442
Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius editor@ nuggetnews.com
Graphic Design: Leith Easterling
Contributing Writers: Chester Allen
Bill Bartlett
Ceili Gatley
Sue Stafford
Contributing
Photographers: Bill Bartlett
Jarod Gatley
Cody Rheault
Matt Van Slyke
All smiles: Jarod Gatley
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show: Cody Rheault
Water fun: Courtesy Black Butte Ranch
Howdy!
Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and stay a while. We’re glad to have you here. Folks in Sisters enjoy sharing this place we found — our shops, our events, and, heck, some of us will even share a favorite trail or fishing spot.
We’re proud of the community we’ve created in this beautiful spot — the quality schools we’ve built, the worldclass art and music scene, the innovative businesses. Of course we want to share it, especially with like-minded folks who share our values of neighborliness and environmental awareness.
A whole lot of new people have discovered Sisters and Central Oregon. Many of those seek to find a way to make this their forever home. We welcome them all — though we can’t deny that there’s an impact.
Like other mountain towns in the West, housing in Sisters is at a premium price, and the community is trying to figure out how to maintain its character without becoming an exclusive enclave, or growing out of proportion to become just another city.
We’re experiencing the challenges of being “on the map” for people around the world. Staying focused on our values helps us face up to those challenges. Sisters has reinvented itself before, from a timber and ranching town to a tourist town — and we’re still a friendly, neighborly community where people look out for each other, and all of us wake up each morning feeling blessed to look upon the Three Sisters that gave us their name. — Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief, The Nugget Newspaper
What is the population of Sisters? 3,823 inside city limits; 10,000± in the school district. What are the Three Sisters Mountains called? Informally — Faith, Hope & Charity. Schools: Sisters School District: elementary, middle, and high school. Total enrollment: 1,170. How much do homes cost? Median home listing price: $849,000; sold price: $740,000. What’s the climate like? Sisters is considered high desert. Hottest month is July (avg. temp. 78.8/49.6); coldest month is December (40.8/20.1). Driest month is July; wettest month is January. Average annual precipitation is 11.4 inches. Average snowfall is 32 inches. There are approximately 162 days of sun each year, and 73 days see some precipitation.
Who are some of Sisters’ largest employers? Black Butte Ranch, 400; Sisters School District, 176; Sisters Coffee Co., 76; Sisters Bakery, 62.
Why the Western Theme?
Adopted in the 1980s, Sisters has an architectural theme that requires commercial buildings to resemble a Western town of the 1880s.
Does Sisters have an airport? Yes, Sisters Eagle Airport is located less than a mile from downtown Sisters on Camp Polk Road. 3,550 ft. of expanded and improved runway; airplane tie-downs; fuel available on-site. Year-round access.
Redmond Municipal Airport — Roberts Field
The wider world is just a plane ride away out of Redmond Municipal Airport-Roberts Field. Located just 20 miles down Highway 126, east of Sisters, seven airlines offer direct flights to Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Palm Springs, and Dallas-Ft. Worth. From these hubs, you can get anywhere. Visit www.flyrdm.com.
(Sources: Oregon Climate Service/Oregon Economic & Community Development; Central Oregon Assoc. of Realtors & Economic Development for Central Oregon)
North Sister Elevation: 10,085 ft.
Mt. Washington Elevation: 7,794 ft.
Three Fingered Jack Elevation: 7,841 ft.
Mt. Jefferson Elevation: 10,497 ft.
Black Butte Elevation: 6,436 ft.
BANKS:
First Interstate Bank
272 E. Main Ave.
541-549-2061. ATM.
Mid Oregon Credit Union
650 N. Arrowleaf Trail 541-382-1795. ATM.
U.S. Bank
123 W. Hood Ave. 541-549-2141. ATM.
Washington Federal Bank
610 N. Arrowleaf Trail 541-549-8110. ATM.
Wells Fargo ATM 665 N. Arrowleaf Trail
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
257 S. Pine St.
541-549-0251
DENTAL:
Pine Desert Dental
304 W. Adams Ave. 541-549-0109
Sisters Dental
491 E. Main Ave. 541-549-9486
EMERGENCY/POLICE:
Black Butte Ranch Police
13885 Bishops Cap 541-595-2191
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Sisters Station 703 N. Larch St. 541-549-2302
Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD
301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771
GROCERIES:
Black Butte General Store
13890 Bishops Cap Black Butte Ranch 541-595-1222
Camp Sherman General Store
25451 F.S. Road 1419 Camp Sherman | 541-595-6711
Oliver Lemon’s 160 S. Fir St. 541-549-0711
Ray’s Food Place 635 N. Arrowleaf Trail 541-549-2222
Sisters Liquor Store 110 W. Cascade Ave. 541-904-0339
Sisters Meat & Smokehouse 110 S. Spruce St. 541-719-1186
LAUNDRY:
Sisters Lock ’N Load
247 N. Fir St. 541-549-6165
MEDICAL:
High Lakes Health Care
354 W. Adams Ave. 541-549-9609
St. Charles Medical Center
630 N. Arrowleaf Trail 541-549-1318
Summit Health Care
231 E. Cascade Ave. 541-706-5440
NEWSPAPER:
The Nugget Newspaper
442 E. Main Ave. 541-549-9941
Black Butte Veterinary Clinic
703 N. Larch St. 541-549-1837
Broken Top Veterinary Clinic 67293 Hwy. 20 541-389-0391
Central Woof & Groom
367 W. Sisters Park Dr. 541-549-2275
Sisters Groomery
221 W. Main Ave. 541-639-2891
Sisters Veterinary Clinic
371 E. Cascade Ave. 541-549-6961
POST OFFICE:
694 N. Larch St. 541-549-0412
TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTER
291E. Main Ave.
7,700 years ago...Evidence of First Americans moving into Sisters Country, using these lands for huckleberry, root and nut gathering, fishing and hunting.
1805 Lewis and Clark note the snow-capped peaks of the “Western Mountains” (Cascade Range), and name Mt. Jefferson after the President who sent them on their journey.
1859 A group of men from Lebanon, Oregon, scout a route for eastern road over Cascades; it becomes Santiam Wagon Road, completed in 1865.
1865 Captain Charles LaFollette and forty men from Company A, 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry, establish a military camp at Camp Polk.
1870 Samuel Hindman and family, one of the first settlers in Central Oregon, establishes a homestead near the abandoned Camp Polk.
1895 Squaw Creek (Whychus Creek) Irrigation District organized.
1912 Hotel Sisters built.
1923 Fire destroys buildings on Cascade Avenue, including businesses and residences, one being the Sisters Drug Store and Post Office.
1924 Fire starts in a defective flue in the Gist Hotel, destroying buildings on both sides of Cascade Avenue between Fir and Spruce.
1937 Separate Sisters High School building built. (This brick building is now used as the school district administration offices and is on the National Register of Historic Places.)
1946 Sisters becomes an incorporated city.
1968 Sisters High School closed; students bussed to Redmond High School.
1971 Black Butte Ranch, the Brooks Resources resort, begins selling lots and Big Meadow Golf Course opens.
1975 Jean Wells and Cathi Howell begin the first annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show; eleven quilts exhibited. 2025 is the 50th anniversary show, and is always held the second Saturday of July.
1992 New Sisters High School (now Sisters Middle School) opens, taking old mascot name: Outlaws.
2003 New Sisters High School opens. B&B Complex Fire.
2006 Squaw Creek renamed Whychus Creek.
2014 Cascade Avenue/Highway 20 undergoes complete renovation.
2017 New roundabout installed at Highway 20 and Barclay Drive at the west end of Sisters.
2024 New roundabout installed at Highway 20 and Locust Street at the east end of Sisters.
2024 New Sisters Elementary School opened. Sisters now has a three-school campus located in close proximity at the west end of town. Sisters Park & Recreation District took over the former elementary school site as a new community center, which will include a new public park.
Information in this timeline was graciously provided by Three Sisters Historical Society.
Local folks in Sisters really enjoy the simple pleasures of life in our small town nestled amid the national forest. Most everyone enjoys getting out into nature — some going hard, some just taking it easy. Good food and good coffee are part of everyone’s perfect day — as is enjoying the ambience of town and visiting with friends and strangers alike.
Jarod Gatley begins with a trek up to Hoodoo for spring snowboarding — photographing the sunrise from the top. After a morning on the snowboard, it’s time to grab lunch at Sisters Meat and Smokehouse, then take the bike out to ride the gravel to the Black Butte Trailhead. A hike up to the top of the butte is followed by dinner in town — and then some well-earned sleep.
Susan Cobb starts her day listening to NPR to wake up, then heads off to Fika Sisters Coffeehouse to meet with her sister and local friends. They enjoy their drinks and talk over issues of the day, then Susan heads off for a couple mile walk or a bike ride. She’ll cap the day off with a movie at Sisters Movie House & Café, then play a bit of solitaire before retiring.
“I go to my favorite little stream and the spring that feeds it — and no, I’m not going to name it — with my son and and elder who is a close friend and has roots in the area going back decades. Then I have decaf at Sisters Coffee or Angeline’s Bakery and write and talk with people — strangers and otherwise.”
JENNIFER HOLLAND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SISTERS PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT
Jennifer likes to start off a good day with a hike up Peterson Ridge Trail. Then she’ll simply walk around Downtown Sisters enjoying the shops and restaurants and soaking in the “quaintness” of our town. “Hopefully it’s sunny and warm!” she says.
TIM CRAIG — DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, SISTERS-CAMP SHERMAN FIRE DISTRICT
Tim Craig starts with coffee on the porch at his home in the pines outside town. Then it’s time to load up the bikes and head to the Peterson Ridge Trail to ride with his wife — who he says keeps him pushing hard on the trail. Then it’s off to town to enjoy lunch and maybe a beer before heading back home to fire up the grill and invite the neighbors over for a barbecue.
Sisters is home to more than 10,000 people — but most of us live in neighborhoods you can’t see from Highway 20. Sisters Country is dotted with forest and sagebrush subdivisions. To the west lies Black Butte Ranch, which is a residential community as well as a resort, along with neighborhoods like Cascade Meadow Ranch, Tollgate, and Crossroads, tucked away in the ponderosas. Off to the north lie neighborhoods like Sage Meadow and Indian Ford Meadow, all the way out to
Whychus Canyon Estates. To the east are neighborhoods nestled in sagebrush and looking out to mountains.
These neighborhoods are unique — and they’re not making any more of them. Oregon land use law no longer allows for forest and sagebrush subdivisions, so these neighborhoods are something special.
In town, there are a number of distinctive neighborhoods, from The Woodlands, to the Village at Cold Springs. Pine Meadow Village and ClearPine
on the west side of town, to Timber Creek and Saddleback and others on the east end. There is a mix of single-family homes and townhomes in many of these neighborhoods, and Sisters has also recently added some apartments.
