Green Lakes Trail #17

Green Lakes Trail #17 is a short out-and-back hike in Oregon’s Three Sisters Wilderness, running along Fall Creek to an alpine basin with three lakes between South Sister and Broken Top. The route follows the creek corridor and stays in hiking terrain without technical features called out for the trail.

The trip length is about 9.6 miles out-and-back with roughly 1,154 ft of total climbing. Typical completion time is about 3 to 4 hours, so it works well as a focused day hike that still gives you full up-and-back immersion in the upper basin.

Most of the work is the gradual uphill along Fall Creek before you reach the Green Lakes area. Once you’re in the basin, expect the trail to open up around the lake zone where you’ll see multiple established camping spots above the largest Green Lake.

Access is from the Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead off the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (Highway 46), about 26 miles west of Bend. This trailhead is also an entry point to the Three Sisters Wilderness for Green Lakes Trail and Soda Creek Trail.

Season and logistics are the main constraints: wilderness permits are required for day use and overnight stays from this trailhead, and the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit window runs between June 15 and October 15. A recreation pass is required for parking at the trailhead.

While conditions vary year to year, the usual hiking window is June through October. Dogs are subject to leash restrictions in the same general summer season to protect wildlife.

More information: Visitor information, Hiking Soda Creek and Green Lakes Trails - Central Oregon, Hikes and Nature Walks