and South Sister at 10,358 feet) are found in the eastern portion of the Wilderness. Including Broken Top just to the south at 9,175 feet, there are 14 glaciers offering one of the best examples of the effects of glaciation in the Pacific Northwest. Collier Glacier, between North and Middle Sister, is the largest glacier in Oregon.[1] The headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Whychus Creek (formerly Squaw Creek[2]) emerge in the Wilderness.[1]
Forest cover in the Three Sisters Wilderness includes Douglas Fir, Silver Fir, Subalpine fir, mountain hemlock, western hemlock, true fir, lodgepole pine and Ponderosa pine. A large area of the Wilderness above timberline contains alpine meadows.[3]
Popular recreational activities in the Three Sisters Wilderness include camping, hiking, rock climbing, and fishing. More than 260 miles (418 km) of trails cross the Wilderness, including 40 miles (60 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail.[3] The South and Middle Sisters are not technically difficult climbs, but the North requires technical expertise and equipment.