This list is far from comprehensive. Some folks like living in town on a smaller lot or in a townhome; some want a quarter-acre lot or something larger to stretch out in. Sisters accommodates all tastes and preferences.
Chush Falls, also known as Lower Whychus Falls, is a waterfall formed along Whychus Creek on the north skirt of North Sister in the Three Sisters Wilderness located off Highway 242 and Forest Road 16. The falls are unique, springing from a creek with the water falling off a rock cliff and flowing downstream. The falls are accessible on a 2.5-mile trail offering picturesque views.
A short overlook trail built by the forest service, this loop is an accessible access point for views of the Three Sisters. This overlook gives you 360° mountain views while looking down over the Whychus Creek that meanders its way through the Three Sisters Wilderness.
Located 22 miles from Sisters, Hoodoo Ski Resort is a family-friendly mountain with options for all ages and skill levels. They’ve got the tubing autobahn which is good fun for the whole family, they’ve got Nordic ski trails for those looking to do more cross-country skiing. And then of course the ski routes… the chairlift rides offer vista views of the Cascades on a clear day.
The Cascade Lakes Highway located west of Bend spans from downtown Bend all the way up to Mt. Bachelor with mountain vistas and lakes as far as the eye can see. Various lakes line the highway including Todd Lake, Sparks Lake (seen in photo), Devil’s Lake, and more.
Tam McArthur Rim is a classic Sisters hike, located above Three Creek Lake. The climb to the top of the rim provides 360° vistas. The hike is a 5.3-mile out-and-back with ideal hiking times being between June and October. The hike is now part of the permit system required for the Three Sisters Wilderness but it is well worth it especially for a sunset hike.
It’s hard to believe that the mighty Metolius River starts from tiny springs in the shadow of Black Butte. It soon becomes a tumbling torrent. Drive 10 miles west of Sisters to the entrance to Camp Sherman and follow the signs along FS Road 14. Park and walk about 300 yards down a paved path to an overlook that treats you to a calendar shot of the headwaters and Mt. Jefferson.
Tamolitch Blue Pool is accessible by an approximately four-mile, out-and-back hike. On a hot summer day, you may be tempted to take a dip in the pool — but think twice; it’s glacier-cold. Take Highway 126 west just over 40 miles to Trail Bridge Reservoir. Turn right on FS Road 730 (at the sign to Trail Bridge Reservoir). Cross the river and turn right on FS Road 2672-655, then travel a half mile to parking.
At the summit of McKenzie Pass, at 5,187 feet, stands Dee Wright Observatory. The lava-rock structure was completed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). On a clear day, you will have spectacular views of Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, the South, North, and Middle Sister, and even catch a glimpse of Mt. Hood. Take Highway 242 west out of Sisters on a forest drive 22 miles to the McKenzie Summit.
By Bill Bartlett
Walk it, bike it ,or park your car (it’s free everywhere and no limits), and start on Hood Avenue, either end, and head to the other end. Hood Avenue is full of shops, galleries, a bookstore, a world-famous coffee shop, and where you can have lunch or dinner in an art gallery. Or a food truck corner.
You’ll go past an Old World clockmaker with a million-dollar collection. This is a must stop. Turn north to Cascade Avenue for the quintessential small-town experience. Handcrafted chocolates, fudge. More art and décor. Antiques. One of the best-known quilt shops in the country.
Along the stroll there’s olive, nuts and spirits tasting. Or a candy shop right out of the old west that will especially delight
the little ones. There are handmade milk shakes and handdipped ice cream cones like you got when you were a kid. Love alpacas? Sisters Country is home to several thousand of them and their wool is spun into some amazing products at one of Cascade’s two dozen shops. And true to its Western heritage, Cascade Avenue is home to a genuine Western Wear emporium.
Impossible to miss is The Fantastic Museum with the world’s tallest man — a ninefoot mummified Viking — and a splendid collection of sports memorabilia.
There’s more. A to-die-for bakery. A French restaurant. And Asian. And Mexican. A Wild West saloon and some grub pubs Outdoor dining options.
Turn north again to Main Avenue to find the Library at one end and the Forest Service office at the other. In between, the visitor center, a park and bandstand. A spa. A feed store. Another mouthwatering bakery. An eclectic food court. Wine tasting and more shops, several vintage stores, of which there are more than a dozen in Sisters. (That’s a whole day alone for many of our visitors.)
The tricky part is not missing the side streets connecting the avenues. They include a renowned smokehouse, the Historical Museum, the Village Green Park, and several more shops with small town hospitality.
You will have worked up an appetite. Go to page 28 for a guide to filling your tummy.
If your plans bring you to Sisters for at least three days, let us help you get the most out of them. With so much to do, it’s nearly impossible to lay out all the options. Hopefully this helps. We’ve divided the fun into two options depending on whether you’re traveling with younger children or taking a more relaxed approach to your visit for those seeking a bit of adventure.
Day 1. That’s easy. The same for everybody (see page 16).
Day 2. Casual route. The 242-McKenzie Pass/Santiam Pass Scenic Byway loop tour. It’s an 82-mile scenic drive. Here are outstanding examples of both ancient and recent volcanoes, cinder cones, lava flows, and deep, glaciated canyons. Forests along the Byway contain rare old-growth fir and ponderosa pine and are home to a great variety of fish and wildlife, including several endangered species, such as bald eagles, northern spotted
owls, Chinook salmon, and bull trout.
The route takes you to Proxy, Koosah, and Sahalie Falls, each short, but magical hikes to panoramic cascading flows.
On the way back to Sisters stop at Suttle Lake for some canoeing or standup paddle boarding. Rentals available.
Drop into Black Butte Ranch for a guided horseback ride or tee up on the Little Meadow Putting Course. This resort features twelve holes of putting with planned lengths between 45 and 105 feet. However, this course can play as eighteen slightly shorter holes or nine longer holes. There is also plenty of room to change tee and hole locations on any given day. Each hole will feature interesting contours that will test even the best putters. All of the holes will have its own ‘fairway’ and provide ample variety.
one or more of the more challenging and breathtakingly beautiful hiking options like Scout Camp, Tam McArthur Rim, or Strawberry Lake (see hiking guide page 46).
Or if water is your thing, take a half-day or full-day whitewater rafting trip on the McKenzie Wild and Scenic River where a handful of guides offer thrilling outings through deep canyons about an hour from Sisters.
the best putters. All of the holes will have its own ‘fairway’ and provide ample variety.
Day 3. Casual route. Jump on your bike — or rent one at either of our two pro downtown bike shops — and head out Peterson Ridge at the edge of town. Ride as little or as far as you’d like on over a hundred miles of single-track trails for all skill levels.
Picnic along the way or dine at either the lake or the Ranch. Head home for a night out in Sisters, including a movie or one of our many music venues.
or dine at either the lake or the Ranch. Head
Day 2. Adventure route. Head out to
Before or after, drive up to Three Creek Lake, about 15 miles, and do all those fun things you did as a kid or wished you had — fish, swim, canoe, paddleboard, hike, picnic in the shade.
on page 18
Continued from page 17
Take your furry friends almost anywhere you go in Sisters Country as dogs are welcome just about everywhere.
Going to or from Three Creek Lake, stop at the Whychus Creek Overlook Trail for a superb, short, accessible hike to the Cascades viewpoint.
Day 3. Adventure route. Drive or bike to Smith Rock State Park. It’s a 37-mile (each way) spectacular ride past rich farm and ranch land, thousands of alpacas, longhorn and Highland cattle, streams, a winery, vast hay fields, and ending at the second most visited place in Oregon — Smith Rock.
If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons
or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs in the park. More than a thousand are bolted routes offering miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along your trip through the canyon you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter, and beaver.
You can switch any of this out with golf or fishing. We have prized courses and trophy fish. Learn more as you explore Sisters Oregon Guide.
Residents and visitors alike benefit from top-tier fire and police services…
Sisters may be a small town, but its residents, businesses, and visitors are well-protected and well-served by robust and highly professional emergency services.
Sisters doesn’t have its own police force, but it might as well have. The City of Sisters contracts with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to provide a lieutenant and a cadre of three deputies who are assigned full time to the Sisters substation. The DCSO patrol vehicles all carry the City of Sisters logo to foster community identity. Knowing the community you are working in on an intimate basis makes a big difference in law enforce-
ment, and that has proved out in Sisters.
“That consistent piece (having a set cadre of deputies in town) has made us way more effective,” says DCSO Lt. Chad Davis. “We know people by their first names. We know the names of their dogs.”
Black Butte Ranch has its own police department to keep the Ranch secure, and the agencies cooperate and assist each other whenever needed.
Sisters is also served by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. The District has 18 paid staff, including career EMTs and firefighters. The District also prides itself on a robust volunteer program. Like
most modern fire departments, the majority of their calls are medical (73 percent in 2023) and the district has multiple ambulances and highly trained paramedics.
The farm and ranch land east of Sisters has its own Cloverdale Fire District. Cloverdale provides fire protection and responds to vehicle accidents. Black Butte Ranch has its own fire department — including the area’s ladder truck — and the BBR District has its own ambulance.
Sisters is located in wildfire country, and the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry stage firefighters here in fire season.
For more than three decades, Paulina Springs Books has been a community cultural hub in Sisters.
Founded in 1992 by Dick Sandvik and Diane Campbell, and carried on by Brad Smith, the store has weathered the rise of online giants and changes in reading habits. With the leadership of current owner Lane Jacobson, the beloved shop is thriving, doubling its sales, increasing its staff by three times and expanding its physical footprint by 33 percent.
By Jim Cornelius
ity of vision,’” says Jacobson, “but also being very flexible and by design incorporating a lot of community input.”
What is the secret to creating and sustaining a thriving independent bookstore in a small community?
“I think creativity and a clar-
Jacobson is quick to credit the Sisters community as a key partner in success. And that community is not just the folks who live here, but visitors, too. Many people make an annual pilgrimage to Paulina Springs a big part of their vacation time in Sisters, and they avidly attend the many events staged at the bookstore. Jacobson says he and the staff are eternally grateful to be part of a supportive, engaged community.
Jacobson, who took ownership of Paulina Springs Books in 2018, said he came in wanting to make some changes, but
was determined to retain “the spirit of the store.” Changes included broadening inventory to include games, subject matter areas found on the shelves, and expanding the physical footprint of the store.
The store regularly welcomes authors for in-person events. The turnout for those engaging literary events is exceptional, especially given the size of the community. They often draw more attendance than events in bigger metropolitan areas, and that community engagement has put the bookstore on the map with authors and publishers heading out on tour. Game nights and programming for teens and children has brought more
young people into the fold.
