Sisters, Oregon: Epic 1-Day Itinerary

Charming and quirky Sisters, Oregon, is both a gateway to countless outdoor adventures and a destination in its own right. Located just outside the Deschutes National Forest, staying in Sisters puts you within easy driving distance of mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and hiking trails. The town of Sisters is designed for tourism, with city ordinances requiring that businesses maintain a rustic 1880s aesthetic. Think Old West meets quilting bee.

If you only have one day to spend in Sisters, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are my suggestions for a one-day itinerary. The day is a very full one, so feel encouraged to pick and choose as you check out the things to do in Sisters, Oregon.

Get coffee and pastries at Sisters Coffee Company

I drink a lot of coffee. Every day, multiple cups, black. I bring it up so that it means something when I say that Sisters Coffee Co. made the best cup of coffee I’ve had in years. I wasn’t expecting anything in particular when headed out into the cold morning in search of caffeine. The streets were empty and most businesses were closed, but Sisters Coffee was packed.

Its popularity is easy to understand. Outside, there is a sunny wraparound porch with hanging baskets of flowers. Inside looks like a ski resort. The plain drip coffee is piping hot with lots of nuanced flavors. I tried my friend’s pumpkin-spiced latte, which was as decadent as pumpkin pie. Food-wise, there is a tempting assortment of pastries at the counter or options from the kitchen like breakfast burritos and sandwiches. It’s a good stop to fuel up for your adventures to come.

See the Whychus Overlook

Distance: 0.9-mile loop

Elevation: Minimal

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA-accessible: Yes

The Whychus Overlook Trail is a 10-minute drive south of Sisters and packs the highlights of the Deschutes National Forest into an easy hike just under a mile long. If you only have one day in Sisters, it’s a great introduction to the area’s natural beauty. The Whychus Overlook Trail has three different viewpoints that look onto the Three Sisters mountain peaks. The best viewpoint is at the farthest point of the loop where a stone platform extends past the tree cover to provide miles of forest and mountain scenery. Look for Whychus Creek at the base of the viewpoint.

On a clear day, seeing the Whychus Overlook is one of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon. Even if clouds happen to be covering the mountains when you visit (ask me how I know), the hike to the overlook is a pleasant, family-friendly stroll through a forest of ponderosa pine and juniper. The crushed gravel trail is flat, well-maintained, and wheelchair-accessible.

Go for a scenic drive

The town of Sisters is the starting point for one of Oregon’s great scenic drives, the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway. This 82-mile loop takes you through some of Oregon’s most dramatic and unforgettable sites, including the Cascade Mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and fields of lava rock.

Beginning in Sisters, head west on Highway 20. When you reach OR-126, go left to head south, then take OR-242 to return to Sisters. The last stretch of the loop, OR-242, is open seasonally from around July to October. Even if you don’t do the entire loop, the stops on the early part of the drive are among the best things to do near Sisters. The drive takes 3-5 hours and could easily be a one-day itinerary by itself depending on how many stops you make. Here are some highlights of the route.

Santiam Pass (Highway 20):

The Metolius River (see below).
Look for the peaks of Black Butte, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Washington on a clear day.
Suttle Lake (see below) is a lake in the Cascade Mountains created by glacial deposits.

McKenzie River Highway (OR-126):

Clear Lake is a mountain lake that is so crystal blue it looks like liquid glass. Look for the remains of an ancient forest at the bottom. There is a lodge at the lake where you can rent a boat if you want to head out on the water.
Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are connected by a 2.9-mile moderately challenging hiking trail along the rugged McKenzie River. Both falls also have parking areas near viewpoints if you’d rather skip the hike. The observation deck at Sahalie Falls is wheelchair accessible.
Tamolitch Falls is known as the Blue Pool for its startling blue color. The waterfall is seasonal but the pool is fed year-round by underground springs. To reach it, take the McKenzie River Trail. The hike is around 4 miles out and back beginning from the Tamolitch Blue Pool Trailhead. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

SEASONAL: McKenzie Highway (OR-242):

Proxy Falls is one of Oregon’s most photogenic waterfalls. You can reach it by a 1.6-mile loop trail. The Northwest Forest Pass is required at the trailhead.
Great views of North Sister and Middle Sister.
The Dee Wright Observatory is a mountain observatory surrounded by 65 square miles of lava rock with views of Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, and the Three Sisters. Look for glaciers, too, if the snow hasn’t melted.

See the Metolius River

Even if you don’t want to spend the day driving, seeing the Metolius River is one of the best things to do near Sisters, Oregon. It’s only 20 minutes away from Sisters, making it easy to fit into a one-day itinerary. There are several access points for the river, including Camp Sherman and Wizard Falls. Camp Sherman has a general store and a deli. The picnic area there is near the river and is a beautiful place to eat lunch.

The Metolius River is known for its incredible color, a deep blue that is close to sapphire. In fall, the yellow and orange undergrowth stands out brightly between the blue of the river and the dark green of the surrounding pine forest. A hiking trail follows the river for miles on either side. With little elevation gain, it is an easy and family-friendly trail.

Visit the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery

The Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery is one of the access points for the Metolius River and is one of the best things to do near Sisters, Oregon. Take the bridge across the Metolius River to reach the parking area for the hatchery. It is free to visit, and no pass or permit is needed. Note that despite the name, there is not a waterfall here.

