Sisters

Sisters is a city of 2,800 people (2018) in Central Oregon. It is the headquarters of the Sisters District of the Deschutes National Forest. Hiking, biking and horse riding trails go from the city limits into the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Understand
Sisters (pop. 2,040) is named for the Three Sisters, a group which comprises three of the five tallest mountains in the state. The three volcanic peaks, North Sister ("Faith"), Middle Sister ("Hope") and South Sister ("Charity"), are located in the Three Sisters Wilderness about south of town.

By plane

 * Redmond Municipal Airport a short drive from Sisters and is served by three air carriers; Delta Air Lines, Horizon Air, and United Express with daily direct flights to Portland, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

Get around

 * Cycle: On several scenic highways which cross mountain passes from the Eugene and Salem area and lead to Redmond and Bend, the immediate Sisters area is relatively flat in a mountainous area, making for easy local cycling when there is no snow on the ground. A bicycle or walking is perhaps the only reasonable way to travel during the rodeo and other tourist festivals when the out-of-town auto traffic effectively blocks the roads through town. Its mountain biking trails, include the Peterson Ridge Trail and Suttle Lake trails.

Do

 * Camping- Feeling like camping? Well in the Deschutes National Forest there are countless places that you could camp. In Camp Sherman you could camp along the Metolius River, just stop at the Camp Sherman Store and they can tell you all the great places to either park your RV or pitch a tent. Plus if you are in to backpacking some great places you could hike to, would include South Sister, plus the Pacific Crest Trail isn't too far away either.
 * Fishing - There are two ways that you can fish, one being fly fishing: On the Metolius which on the upper part is only fly fishing and catch and release, this river is one of the more challenging rivers in Central Oregon because of the forested river banks and quick moving currents. The Metolius is also a guide-free river, so don't plan on hiring one to show you the secrets. Another great river to fly fish is the Deschutes River, you will have to venture further than Sisters to find it. Area attractions, like Long Hollow Ranch, are renowned for the abundant Rainbow Trout and Large Mouth Bass available in their ponds and streams.
 * Golfing - There are a couple of places to golf in Sisters. Black Butte Ranch offers two courses. Also just outside Sisters heading toward Redmond is the Aspen Lakes golf course. These course offer some Central Oregon's greatest views and also a few challenges as well.
 * Shopping - There is a variety of independent shops in the downtown core of Sisters.
 * Horseback Riding – A great opportunity to tap into Sisters’ Old West roots, guest ranches in the area, such as Long Hollow Ranch, offer excellent horseback riding experiences for visitors – allowing them to explore Sisters’ scenic byways the western way.
 * Stargazing - Sisters, enclosed by mountains, has a dark skies ordinance, so light pollution is controlled, creating the perfect conditions just outside of town to be shocked by the bright band of light known as the Milky Way crossing the sky. On a moonless night, the velvet black sky is packed with a visible star density almost unheard of within walking or bicycle distance from a town with several overnight accommodations.

Buy
Sisters has stores ranging from Quilting to year round Christmas supplies. Sisters also has a fly shop for your fishing needs, a general market and a larger mainline market.


 * Alpaca by Design 140 W. Cascade Ave., 10:30AM-5PM. One of the largest shops in the West dedicated to selling clothing and accessories made from alpacas and other natural-fiber animals. They have local as well as Peruvian-made items.

Eat
If you are feeling casual, Sisters offers many restaurants in their Western Themed downtown that would satisfy your appetite. Sisters offers restaurants from Asian to Mexican and a multitude in between. Also not to far away and a beautiful spot to have a bite of lunch, the Camp Sherman store has delightful little deli and the chance to relax along the Metolius River.