“So far, it’s all turned out to be a winning recipe,” Jacobson says.
Few businesses have seen more change over the past 30-plus years than independent booksellers: competition from giant corporate booksellers; the rise of online commerce and Amazon; consolidation in the publishing industry; changes in reading habits. Jacobson remains bullish on the market, especially for stores like his that emphasize customer relationships and community engagement.
“There’s always going to be a demand for books,” he says.
“There’s always going to be a demand for inperson engagement.”
The hottest trend in publishing right now is “Romantacy” — fantasy with a strong element of romance, or romance with some fantastical elements.
“I don’t know if it’ll be a lasting trend, but it’s been a lot of fun,” he says.
And fun is a big part of what makes Paulina Springs Books a success. For locals and visitors alike, it is their “happy place,”
a place where adventure and learning and engagement take place, in what ever dose you choose. For Jacobson, that makes it a great place to be each day.
“Yeah,” he says, “I’m having fun, for sure. It’s the best. It’s the best job in the world.”
Sisters Country rests on the edge of the largest area of dark sky in the Lower 48, which lies over Southeast Oregon. The Sisters backcountry and the high desert to our east offer some extraordinary opportunities to take in awe-inspiring views of the vault of the heavens.
The chance to experience soulstirring encounters with the cosmos is part of the draw to Central Oregon.
Backpackers who venture into the Sisters backcountry can enjoy that experience when it’s at its best, viewing the core of the galaxy during the summer months. You can also touch it with a drive up the McKenzie Highway (Highway 242) to the summit, or venturing up Three Creek Road to the lakes or the snow parks.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak around August 12.
Our local snow parks are a good place to view the sky, as is the high desert.
“You want to get to a place that has the lowest horizon around you, so you can see more of the sky,” said Dark
Skies enthusiast Grant Tandy.
For those enthralled by the night sky, a visit to the University of Oregon’s Pine Mountain Observatory is a worthy excursion during the summer season. Visit pmo.uoregon.edu for dates and more information. The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is another option. Visit https://snco. org for more information.
As of 2025, Sisters is the second Oregon city officially designated as an International DarkSky Community.
City of Sisters planning staff noted that, “Community-led efforts to educate the community of the importance of sensitive lighting on the ability to see the nighttime stars have also inspired this effort — most notably by the Astronomy Club with Sisters High School, who have provided community education about the impacts of lighting on the ability to see the stars at night and on wildlife and the environment.”
JAROD GATLEY
Black Butte Ranch has been a beloved destination for families for over half a century.
Black Butte Ranch opened in 1970 and was completed in 1987 with over 1,800 acres and 1,250 homesites. It’s a small city, with its own fire and police department, and is one of the top 20 employers in Deschutes County.
With bike and walking paths, tennis courts, and world-renowned golf courses, there’s plenty to do right on the Ranch — but it also makes a perfect headquarters for your adventures across Central Oregon. The Lodge Restaurant and Aspen Lounge are a dinner-and-drink destination. Robert’s Pub and the Lakeside Bistro offer a range of dining options, and you can enjoy live music on the lawn near the Bistro on Wednesday evenings in the summertime. Groceries can be found on the property at the General Store. The Spa at Black Butte Ranch is the perfect spot to unwind and indulge your body after a full day of play.
The Suttle Lodge offers a retreat on the shores of Suttle Lake west of Sisters. The magnificent log lodge has 11 rooms, and there are cabins scattered across the 15-acre property ranging from the deluxe to the rustic. In the summer season, enjoy dining at The Boathouse after a hike on the lakeside trail, or kayaking on the waters of Suttle Lake.
FivePine Lodge & Shibui Spa lie right in town, within walking distance of Sisters’ activities. The resort, which features an array of lodge rooms and nicely appointed cabins, is designed to be a restorative and romantic getaway (popular with locals as well as visitors) with the personal touch of a bed-and-breakfast. The adjacent Shibui Spa, Sisters Athletic Club, and Three Creeks Brew Pub give FivePine all the amenities of a major resort on a comfortable and cozy scale.
Sisters’ resorts serve up respite, restoration, romance — and lifelong memories.
Each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June through October, Fir Street Park in the center of Sisters becomes a bustling open-air marketplace where locals and visitors alike gather to seek out locally grown vegetables, fruits, meats, and eggs, and find artisan products from soaps to pet food to lotions and kombucha.
Sisters Farmers Market is growing a vibrant community that connects Oregon farmers, ranchers, makers, and shoppers. The market provides access to fresh foods, locallymade goods, and educational activities in a welcoming envi-
ronment. Close to 40 local ranches, farms, and artisans are represented in booths in the park.
Sisters Farmers Market is a program of Seed To Table, a nonprofit educational farm dedicated to connecting food, wellness, and education in Sisters.
The park is full of vendors, and the shopping is unique and fun. Sisters Farmers Market is is a place to connect, a place to make new friends, and a place to have fun.
Kids love to play on the splash pad on the hot summer days, and the Songbird Stage
hosts live music.
For more information on the market and events, visit sistersfarmersmarket.com.
By Bill Bartlett
Sisters may be small but it’s big in food, punching way above its weight when it comes to choice, taste, and authenticity. Bring your appetite and savor a long menu of distinguishing flavorful recipes cooked to order. Whether you’re looking for pub fare or gourmet dining, Sisters has you covered. Indoor or out. Sit down or takeaway. Traditional dining or truck food. Want classy dining, no worries. Ethnic food like Asian or Mexican or Italian? You’re covered.
From mouthwatering burg-
ers served with old-fashioned milkshakes to ranch cooking, it’s all here in Sisters. There’s nothing ordinary about it. Most all of it is not only homemade but it’s locally sourced and the majority is organic. As it should be. Sisters is surrounded by rich farm and pastureland where farmers and ranchers are steep into the farm to table movement. Take our food trucks for example. Not your run-of-themill tacos, brats, and kettle corn. You can enjoy wood-fired pizza. Or roasted poblano slaw. Cheddar grits. Maple mustard
dressing. Japanese milk bread buns. Even mango-habanero aioli.
And it’s just not the eateries and watering holes where you have close to 100 brew options. There’s our summer Farmers Market, our community garden, fresh produce stands, and Seed To Table. The four-acre, organic education farm is all about health and wellness in Sisters — and fresh, wholesome food. Sisters boasts irresistible bakeries, putting out homey pastries and breads with customers sometimes lined up for two blocks.
Located on Cascade Avenue (Highway 20) in the center of downtown Sisters. Includes a public restroom.
Skaters and cyclists have their own skate park and their own bike park thanks to volunteer efforts by local youth and adult mentors. Bike Park 242 offers jumps and skill features. Located next to the Sisters Park & Recreation District Coffield Center, at the west end of the Sisters High School parking lot. Head west from downtown Sisters on Hwy. 242 (McKenzie Hwy).
On the north side of Sisters, approximately three blocks from downtown on Larch Street. Large grassy area and play equipment. Available for events
for a fee. Electricity is available. Includes a public restroom. Call 541-549-6022 for additional information.
The Creekside Campground is a municipal park with 60 sites (of which 23 are full-hook-up sites) and a large grass area. The park is open April to November and is closed for the winter months. Includes a public restroom. Call 541-323-5218 for reservations.
Creekside Park is located adjacent to Whychus Creek across the covered foot-bridge from the Creekside Campground. The grassy park has tables and small barbecues for daytime use. There are no events here.
Sisters’ downtown park is centrally located at the corner
of Fir Street and Main Avenue. This “pocket park” features a splash play area for kids, a performance stage with timberframe pavilion and seating area, a picnic facility, restrooms, bike corrals, benches, a fire pit with seating, a drinking fountain, and on-site parking. The park hosts Sisters Farmers Market on Sundays and outdoor concerts.
The Hyzer Pines 18-hole disc golf course is located near Sisters High School (same parking lot) on McKinney Butte Road.
Village Green Park is located two blocks south of downtown between Elm & Fir Streets. There is a covered gazebo, barbecue area, playground equipment, and restrooms.
Sisters has created a true community of artists — people who support and inspire each other to dig deeper, reach higher.
For the past several years, artists, gallery owners, and arts patrons have worked to create a tight-knit community of galleries across town.
Any day is a good day to stroll those galleries, where you will find extraordinary work in every medium imaginable, from sculpture to watercolors, pottery to jewelry, and on — as far
as the creative mind can take you.
On the fourth Friday of each month, art lovers enjoy an evening stroll among Sisters’ many galleries. It’s a great way to get out and experience the range of creativity to be found in this small town.
Many local restaurants and cafés also feature Sisters artists’ work in rotating displays. There are many opportunities to purchase original art.
SFF Presents has provided grant funding and other sup-
port to develop an integrated arts program in all three Sisters schools, giving students the benefit of self-expression through art — and the creative, think-outside-the-box spirit that is so critical to thriving in any field of endeavor.
That spirit is reflective of a town where art is so much more than “decoration,” it is sustenance for the mind, body, and soul.
For more information visit www.sistersartsassociation. org.
A vision years in the making was realized on March 31, 2025, as Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) officials officially cut the ribbon on the district’s new community center. The center is located at the former site of Sisters Elementary School at 611 E. Cascade Ave. In 2024, SPRD entered into a long-term lease agreement with the Sisters School District to repurpose the former elementary school into a community center.
Construction of the fitness studio, restrooms, and commons area was completed by Bremik Construction.
Volunteers from Kiwanis, Rotary, and community members put in something like 500
two multi-purpose rooms. In addition to the multi-purpose rooms, there is a new fitness studio; two ADA-compliant single-user restrooms; and a revamped commons area, designed as a welcoming gathering space. The gym is open for daytime drop-in public use. Wednesday evenings feature pickleball, and there are evening volleyball and basketball opportunities.
the public outside SPRD childcare hours. Drop-in gym use is available.
This summer, SPRD will be renovating the grounds around the center for an expansive community park.
“That is going to be a highlight for people passing through town,” Holland says.
The opening of the new community center is exciting news for locals — and for visitors to the Sisters community as well.
“Our programs and dropin activities are open to all,” noted SPRD Executive Director Jennifer Holland.
Probably the most exciting aspect of that development is the addition of eight new outdoor pickleball courts. Places to play that popular sport are in high demand, and Holland says that SPRD’s courts are expected to be operational this fall.
For information on SPRD programing, visit https://
hours on renovation efforts on A pre-k play area is open to sistersrecreation.com.
By Bill Bartlett
Sisters Country is popping up more often on destination wedding maps. And why not? Talk about the perfect backdrop for the big day. Memories are forever when you tie the knot in our picture-perfect setting.
Choose from a variety of themes to accent the special day: luxury resort with world-class amenities, ranch, historic river lodge, bucolic winery, or right in town. Heck, you can even honeymoon in a forest fire lookout tower.