Unlike some fish hatcheries, Wizard Falls is welcoming, family-friendly, and set up for visitors. You can take a self-guided tour through the hatchery, where growing rainbow trout, Chinook, and steelhead swim in pools. You can purchase feed from vending machines and feed the fish. You might spot other animals here as well. Canada geese visit the area and raise their goslings in May and June.

There is a trailhead for the West Metolius Trail at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. It is an easy, flat stroll along the Metolius River that is a good way to stretch your legs without being too strenuous. The trail follows the river for miles, so do as much or as little as you want. To see both sides of the river, you can do a 6.2-mile loop hike out to Lower Bridge. Cross the Lower Bridge and then return south using the trail on the other side of the river.

Hunt for western larches

If you visit the Deschutes National Forest during the fall, there’s a good chance you will glimpse the vibrant yellow of western larches from the roads and trails. These unusual deciduous pine trees stand out vividly from the surrounding dark green of ponderosa pines and Doug firs. Larches are also lovely in spring when their new needles emerge bright and pale green. Seeing larches during spring and fall is one of the best things to do near Sisters, Oregon.

In the summertime, larches are less dramatic and blend in with their neighbors. Look for tall, straight trees with relatively short, horizontal limbs and feathery needles. Larches can live to be extremely old, sometimes even hundreds of years. Older trees can grow to be several feet in diameter and often have needles only on their upper trunks. The eastern side of the Cascade Mountains is a good place to find them.

Visit Suttle Lake

One of the best things to do near Sisters, Oregon, is to spend time at a mountain lake. Picturesque Suttle Lake in the heart of the Cascades is a favorite of mine. At only 15 minutes away from Sisters, it’s also an easy excursion to fit into a one-day itinerary.

Suttle Lake was created by a terminal moraine, rock deposits left behind when a glacier retreated around 25,000 years ago. It’s surrounded by dense pine forests more similar to the Western Cascades than the high desert around Sisters. Here are things you can do at Suttle Lake:

Take the easy, 3.6-mile hiking trail that circles that lake. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the boathouse at the Suttle Lake Lodge.
Go fishing. Suttle Lake has a naturally reproducing fish population.
Have lunch at Skip, a restaurant and bar at the Suttle Lake Lodge. The food is more gourmet than the log cabin atmosphere suggests, with menu items like quiche, Asian pear and fig salad, and fried mushroom sandwiches. Lunch mains are $15-20. You can get beer, wine, and craft cocktails from the bar. The wine list offers local glasses from the Willamette Valley and Washington’s Columbia Valley. On a nice day, you can take your drink out to a picnic table by the water.

See the shops in Sisters

One of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon, is to explore the small, walkable downtown. There are shops, galleries, bars, restaurants, and a city park within a few blocks. It’s not hard to see everything, even if you only have one day in Sisters. While the storefronts are in the style of the 1880s Old West, the wares are modern and geared more toward tourists than cowboys. Here are a few places you might want to check out:

Beacham Clock Co. is an internationally known clock sales and repair shop. A master clockmaker builds clocks from start to finish for the shop.
Blazing Saddles is a bike shop offering rentals.
Hood Avenue Art sells works from multiple artists like jewelry, paintings, and sculptures.
Sisters Bakery makes pastries from scratch. If you stick close to town for the day, it’s also a good spot for lunch.
High Desert Chocolates makes creative and delicious chocolates.
Paulina Springs Books sells books, toys, and board games.

Have a tasting flight of spirits

One of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon, for happy hour is to visit Cascade Spirits. You can mix and match Wild Roots Gin, Broken Top Whiskey, and Cascade Street Vodka in a tasting flight. Look for creative infusions like cucumber and grapefruit gin or marionberry vodka. There are also $5 mini cocktails that rotate based on the season.

Have dinner in an art gallery

Sisters has some great dining options. One of the best is The Open Door, a cozy restaurant that shares space with Clearwater Gallery and Framing. There is a small gallery space when you enter, as well as works by Pacific Northwest artists on the walls around the tables. The menu is hearty Italian fare with some Pacific Northwest influences and includes some good vegetarian options. The wine list rotates often with a focus on local glasses and bottles. For pairing, I’d consider a full-bodied Walla Walla Syrah that can hold its own alongside house-made lasagna.

You might also want to check out:

Rootbound, a vegan food cart that seeks out local ingredients.
Sisters Saloon, serving American food like burgers and steaks with an Old West ambiance.
Three Creeks Brewery, a pub with locally-brewed beer.

*Forest service road in Deschutes National Forest*

In summary, my suggestions for a 1-day itinerary in Sisters, Oregon are:

Sisters Coffee Company
See the Whychus Overlook
Go for a scenic drive
See the Metolius River
Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery
Hunt for Western larches
Suttle Lake
See the shops in Sisters
Happy hour at Cascade Spirits
Dinner in an art gallery

Have a great stay in Sisters, Oregon!

With love,

Emma

Explore nearby

Check out the **best short hikes near Bend**.

For post-hike drinks, try out one of the best wine bars in Bend, Oregon.

References:

Miller, Marli Bryant. Roadside Geology of Oregon. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2014.

Turner, Mark, and Ellen Kuhlmann. Trees and Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press, 2014.