The Best Sections of the PCT: #3 – Central Oregon Cascades

Being from Portland, we have experienced quite a bit of the central Oregon Cascades – random hikes and backpacks around Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters. Of course I knew that they were all part of the same mountain range, but the connections and how they relate to one another was lost on our singular trips. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) offered an opportunity to experience these separate areas as one larger and continuous series of mountains, with beautiful areas in between, fostering a new-found appreciation for our local mountain range.

The string of mountains that pulled us north through central Oregon, along with their glaciers (which we hadn't seen too much before this point in the trip), meadows, and lakes ranked as my third most scenic section of the PCT.

It was a little difficult on finding the beginning point for this section. There are a lot of great areas of the PCT in Oregon, all relatively close to each other; the Sky Lakes Wilderness, Crater Lake, Mt. Thielson, Diamond Peak, etc, but there is some less spectacular country between these high points so it's not constantly spectacular. For me, the beginning of the high point of the Oregon section began at Elk Lake, just south of the Three Sisters.

The Three Sisters

The scenery quickly becomes spectacular from Elk Lake (where a nice resort with a restaurant exists), and which makes for a good beginning point for those looking to hike this section, as the trail rises to the crest of the Cascades, views of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and the South sister begin to dominate the view.

The trail stays alpine as it travels alongside each of the Three Sisters, with great views of the Mountains, frequently crossing clear streams, ponds, and meadows. Towards the northern end of the Wilderness, the landscape turns alien, as it crosses through Collier Cone's lava flow (the side trip up to the top of Collier Cone is a great diversion).

The Sisters begin to recede as the trail travels north, through lava flows and passing the quiet Matthieu Lakes, with views of the Sisters to the south. The Three Sisters Wilderness ends at highway 242, which many hikers take to resupply in Sisters and is considered by many to be one of the top trail towns along the PCT.

Mt. Washington Wilderness

The Mt. Washington Wilderness is a highly volcanic area. Its lava flows look like they oozed out of the Earth yesterday and provides the most striking volcanic landscape of the entire PCT. The hike up to Belknap Crater is stunning – a barren landscape of chunky lava – a landscape of odd sculptures.

The trail then quickly arrives at the foot of Mt. Washington. While a small peak, there were some unexpectedly beautiful areas on the western flanks of the peak, with nice meadows and views to the sharp summit of the mountain.

Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

The PCT rises along the flanks of Three Fingered Jack, which, along it's western side, rises like a smooth wall from the trail. The PCT works its way to the northern ridge of the mountain and descends towards Minto Pass, where several nice lakes dot the landscape (this area was unfortunately scarred from a recent forest fire). The trail then rises to above 6,000 feet, offering great views of the surrounding landscape and the approaching Mt. Jefferson.

The PCT works its way to the northern flanks of Mt. Jefferson, reaching the spectacular Jefferson Park, an incredibly flat meadow, dotted with lakes and the glaciated peak of Mt. Jefferson rising sharply from it's southern edge.

The trail crosses Jefferson Park Ridge before slowly dropping to breitenbush Lake, and the end of this spectacular section.

The singular peaks of the Oregon successfully pulled us ever-northward, and in comparison with some of the other sections which would rise and fall by thousands of feet daily, the Oregon section stayed fairly level. Because of the beautiful and dynamic scenery, as well as the wonderfully easy hiking conditions, the Central Oregon Cascades stand out as a great stretch of trail that would be perfect for those looking to experience a piece of the PCT.