Want to get married on horseback? You can do that in Sisters. At the base of a waterfall? You bet. On a mountaintop? Yep. If you’re looking for an alternative to ballroom weddings, or if fancy isn’t your vibe (or your budget), then exchanging vows in Sisters might be for you.
Book early — at least a year in advance. A handful of nearby wedding planners can help create the perfect wedding.
Aspen Lakes: www.aspenlakes.com/restaurant/ weddings
Black Butte Ranch: www.blackbutteranch.com/weddings
Faith Hope & Charity Vineyard: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com/ weddings
FivePine Lodge: www.fivepine.com/weddings
House on Metolius: www.metolius.com/weddings
Long Hollow Ranch: thelonghollowranch.com/ weddings-events
Pole Creek Ranch: www.polecreek.com/wedding-events
The Suttle Lodge: thesuttlelodge.com/groups/weddings
There’s music in the air almost all the time in Sisters. From major music festivals to a thriving open mic scene, local musicians mix with national and regional performing artists to create a vibrant music community.
You’ll find all kinds of music here, from Classic Rock tribute performances to jazz,
bluegrass, and folk-Americana.
Local eateries and watering holes regularly present local and regional music, and musicloving residents stage house concerts and jams.
The scene is enhanced by strong music programs in Sisters schools. Young jazz musicians are encouraged to jam with established
pros in jazz sessions, and the Americana Project cultivates young songwriters and performers. An active fiddle club at Sisters Middle School is producing young fiddlers who have hit the road to experience music festivals in the Pacific Northwest.
Sisters is always reaching for a high note.
By Bill Bartlett
Make a visit to alpaca ranches where you can get up close and personal, petting, feeding, and “chatting” with them. Alpacas make a gentle humming noise when happy.
WHERE TO FIND THEM:
No less than 1,000 alpacas are about a 15-minute ride east from Sisters. Alpaca Country Estates started with just six Huacaya alpacas in 2006. The 134-acre pastured ranch is set with breathtaking views of the Cascades. Alpaca fiber produces amazingly soft garments and warm throws, rugs, and yarn. The property includes an all things alpaca seasonal farm store. Luxurious alpaca fiber is one of the rarest and most treasured natural fibers in the world. Private tours and group activities are available.
At Paca Picnics you’ll eat, drink, and be merry while surrounded by a pack of friendly alpacas. Picnics happen at Flying Dutchman Alpacas north of Tumalo. The fun is all managed by the same folks who run Alpaca by Design, a premium apparel shop in downtown Sisters. Reserve ahead for all activities.
Bitterroot: May
Yarrow: April-September
Bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva. A desert beauty growing in rocky, open soils. White to pink flowers burst from rosettes on the ground. Named for Meriwether Lewis whose samples grew 2 years after collecting (rediviva = restored to life)!
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. A widespread native at home in sagebrush meadows and pine forests. Leaves are feathery and flowers grow on tall stems in an umbrella-like cluster. Each white flower has 3-5 rays and a yellow center.
Arrowleaf balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata. One of our showiest wildflowers lighting up hillsides with sunny, disk-like faces. Grows in clumps with large wide triangular leaves that have heart-shaped bases. Yellow flowers are 2½-4 in. wide on 1-3 ft. stems.
Red columbine, Aquilegia formosa. A stunningly delicate native that grows in moist, partly shaded areas. Drooping bright red and yellow flowers grow on stalks up to 4 ft. tall. Hummingbirds and butterflies love columbine nectar.
Spotted mountain bells, Fritillaria atropurpurea. A beautifully delicate native lily, found in forests near openings. Brownish bell-shaped flowers have yellow-red spots and grow 5-25 in. tall. This uncommon lily takes a keen eye to find!
Mariposa lily, Calochortus
macrocarpus A sagebrush jewel that blooms intensely lavender on tall 8-23 in. stems. Mariposa is ‘butterfly’ in Spanish, and kalo and chortos are Greek for ‘beautiful,’ and ‘grass.’
Scarlet gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata.
Trumpet-shaped, bright red flowers on stems up to 3 ft. tall. Flower color may vary from scarlet, speckled with white, to pale pink, speckled with red. Grows in dry soils in woodland openings and meadows.
Washington lily, Lilium washingtonianum. This native lily seems like it came straight from the flower shop with its classic shape, smell, and size! Large white to pink flowers on tall, 2-8 ft. stems. Grows in dry forests and is
From Three Creek Lake south of town, to the lands of the Deschutes Land Trust along Whychus Creek, to Iron Mountain a short drive to the west in the Cascades, Sisters Country is painted each summer with the vibrant color of wildflowers. July tends to be the height of the season, so make sure your summer visit includes some time in the field. May-July named for Martha Washington.
By Bill Bartlett
Hiking in Sisters Country is unforgettable. With close to a half million acres and a thousand miles of mapped, single-path trails that delight with tumbling waterfalls, steep canyons, roaring rivers, snow-covered peaks, and bucolic meadows, it doesn’t get much better. Come for a day or stay for a week. You will not come close to experiencing all that we offer. Want more? Of course you do. Here are some memorable hikes from among dozens of possibilities. Each one is a fun-filled, photo-packed outing with picnic option.
Patjens Lakes Loop (Half day) • Easy
Little Three Creek Lake (Half day) • Easy
Strawberry Lake (All day) • Difficult
The Metolius (Half day) • Easy
The Deschutes (Variable) • Easy to moderate
Crooked River (Variable) • Easy to moderate
McKenzie Waterfalls (Half day) • Easy
Tam McArthur Rim (Full day) • Moderate to difficult
Scout Camp (Half day) • Moderate
Smith Rock State Park (Variable) Easy to moderate
SMITH ROCK STATE PARK
Black Butte (Half day) • Moderate to difficult
South Sister (Full day) • Difficult
Trappers Butte & Scar Mountain (Full day) • Difficult
By Bill Bartlett
No matter your level, hitting the links in Sisters is a double eagle experience.
A 15-minute drive west from Sisters tees you up at Black Butte Ranch. With two award-winning golf courses, a driving range, and a new putting course situated at the foot of the Cascades, Black Butte Ranch is a golfer’s paradise.
Or go 15 minutes east to Eagle Crest. With two championship golf courses, The Ridge Course and The Resort Course, their tough 18-hole, par-63 Challenge Course, and their popular 18-hole putting course, links lovers are never far from their favorite pastime.
Aspen Lakes Golf Course located less than 10 minutes from Sisters is a public golf destination known for its breathtaking views, distinctive red sand bunkers, and award-winning customer service. Featuring 18 beautifully manicured holes, their course offers a memorable experience for golfers of all skill levels. Whether you are from the local area or visiting Sisters Country, we’re confident you’ll agree that Aspen Lakes is a must-play experience.
Eagle Crest is ranked number one for golf in Central Oregon by Trip Advisor. Aspen Lakes comes in at number three and Black Butte Ranch at six among 37 courses. That’s some serious golf.
ASPEN LAKES GOLF COURSE
Holes: 18 Par: 72 Length: 7,302 Slope: 139 Rating: 74.5
At Black Butte Ranch
GLAZE MEADOW
Holes: 18 Par: 72 Length: 7,007
133 Rating: 72.7
BIG MEADOW Holes: 18 Par: 72 Length: 6,956
132
71.6
At Eagle Crest
THE RIDGE COURSE Holes: 18 Par: 72 Length: 6,952
137 Rating: 73.4
THE RESORT COURSE Holes: 18 Par: 72 Length: 6,704
132
71.6
The Cascades are dotted with lakes, most of them carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago.
Fed by snowmelt and/or springs, the high lakes are cold and refreshing after a day’s hike. Some are readily accessible and make for popular swimming and water play spots; some are remote and require a hike to get there. Many have fish populations, some of them augmented by stocking.
Scout Lake:
Scout Lake is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to get some time in the water. Children love splashing in its
waters. No dogs are allowed at the day-use area, due to sanitation concerns.
From Sisters, travel 13.2 miles northwest on Highway 20, then 1.3 miles west on Forest Road 2070, and then 0.8 miles south on Forest Road 2066.
Suttle Lake:
Suttle Lake is a favorite spot in the Deschutes National Forest. Surrounded by forest, the lake is deep and clear, and everything from a rowboat to a water skiing boat is allowed in separate parts of the lake. Link Creek, which empties into Suttle Lake, is shallow and clear enough to view spawn-
ing fish. You can hike an easy trail all around the lake, and Cinder Beach provides access for swimmers and water play. Yellow, orange, or red hues from vine maple proclaim the arrival of autumn in September or October.
Travel west on Highway 20 for 13 miles to Forest Road 2070 and turn in.
Three Creek Lake:
Nestled under the majestic Tam McArthur Rim, Three Creek Lake is a popular spot for fishing — or just enjoying a day by (or in) the water. Motors are not allowed on Three Creek Lake, contributing to the seren-
ity of the setting.
There is a primitive boat ramp on the east shore as well as a small store that rents boats. It can be buggy, so don’t forget your insect repellent.
Take Elm Street/FS Road 16 south out of Sisters for 16 miles.
Clear Lake:
It’s a bit of a jaunt, but Clear Lake is one of the gems of the Cascades, and worth the trip. It is one of the clearest and coldest lakes in the Cascades.
A day in a canoe or rowboat is good for the soul. Fishing is good at Clear Lake — brook trout and cutthroat trout reproduce naturally in the lake, and rainbow trout are stocked
annually.
You won’t want to jump in this one though — it’s COLD!
Clear Lake is a 40-minute drive from Sisters. Take Highway 20/126 west over Santiam Pass. At the junction, take Highway 126 west and
watch for signs on the left.
If you want a road trip, the Cascade Lakes Highway offers a 66-mile scenic drive with stops for exploration. For more information visit www.visitbend. com/points-interest/cascade lakes-national-scenic-byway/.
By Sue Stafford
The picturesque spot known as Camp Sherman lies in the southwest corner of Jefferson County within the Metolius Basin, a geologic treasure trove that provides hints into the formation of the basin. Between volcanoes, glaciers, earthquakes, and a fault scarp (vertical movement of one side of a fault in the earth’s surface), the basin is now bounded by Black Butte on the south, the Cascade Mountains to the west, Green Ridge on the east, and Jefferson Creek to the north.
The history of Camp Sherman is as unique as the place itself. People’s eyes light up when questioned about the
old days and many residents have more than one story to share.
Native Americans
Indigenous people were visiting the basin and its fishfilled river for centuries before Captain John C. Frémont crossed the Metolius River on December 1, 1843, with his Indian guide. Mpto-ly-as is a Native American word meaning white fish or “stinking fish” for all the salmon that came up the river to spawn and die. Artifacts have been unearthed at multiple archaeological sites that indicate the Metolius basin has had human inhabitants since before the eruption of Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake) 7,700
years ago.
One long-time Camp Sherman resident recalled that in the early to mid-1930s, an Indian woman would visit each summer with huckleberries to sell, carried in a deer skin pouch. She was dressed in doeskin, with her baby in a papoose on her back, and riding horseback.
In 1855, a United States treaty deeded land to the Native Americans and established Warm Springs Reservation where the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes still live today as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Continued on page 54
In 1862, the Homestead Act opened up settlement in the western U.S., allowing any American to put in a claim for up to 160 acres of free land. General Land Office records of 1881 show there were five homesteads within the upper Metolius Basin.
The next influx of inhabitants to the Basin came from Sherman County beginning in 1908. There are various stories related to how that county’s wheat farmers discovered the Metolius but, once they did, whole families began to make annual pilgrimages every summer to camp on the river’s bank, fish, and recreate. Lots were available to rent from the Federal government for $5-$15 a year. They were allowed to build cabins as long as they were neat and substantial.
Regulations required there be 50 feet of space between the riverbank and the cabin, with that space to remain open to the public, which is still the case today on both sides of the river.
William Henrichs, O.L. Belshe, and Martin Hansen, all of Sherman County, built the first three cabins in 1916. Judge Henrichs is credited with naming the enclave Camp Sherman, after posting signs along the route from Sherman County to
the Metolius, to guide the farmers.
The heart of Camp Sherman has always been the store and post office. The store began as a platform tent and was run by Dick Fuller. After the tent, a small store was built in 1917 by Frank Leithauser, who had the grocery store in Sisters. In 1922, the current building was constructed by Ross Ornduff from Sherman County. Until 1976, when a separate building was built, the post office was always located in the store.
The Chapel in the Pines was originally part of the ShevlinHixon logging town that moved from area to area in south Deschutes County as timber was cut. In 1950, Shevlin ceased operation and Brooks-Scanlon purchased their buildings. A long-time resident of Camp Sherman and an executive with Brooks-Scanlon, Lloyd Blakely, had the chapel moved in the fall of 1957 to Camp Sherman — in two pieces. With the efforts of many people and businesses, the little chapel was refurbished and ready for congregates. When services began, there was a Catholic mass on Sunday morning and a Protestant service in the afternoon. Since 1980, there has been one non-denominational service on Sunday morning.
Camp Sherman has always been known for its river and fishing. Early on, tourists began to come stay and play, requiring lodging to be built, particularly Hansen’s Resort (later called Lake Creek Lodge), the Heising Ranch, Circle M Ranch, the old Metolius River Lodge, and Camp Sherman Resort. Later came Haglund’s Resort, Twin View Resort, The Pines Resort off Metke Lane, and Metolius Meadows guest ranch.
The Community Hall
Nowhere are the traditions of Camp Sherman more evident than at the Community Hall. It has been the scene of potlucks, community meetings, memorial services, school programs, weddings, and dances. The Fourth of July pancake breakfasts over the years have raised funds for worthy causes.
The original construction of the hall was a community effort. In the spring of 1948 building began, on land donated by the McMullins. On the first day, 50 volunteers arrived to help clear the building site, aided by Sisters garage owner George Wakefield who used his wrecker to pull out jack pines.
Local full-time residents did all the construction work while summer residents contributed equipment and furnishings for the completed hall. There were a number of fundraising events held as well, including a bear barbecue.
Pickleball is the fastestgrowing sport in America. There’s a very simple reason for that: It’s a LOT of fun.
Access to pickleball is one of the most frequently-asked questions among visitors to Sisters. Visitors who are staying at Black Butte Ranch or in a vacation rental at Tollgate can avail themselves of the courts reserved for residents and guests. Public courts are not available right now in Sisters, but Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) has pickleball in
its plans. Eight pickleball courts will be part of a new SPRD community park in September.
Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman has pickleball courts available for guests.
Players can head to Redmond’s Sam Johnson Park where there are several courts, or check out the courts at the Pine Nursery Park Pickleball Complex in Bend. For more information on Sisters Pickleball Club, visit sisterspickleballclub. com.
Disc golfers can throw at
Hyzer Pines just a few minutes from downtown Sisters off Highway 242 next to Sisters High School. It’s a challenging course that is heavily treed with small gaps for distance throws, to work around using backhand and forehand throws.
Another popular course in the Central Oregon area is Pine Nursery, featuring unique high desert terrain.
There is also a course in Redmond near Dry Canyon offering a different type of terrain and views.
Sisters has a hidden gem for those who like to test their skills on two wheels. Bike Park 242 is located just off the McKenzie Highway (242) at the far west end of the Sisters High School parking lot (1750 McKinney Butte Rd.).
Bike Park 242 features four hand-shaped, progressive dirt jump lines ranging from beginner to expert. There are also two pump tracks with one designed for smaller riders and the second shaped for more advanced riders, although both pump tracks may be ridden by
all levels. A pump track is meant to be ridden for as many laps as possible without pedaling. The beginner-friendly technical skills section consists of ground-level skinnies, rock drop-offs, and smooth wooden rainbow-like features.
The park is open sunrise to sunset, April-October. SPRD offers a series of pump & jump clinics in the summertime (https://sistersrecreation.com/ activity/bikeclinics/).
Bike Park 242 is maintained and managed by Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) reps and
volunteers and SPRD.
In the same location you will find Sisters Skate Park — designed and built with the impetus and assistance of the skateboarding community at Sister High School.
The park is unsupervised. It offers skaters three main bowls and a number of street features.
The park has been in place for over a decade, and in 2023 underwent renovations. The additions include a new entrance, half-pipe, and many other small features.
By Chester Allen
I sat on the bank of the Metolius River and watched the long shadows of a summer evening stretch across the clear water.
Just 30 feet upstream, right next to the rocky bank, a trout’s nose — a big nose — poked up and sucked down a bright yellow Pale Morning Dun mayfly. Then another one. Then another one.
I crept up the bank — staying on my knees. I saw a huge redsides rainbow trout as it rode a pillow of soft water and rose again. This was one of the biggest rainbows I have ever seen on the Metolius. I cast my fly, and it dropped into the water about 24 inches upstream of the trout. The fish rose, the fly vanished and I set the hook.
The fish exploded into a run to deep water — then my fly popped out.
An exacting paradise
This sounds weird, but that lost fish is exactly why I live in Sisters. I live to fish the Metolius on an almost-daily basis. Like many local — and visiting — anglers, I’m addicted to the beauty and challenge of this clear, rushing spring creek where wild trout rise to insect hatches every day of the year.
I’ve seen blue wing olive mayflies hatching in the middle of winter many times — even during light snowfalls. At the same time, trout on the Metolius are very picky, and you have to have the right fly and present it in the right way to catch fish.
The gin-clear water gives the trout great views of your fake fly, and many of the fish have been caught and released several times. It is common to see nice trout hover just
below your carefully tied fly — and turn away. This is fabulous —and frustrating. Each fish caught and released is special.
The Metolius is world-famous for its beauty, its cold spring water — and those picky wild trout.
Other places
Locals and visitors fish other water, and there are many great trout streams and lakes nearby. For a relaxing evening with easier trout, the beautiful Three Creek Lake is just 18 miles from downtown Sisters. My wife, Heather, loves packing a dinner picnic to share with friends — and then everyone fishes the evening caddis hatch or mayfly spinner fall. This alpine lake nestled next to the Tam McArthur Rim is full of beautiful rainbow and brook trout.
The Middle Deschutes is 30 minutes away — with brown and rainbow trout. Suttle Lake is a short drive for brown trout and smallmouth bass. The famous Lower Deschutes River is an hour away.
So many waters, so little time!
Second chances
Many people visit Sisters to fly fish — and then they find a way to live here. Having world-class fly fishing in the neighborhood is like having a second chance at a simpler, natural, beautiful life — especially when the Metolius trout drive you nuts.
Two weeks after I lost that massive trout, I was sitting in the same spot on the Metolius. A trout began rising on that same bank — for big Green Drake mayflies.
It was the same fish! I slowly started to crawl into position….
The hatch goes from about Memorial Day weekend to the end of June. The trout in the Metolius come crashing to the surface to feast on the dark green flies.
A tiny little olive mayfly with gray wings. The only mayfly found in Central Oregon hatching all 12 months of the year, so it provides some of the only dry fly fishing in the winter.
Callibaetis mayflies are a lake angler’s dream. It took us many years to invent the fly we call the Black Butte Callibaetis, but wherever the black mayflies are found this fly is a match.
Stonefly hatches bring the most tourists to fish a single hatch. The famed salmonfly and golden stone hatches happen on the Deschutes from mid-May until early June.
By Bill Bartlett
There’s the legendary biking in Central Oregon. Then there’s biking in Sisters. Can it get any better? Probably not. Maybe that’s why so many top tier events are held here. Like the Sisters Stampede. And the Cascade Gravel Grinder.
And why so many cycling tours ride through or start in Sisters. Cycling Adventures’ Sisters Experience Tour is a three-day, two-night affair that captures what it means to bike in Sisters.
Just need a shuttle ride to avoid the hassle of car juggling? Stagecoach Adventures
has you covered.
With two full-service bike shops right in town, and a tune-up portal at Village Green Park, there’s nothing to slow you down. Both shops rent so if you left your wheels at home, no worries.
Sure, we’ve got the stuff that legends are made of, but we also have miles upon miles upon miles of family friendly trails starting right in town. Plus, miles and miles of paved bike paths inside the city limits so you can shop, dine, and frolic from your bike.
Don’t let winter stop you. Sisters has some of the
best fat tire tracks in all the Northwest. If you haven’t biked in the snow, well, you just haven’t fully biked yet.
What’s your pleasure? Single track dirt? Scenic paved byways? Grinding gravel? It’s Sisters. You’re covered.
The welcome mat is out for our friends on motorcycles — hog to motocross, dirt bike to enduro.
Take on the 65-mile Sisters-Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway Loop or the McKenzie Pass from Sisters to Dee Wright Observatory — a 30-mile ride to a lava moonscape.
If you have an itch to get your feet wet while enjoying a thrilling ride through some spectacular country, head out to raft one of Central Oregon’s wild rivers.
The beautiful McKenzie River is widely regarded as the finest river-running experience in the region. With a steady plunge down the mountains, the river creates continual excitement for rafters. This designated Wild & Scenic River is exquisitely beautiful, rolling between stands of tall Douglas fir, western red cedar, western and mountain hemlock, and white alder that line the banks.
The Deschutes River has long been a popular destination for rafters. The short Upper Deschutes is suitable for a family outing with children as young as seven, according to the guidebook “Whitewater Rafting in North America.” The relatively brief run features the Class IV thrills of Big Eddy, which rolls and swirls in a lava canyon formed by the region’s volcanic activity.
The rest of the trip offers more mellow rapids in a scenic environment.
The Lower Deschutes offers a series of exciting rapids, and multiday rafters have the chance to explore the canyons. Numerous outfitters offer outfitting and guide services. Not only do they supply the equipment, but their experience and expertise make running the rivers safer.
Check with local resorts for information.
The Metolius River near Sisters is beautiful — but navigating it is best left to highly experienced expert boatmen.
Class I: Gentle, moving water. Very small waves requiring little or no maneuvering. A nice float down the river.
Class II: Regular waves, easy to see, reaching three to four feet in height. May require simple maneuvering to avoid rocks and other obstacles.
Class III: Large, continuous series or sets of waves, some in excess of six feet. You can run holes or hydraulics or maneuver around them. There may be some small drops, ledges or waterfalls. Plenty of thrills for most folks.
Class IV: Difficult, wild water; for experienced rafters.
Class V: Very challenging water; for the most experienced river runners only.
Class VI: Virtually non-navigable.
By Bill Bartlett
Where to play:
• Three Creeks Sno-Park, an easy 15-minute drive straight south of town on Forest Road 16 (Three Creek Road) provides access to 14 miles of Nordic ski trails and several loop opportunities. The trails here are very easy and the views you get on a clear day are absolutely incredible! This is as close to the base of the Three Sisters as you can get on snowshoes without doing winter snow camping.
Here you can find the only designated snowshoe trail in the Deschutes National Forest. An idyllic 4.9 mile out-and-back trek to Jefferson View Shelter.
Snowmobilers have their own haven with miles upon miles (more than 100) of groomed trails, all the way to Moon Mountain and Bend if you’re so inclined. Or connect with four other Sno-Parks!
• Ray Benson Sno-Park is about 25 minutes due west of Sisters off Highway 20 and is a vast winter wonderland north of 4,500 feet. There are nearly two dozen variations with a grand loop of 7.6 miles. Benson is one of the largest Sno-Parks in Oregon, room for every user. And it boasts the sturdy Brandenburg Shelter, plus two others.
The mountain views are flat out stunning. Snowshoers find their happy place on the 5.7 mile south loop.
Sisters’ network of trails beckons to runners of every classification, from casual joggers to serious trail runners to elite athletes.
Sisters is home to a variety of running events, from fun run/walk events often keyed to holidays, to ultramarathons that test the mettle of the most dedicated athletes.
Run Sisters Run hosts multiple fun run events through the year, including the Sisters 4th Fest on the Fourth of July, and
the Ugly Sweater Run that celebrates Christmas.
Alpine Running has sponsored a half-marathon and ultramarathon in the late spring, and the Peterson Ridge Rumble is an established destination event that features three distances — 40 miles; 27.8 miles; and 20 miles on the Peterson Ridge and MetoliusWindigo trail networks each April.
Happy Girls sponsors a 5k/10k/half marathon each
fall in Sisters, and other runs across Central Oregon.
Keep an eye on the events calendar in The Nugget Newspaper for updates on events.
On any given day, you’ll find runners out on the network of trails maintained by Sisters Trails Alliance, or on the forest roads that crisscross the countryside, cooking the miles, breathing the fresh alpine air, and enjoying spectacular views.
For more than half a century, Black Butte Ranch (BBR) has built lifelong memories.
For many, it’s an annual destination where families can reconnect with the natural beauty found on more than 1,800 acres of some of Oregon’s most spectacular terrain. Others are just discover-
ing this gem that lies just eight miles west of Sisters. They, too, will likely be back.
It’s not just the beauty: BBR offers a wealth of year-round activities— from golf on two 18-hole championship courses with mountain views, to horseback riding, over 23 miles of paved hiking and biking trails, a full-service day spa, indoor and outdoor pool complexes, tennis courts, fitness facilities with cardio and weight equipment, a recreation center with entertainment for the whole family, standup paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and convenient access to some of the finest fishing and whitewater rafting you’ll find anywhere.
The Lakeside area features an expansive outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness facility, sauna, and locker rooms, — but it’s steps away from a game-filled Activity Center and playground.
There are a dozen pickleball courts to meet the demand for one of America’s fastest-growing sports activities; 14 tennis courts, two bocce ball courts, and two horseshoe pits, along with sand volleyball courts and a full-length basketball court.
There are a variety of dining options, from the Aspen Lounge near the pool, to Robert’s Pub, and The Lodge Restaurant. BBR proclaims itself to be in the business of creating memories — and they do it in style.
By Bill Bartlett
Over 190 species of birds can be found in the woods and marshes surrounding Sisters, from the smallest to majestic raptors. Just five minutes from town at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve there have been sightings of 86 — that’s not a misprint. The preserve, owned and managed by the Deschutes Land Trust, has an improving meadow habitat with pools and surrounding riparian habitats.
Calliope Crossing
This is one of the best known and beloved birding locations in all of Deschutes County. Dense riparian habitat surrounded by ponderosa pine forest supports all three Sapsuckers, Western and Gray Flycatchers, Cassin’s Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee, House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Cassin’s Finch, and Calliope Hummingbird.
According to the Audubon Society, among the uncommon birds in the area are Wild Turkey, Northern PygmyOwl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Goshawk, and an occasional American Redstart. Rare birds found here have included Costa’s Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Gray Catbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Blackand-white Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Glaze Meadow & Gobbler’s Knob
The surrounding forest is good for White-headed Woodpeckers close to the western access point. The small hill (Gobbler’s Knob) at the eastern access point has breeding Fox Sparrow and Green-tailed Towhee. The Black Butte Swamp has a variety of birds similar to Calliope Crossing. It is currently the only place in Deschutes County where you are very likely to find Veery and Swainson’s Thrush, which nest there in small numbers.
Rooster Rock Burn
The 1,634-acre Rooster Rock Fire of 2010 is a surreal backdrop and was a prolific woodpecker location for about 10 years. Now that it is older, it is less attractive to woodpeckers, but they can still be found here.
Why drive?
Simply stay right in town. Best birds to be discovered by just walking or biking around include Clark’s Nutcracker, Pinyon Jay, White-headed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, and Red Crossbill.
Many folks who come to visit Sisters enjoy rolling just a little further down the highway to Bend or Redmond.
Bend has a lot to offer to visitors, including the region’s showpiece High Desert Museum. The museum is truly a must-see for anyone visiting — or living in — the region. Many folks visit regularly. The museum sits on 135 acres with more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space that features native wildlife, such as river otters, porcupines, and raptors. Historic characters share tales of early Oregon homesteaders. You can visit an authentic ranch and sawmill from 1904.
The High Desert Museum is located just five minutes south
of Bend, on Highway 97. Visit https://highdesertmuseum. org/.
Bend has become a cultural hub, with arts and live music driving a vibrant scene. It is home to the Tower Theatre, a historic building that offers music and cultural events. Hayden Homes Amphitheater presents national touring acts through the summer and fall.
Venture down to Riverbend Park and stroll on the River Trail. Get wet at the Bend Whitewater Park and river surf on the Deschutes (visit the Bend Whitewater Park’s main page at www.bendparksandrec. org/facility/bend-whitewaterpark/). Give your furry friend a frolic session at the dog park.
Central Oregon’s premier juried fine art and craft show, Art In The High Desert, will also be at Riverbend Park August 22-24. The event features 150 highly acclaimed artists. Visit artinthehigh desert.com.
From July 25-27, Balloons Over Bend creates a spectacle that you will never forget. Visit balloonsoverbend.com.
Cascade Village Mall on Highway 97 at the northwest edge of Bend offers shopping opportunities for some items that you might not be able to find in Sisters. There is also shopping at the Old Mill District in Bend.
Food carts abound from Sisters to Bend, to Redmond,
including The Bite in Tumalo (between Sisters and Bend).
One great way to venture out to Central Oregon’s largest city is to jump on the Bend Ale Trail — the biggest ale trail in the West. And you can jump on the trail right here in Sisters, starting at Three Creeks Brew Pub or Cascade Street Distillery. Then head on down Highway 20. There is a dizzying array of breweries and distilleries in Central Oregon, and this is a fun way to familiarize yourself with them. Pick up a passport at a participating brewery or print it out online at www.visitbend.com/bend-
ale-trail.
Redmond, 20 miles east down Highway 126 from Sisters, is the location of the region’s airport at Roberts Field. It’s also the site of the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo, currently scheduled for July 30-August 3. The annual event — the largest in Central Oregon — features championship NPRA Rodeo, top name concerts, 4-H animal exhibitions, carnival rides, cotton candy, corn dogs, along with shopping and exhibits. Visit expo.deschutes.org/fair. The fairgrounds will also host the massive FairWell
Festival July 18-19, featuring some of the most significant performers in the world of alternative country music, folk, and blues — Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Dwight Yoakam are among a large and varied lineup. For more information visit https://www. fairwellfestival.com/.
The number one attraction in the Redmond area is Smith Rock State Park (located just to the north in Terrebonne) — one of Oregon’s most scenic features, where crags vault to the sky along the meandering Crooked River. It’s an international destination for rock climbers — and a great place for a day hike or a family picnic. Visit smithrock.com.
Visit Redmond’s revitalizing downtown for dining and a stroll among its shops.
Venture south of Bend to Sunriver to visit the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. The Center celebrates the natural world with the Creature Cave and botanical gardens, or take the kids and visit the SHARC waterpark. Visit sunriverresort.com.
Season: Year-round (weather permitting).
Location: On Metolius River, 5 miles north of Camp Sherman Store. Access: From Sisters, 9.6 miles northwest on Hwy. 20, then 11.1 miles north on Road 14. Elevation: 2,750 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets, no water. Sites: 16, best suited to tents. Activities: Catch-and-release fishing, trails. Rates: $28-$30 per night. Reservations: recreation.gov or for additional info, call 541-323-1746.
Season: May-September (weather permitting). Location: On Metolius River, one mile north of Camp Sherman Store. Access: From Sisters, 9.6 miles northwest on Hwy. 20, then 6.1 miles north on Road 14, then one mile north on 1419. Elevation: 2,900 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets, piped drinking water. Sites: 10. Activities: Catch-and-release fishing, trails. Rates: $28 per night. Reservations: None. Info: www.recreation.gov.
Season: May-September (weather permitting). Location: Last campground on the Metolius River in Camp Sherman. Not recommended for RVs. Access: From Sisters, 12.4 miles northwest on Hwy. 20, then 12.3 miles north on Road 12 and then 1.6 miles east on Road 1200 980. Elevation: 2,700 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets; no water. Sites: 10. Activities: Catch-and-release fishing, trails. Rates: $17 per night. Reservations: Some at recreation.gov or for additional info, call 541323-1746.
Season: April-October with Camp Host. Location: City of Sisters, 504 S. Locust St. Access: From S. Locust St. and from Desperado Trail. Elevation: 3,100 feet. Facilities: Restrooms, showers, tables, and fire pits. Sites: 60 camp sites include 28 full-hookup plus non hookup, tent, and hiker/biker sites. Activities: On Whychus Creek downtown, walking, biking. Rates: $25-$55 per night based on site. Reservations: 541-323-5218 or 541-549-6022. Details: ci.sisters.or.us.
Season: May-September (weather permitting). Location: Near Suttle Lake, 16 miles west of Sisters. Access: From Sisters, 12 miles northwest on Hwy. 20, left on F.S. Road 2070, then under a mile and left on F.S. Road 2066. Elevation: 3,600 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets, piped water, tables, and fire pits. Sites: 10. Activities: Swimming (beachfront), hiking, popular group/ family meeting location. No dogs allowed at day use area adjacent to campground. Rates: $27$81 per night. Reservations: recreation.gov or for additional info, call 541-323-1746.
Season: May-September (weather permitting). Location: On Suttle Lake, 16 miles west of Sisters. Access: From Sisters, 12 miles northwest on Hwy. 20, left on F.S. Road 2070, then under a half mile to entrance on the right. Elevation: 3,400 feet. Facilities: Vault and wheelchair-friendly toilets, piped water, tables, and grills. Sites: 38. Activities: Fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking. Rates: $30 per night. Reservations: Some at www.recreation. gov or for additional info, call 541-323-1746.
Season: May-October (weather permitting). Location: On Hwy. 242 west of Sisters. Access: From Sisters, 4.2 miles west on Hwy. 242. Elevation: 3,500 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets, hand-pump drinking water. Sites: 22. Activities: Birdwatching, hiking, biking. Rates: $25 per night. Reservations: Some at www.recreation.gov or for additional info, call 541-323-1746.
Season: June-September (weather permitting). Location: On Three Creek Lake. Access: From Sisters, take Elm Street (becomes Road 16) south 16 miles (last 2.1 miles rough and rocky, not RV friendly). Elevation: 6,500 feet. Facilities: Vault toilets. Sites: 11. Activities: Fishing, non-power boating, hiking. Rates: $26 per night. Reservations: recreation.gov. or for additional info, call 541-323-1746.
Rodeo is a treasured American tradition — and Sisters keeps that tradition alive and vibrant in the 21st Century like few others. Not for nothing do they call this “The Biggest Little Show in the World.”
Staged completely by community volunteers for 85 years, the Sisters Rodeo traditionally offers the biggest purse available on the second weekend in June. That means the rodeo draws the best cowboys and
cowgirls — and the finest rodeo stock — the country has to offer.
The action at the rodeo grounds east of town kicks off on Wednesday, June 11, with Xtreme Bulls, and continues through Sunday, June 15, with all the pageantry and rousing action the sport of rodeo has to offer. The Sisters Rodeo has grown so popular that in 2025 the Rodeo Association added an extra day of performances. The 2025 Rodeo now features six
full rodeo performances. Get tickets now — all shows are expected to sell out — and book early for next year.
Not all the action is in the arena. Enjoy the Sisters Kiwanis Buckaroo Breakfast on Sunday, June 15 starting at 7 a.m., with proceeds supporting local programs. A cowboy church service is held on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. Throughout rodeo weekend, folks kick up their heels to live music at local watering holes.
There is a magical day each summer when Sisters blossoms in color, as the whole town is wrapped in over 900 quilts. That day is Saturday, July 12, the celebration of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS).
This year is a special one. It marks 50 years since Jean Wells first hung 11 quilts on her storefront in a spontaneous showing that has grown into an international phenomenon.
There will be a special ticketed 50-year retrospective event on Friday, July 11.
SOQS has become a weeklong celebration of the arts and the creative spirit.
On show day, visitors to the free, unticketed show stroll through Sisters’ quiltfestooned streets and partake of the hospitality offered by Sisters’ shops and restaurants. Hood Avenue will be closed,
making it a pedestrian park where quilt enthusiasts can explore special exhibits that enhance the experience. Some of the special exhibits are returning favorites, and there are new ones that keep the show fresh and exciting.
The quilt show is always free, but special event tickets sell out, so get them now at https:// www.soqs.org/2025events.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 • Downtown Sisters, Oregon
SPECIAL EVENT TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WWW.SOQS.ORG
A Town Covered in Quilts: A 50-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE with Jean and Valori Wells, presented by Betty Gientke Friday, July 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sisters High School
SAVE IT FOR SUNDAY! with Karen Stone Sunday, July 13 Walking Tours 9 a.m. & 1 p.m. Lecture 10 a.m. FivePine Lodge Conference Center
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is always the second Saturday in July.
SOQS is a 501(c)(3).
The Big Ponderoo music festival returns to Sisters on June 28-29 with bluegrass, altcountry, and Americana music on two stages at Village Green Park, right in the heart of town. SFF Presents, who stages this festival as well as the Sisters Folk Festival later in the year, is out to create an experience that is more intimate than the huge corporate festivals of summer. “At Big Ponderoo, we’re on a mission to bring our audience a festival reminiscent of the days before the corpo-
rate music monopoly took over — where small-town charm meets world-class live music for an unforgettable, warm, and personal festival experience,” says SFF Presents Executive Director Crista Munro. Tickets are available at http://www. aftontickets.com/BigPonderoo.
The three-decade-old Sisters Folk Festival has become a signature event for Sisters — and one of the most highly regarded events on the summer circuit for artists.
Staged all across town, the Festival is a unique experience that makes it a destination festival for the audience and artists alike. This year’s event is set for September 26-28.
Both festivals are offered by the organization SFF Presents, which stages music events throughout the year, and also offers a wide array of music and arts programming for youth and adults. For information, visit https://www.sffpresents. org.
Sisters will mark the nation’s birth with Sisters 4th Fest at Village Green Park, sponsored by Rotary Club of Sisters and Citizens4Community. A pancake breakfast, a fun run, and a car show are just a sampling of the fun, which will also include live music.
Athletes participate in running events, often tied to holidays, and artists enjoy a monthly stroll through galleries and studios on the Fourth Friday of each month.
Car lovers revel in the Glory
Daze Car Show staged by Sisters Park and Recreation District and sponsored by Rotary Club and Mid Oregon Credit Union on September 13. Classic cars line East Main Avenue and prizes go to vehicles that prove themselves special. The event fills up; register your vehicle early at https://sistersrecreationcom/ activity/glorydaze.
Sisters Harvest Faire, set for October 11-12 is a destination event. Vendors, many of whom have been coming to
Sisters for decades, offer quality handcrafted items including pottery, metal art, photography, painting, jewelry, furniture, home décor, specialty foods, and much more.
Sisters celebrates Christmas with a Holiday Palooza — a tree-lighting and parade on Saturday, November 29, that have become a family tradition for visitors and locals alike.
There’s always something happening here. Check the events calendar at www. nuggetnews.com to keep up.
SISTERS FARMERS MARKET
Sundays, June 1 through October 26.
Located at Fir Street Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local and fresh veggies, meats, fruits, honey, pickles, eggs, ice cream, artisan crafts, grains, and more! Info: www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.
4TH FRIDAY ART WALKS
March through December Stroll through downtown Sisters and enjoy beautiful art and meet various artists. Info: www.sistersartsassociation.org.
XTREME BULLS
Wednesday, June 11 | 6:30 p.m. Come see the best in bull riding at the Sisters Rodeo grounds. Ticket hotline: 800-827-7522. Contact: Sisters Rodeo Association, 541549-0121 or sistersrodeo.com.
SISTERS RODEO & PARADE
Wednesday-Sunday, June 11-June 15
Come to “The Biggest Little Show in the World”! Now in its 85th year. Six performances sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Sisters Rodeo Parade, Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m. Tickets available at sistersrodeo.com: 800-827-7522. Contact: Sisters Rodeo Association, 541-549-0121.
BIG PONDEROO
Saturday & Sunday, June 28-29
A celebration of Americana music and the arts, located at Village Green Park. Sponsor and contact: Sisters Folk Festival, 541-549-4979. Info: www.bigponderoo.com.
SISTERS 4TH FEST
Friday, July 4
A pancake breakfast, classic car show, live music from Dry Canyon Stampede, line dancing, 5 kilometer run, fire truck tours, hot dog stand, pie eating contest, lawn games, and a kids zone. Info: www.sisters4thfest.com.
SISTERS OUTDOOR
QUILT SHOW QUILT WALK
Quilts will be on display inside Sisters businesses during regular hours the month of July. Contact: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, 541-549-0989 or www.soqs.org.
QUILTER’S AFFAIR
Monday-Friday, July 7-11
Five days of virtual quilting classes, lectures, and programs. Contact: Stitchin’ Post, 541-549-6061 or stitchinpost.com/ pages/qa-home.
SISTERS OUTDOOR QUILT SHOW™
Saturday, July 12
The 50th year of the largest outdoor quilt show in the country! Contact: 541-549-0989 or www.soqs.org.
SISTERS OUTDOOR QUILT SHOW
Sunday, July 13
More quilting exhibits and special events that you can save for Sunday, at FivePine Conference Center. Contact: 541-549-0989 or www.soqs.org.
“GLORY DAZE” CAR SHOW
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cruise through Sisters! All categories, makes and models, with vendors, awards and music. Downtown on Main Avenue. Sponsor and contact: Sisters Park & Recreation District, 541-5492091 or sistersrecreation com.
SISTERS FOLK FESTIVAL
Friday-Sunday, September 26-September 28
The 28th annual celebration of Americana music from blues to bluegrass, includes performances by top folk artists and musicians. Sponsor and contact: SFF Presents, 541-549-4979 or www.sistersfolkfestival.org.
SISTERS HARVEST FAIRE
Saturday & Sunday, October 11 & 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In its 42nd year, this fair brings together over 150 juried vendors of handcrafted arts and crafts, plus food and entertainment. Located downtown on Main Avenue. Sponsor: Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, 541-549-0251 or www.sisterscountry.com.
SISTERS HOLIDAY PALOOZA & PARADE
Saturday, November 29
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Fir Street Park and Christmas parade on Hood Avenue. Sponsor: Sisters Park and Recreation District, www. sistersrecreation.com.
Black Butte Ranch: 7 miles west of Sisters on Hwy. 20. | 877-431-5738 | blackbutteranch. com | Offering outstanding dining options amidst the most spectacular views in Central Oregon. The Lodge Restaurant features Northwest cuisine and majestic views of the Cascades. The Aspen Lounge offers a scenic vista for inspired cocktails and light fare. Robert’s Pub is the perfect gathering place for families and golfers, featuring salads, burgers, and microbrews. Lakeside Bistro is the ideal spot to take in the beauty of the mountains and lake and enjoy espresso, fresh pastries, savory sandwiches, and artisan pizza. BlackButteRanch. com/dining. See ad on page 70.
HØST Supper Club: 13375 SW Forest Service Road, #1419, Camp Sherman | 541-460-6550 | opentable.com | Experience elevated Pacific Northwest dining amongst the pines of Camp Sherman, a jewel of Central Oregon. Nestled along the banks of restored Lake Creek this beautifully preserved century old lodge is perfect for small groups and couples. Locally sourced fare — from the Oregon Coast to local Sisters farms — is expertly accompanied by a curated unique Oregon-centric wine list, specialty cocktails and local award winning craft beers. Enjoy the full menu in the elegant dining room, the quaint adjacent bar or the stunning covered deck (weather permitting). Bar and dining begins at 4p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Reservations are highly recommended.
Luckey’s Woodsman Trailside Kitchen: 352 E Hood Ave Unit B. | 541-904-4450 | luckeys woodsman.com | From breakfast burritos to juicy local ranch burgers, macro bowls, and crave-worthy nachos, our menu brings a taste of the PNW outdoors — serving up good vibes, local craft beer, cider and wine. Our dietaryconscious kitchen offers a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. Open daily until 8 p.m. with an amazing tree-shaded lawn to relax
with friends or furry companions. PCT friendly, we specialize in off-grid adventure catering throughout Central Oregon, hosting events and being part of the community. Fuel your explorations with delicious, fresh fare. Follow us for more info, weekly happenings, and seasonal events at @luckeyswoodsman. See ad on page 40.
Sisters Bakery: 251 E Cascade Ave. | 541-549-0361 | sistersbakery.com. | Open since 1981, Sisters Bakery is an essential part of any Central Oregon adventure. Visit our retail bakery in downtown Sisters to get hooked on our scones, sourdough bread, pastries, and smiling faces. Shop our pantry for local salts, teas, homemade jams, and merchandise. Take the beautiful drive and spend a day in Sisters. Open 6 a.m. daily. Be seeing you soon! See ad on page 56.
Sisters Coffee Co.: 273 W. Hood Ave. | 541-549-0527 sisterscoffee.com | Sisters Coffee Co. is a family owned and operated roastery and retailer, based in Sisters since 1989. We focus on sourcing, roasting, and serving high-quality craft coffees in our café and throughout our regional wholesale program. Our cafe is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving fresh baked pastries and locally sourced food items on our breakfast and lunch menus. See ad on page 38.
Sisters Farmers Market: Located at Fir Street Park. | sistersfarmersmarket. com | Sundays, June through October from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Shop from a variety of local fresh veggies, meats, honey, fish, pickles, and more from Central Oregon farmers, ranchers, and food producers. Find the perfect gift from local artists and enjoy live music and weekly kids activities in a welcoming, community environment. The market accepts SNAP and offers a SNAP match up to $20. See ad on page 26.
Sisters Meat and Smokehouse: 110 S. Spruce St. 541-719-1186 | 308 SW Evergreen Avenue, Redmond, 458-899-5249 | sistersmeat. com | Top-quality, Oregon-first products, locally sourced when possible. Smoked on-site, meats are hormone- and antibiotic-free, and prepared by third-generation meat experts. Wild game, pork, poultry, lamb, beef, linecaught Alaskan seafood, and complementary products. Wine, cider, and craft beer on tap. Menu features exclusively Sisters Meat and Smokehouse products: meats, cheeses, sauces, sandwiches, entrées, & more. Relax on the outdoor patio, or order to-go!
Sisters Movie House & Café: 720 Desperado Ct. | 541-549-8833 | SistersMovieHouse. com | We’re more than just movies! Check out our expanded menu from our beloved Movie House Burger to flatbreads, wraps, paninis, and our “Healthical” choices, like gluten-free and veggie options, grain bowls and more. Plus four rotating beers and ciders on draft, and dozens of other beverage options, including fine wine by the glass. So come join us in the cinema, our 24-seat café or on our delightful, tree-shaded patio this summer. Sisters Movie House & Café is on the campus of FivePine Lodge, just off Hwy. 20 at the east end of town. See ad on page 65.
Sno Cap Drive In: 380 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6151 | Since 1954, a slice of Americana and a Sisters classic! Hours: See Google. (Hours subject to change.) Featuring 100% high-quality ground chuck burgers cooked the old-fashioned way, yummy fries, onion rings, chicken strip baskets, chili dogs and more, with incredible homemade ice cream and milkshakes, including soft-serve. Families have been returning for decades! See ad on page 65.
Three Creeks Brew Pub.: 721 S Desperado Ct. | 541-549-1963 | threecreeksbrewpub.com | Join us for award-winning food and beers. Since 2008, we’ve relentlessly pursued the mission of crafting beer and cuisine of uncompromising quality and consistency; proudly receiving
numerous prestigious awards, including the Great American Beer Festival’s Brewery Group of the Year honors in 2020. Offering daily specials, friendly service, and a large “dogs welcome” outdoor patio surrounded by towering pines. See ad on page 67.
The Barn in Sisters: 171 East Main St. | 541-904-4343 | thebarninsisters.com | A lively taphouse and food truck haven, where community spirit flourishes amidst art and culture. Savor dishes crafted by our famous food carts: Boone Dog Wood Fired Pizza, Bob’s Electric, Rootbound, and Carmelita’s, each offering a unique farm-to-table twist, ensuring deliciousness for every palate. Venue celebrates art in all forms, from live music to captivating local art. Thoughtful landscaping with seasonal flowers adds nature’s artistry inside and out. Enjoy an unforgettable experience where art and community unite. See ad on page 29.
Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort: On Hwy. 20, 3-1/2 miles east of Sisters | 541-549-3021 or toll-free 888-503-3588 | BendSistersGardenRV.com | Featuring RV full-hookup with 30/50-amp service, camping cabins, furnished cottages, grocery, firewood, propane, laundry, bathhouses, Wi-Fi, miniature golf, heated pool and spa, and off-leash dog park. Big rig-friendly! See ad on inside front cover.
Best Western Ponderosa Lodge: 500 Hwy. 20 West | 888-549-4321 or 541-549-1234 | bestwestern.com | Enjoy oversized lodgepole guest rooms, or deluxe suites featuring twoperson Jacuzzi tub, river-rock gas fireplace, and walk-in rain shower, all non-smoking. Seasonal outdoor pool and large covered hot tub year-round. Complimentary hot breakfast. This 14-acre tranquil setting is just a short stroll to downtown. See ad on page 9.
Continued on page 88
Black Butte Ranch: 7 miles west of Sisters on Hwy. 20. | 877-431-5738 | BlackButteRanch. com | Our 1,800 pristine acres hold something for everyone in your family, with 36 holes of championship golf, a spa, award-winning restaurants, pools, exercise facilities, biking, tennis, horseback riding, flyfishing, and more. In winter, explore by snowshoe or cross-country ski. We’re conveniently located near hiking and mountain biking opportunities and close to Hoodoo Ski Area. See ad on page 70.
FivePine Lodge & Conference Center: 1021 Desperado Trail | 541-549-5900 or 866-9745900 | fivepine.com | Romance and adventure await at FivePine’s Craftsman-style suites and luxury cabins. Rooms feature pillow-top king bed, gas fireplace, couples soaking tub, and 55-65" flat-screen TV. Guests enjoy a complimentary wine and beer reception, deluxe morning coffee and tea service, Wi-Fi, access to Sisters Athletic Club and outdoor heated pool (seasonal). Complimentary cruiser bikes. FivePine Campus features a restaurant, movie theater, luxury spa, and easy access to downtown Sisters. Rates start at $149. Meeting/event & wedding site available. See ad on page 36.
GrandStay Hotel & Suites Sisters: 1026 West Rail Way | 541-904-0967 | grandstayhospitality.com | Enjoy our new rooms with kitchens. Start your morning off with a free hot Grand Start® Breakfast. 24/7 gourmet coffee & tea available. Large indoor pool and whirlpool. Complimentary Wi-Fi. Meeting room. Outdoor patio. Grand Returns™ guest loyalty program. AAA, military, and senior rates. All non-smoking. See ad on page 51.
Lake Creek Lodge: 13375 SW Forest Service Rd. #1419, Camp Sherman | 541-588-2150 lakecreeklodge.com | Nestled into 42 acres of the Deschutes National Forest are our 22 historic and luxury cabins, all with the South Fork of Lake Creek meandering between them. Beyond our property lies the picturesque community of Camp Sherman and world-class fly fishing on the Metolius River. In addition to our two and three bedroom cabins, we offer a seasonal res-
taurant and bar, cozy lodge, outdoor fire pits, hot tub, seasonal swimming pool, indoor and outdoor event venues, stocked trout pond, easy access to hiking trails, basketball, pickleball and tennis courts. Let us help guide you to explore the Metolius Basin. See ad on page 69.
Metolius River Lodges: 12390 SW F.S. Road 1419, Camp Sherman | 541-595-6290 | metoliusriverlodges.com | $165 to $400 | Open all year. Located in the heart of the Metolius Recreation Area. Our cottages sleep 1-8 and offer the ability to be a picture window away from the clear spring-fed Metolius River. Come experience the river’s magic away from TVs and noise. Fully equipped with Wi-Fi. Most have kitchens and fireplaces. Firewood available. Walk to Hola Restaurant and the Camp Sherman Store. No pets. See ad on page 18.
Metolius River Resort: 25551 SW Forest Service Road #1419, Camp Sherman | 977-632-7007
metoliusriverresort.com | Offering an intimate resort feel and tranquility you would expect from a river cabin vacation. Nestled among the ponderosa pines and aspens are eleven architecturally award-winning cabins that are well appointed with modern amenities and décor. See ad page 67.
Sisters Inn & Suites: 605 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters | 541-549-7829 | sistersinnandsuites. com | Located at the Ray’s Food Place shopping center, close to Takoda's Restaurant, gas, bank, McDonald’s, and Dairy Queen. Comfortable beds, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, and a balcony or patio in every room. Kitchenettes are available. All rooms are non-smoking. Pets welcome with a small fee. See ad on page 13.
Sisters Vacation Rentals: 877-632-7007
sistersvacation.com | Enjoy the comfort, value, and flexibility of a vacation home in Sisters, Black Butte Ranch, Eagle Crest, and Camp Sherman. Share time and make some memories together with family and friends in an inviting gathering room or relax in the privacy of separate bedrooms. See ad on page 83.
