Central Oregon Viewpoints: The Ultimate List of Epic Hikes

Central Oregon is filled with mountain views, but seeing them up close from a viewpoint is hard to pass up. There are countless trails and summit hikes throughout the area. I’m going to share what I consider to be the top central Oregon viewpoints. These trails all have up close views of the Cascade range where you can see Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, South, Middle and North Sister, Mt. Washington, Three Fingered Jack or Mt. Hood in the distance. Talk about some views to take in!

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Things to Know About These Oregon Viewpoints

• Hiking on a mountain or at higher elevations comes with greater risk, but knowing dangers and when to go will help you stay safe. Always check the weather forecast prior to hiking. This area is known to have large thunderstorms in the summer months and you do not want to get stuck in one, exposed on a summit.

• Summer is the best time to do these hikes but it also fire season. Every year, Central Oregon sees worse and worse forest fires, causing the area to fill with smoke. There are many days where it’s not even safe to go outside let alone try and hike. These views can be obscured by the fire smoke. Unfortunately there is no way to predict when this will happen, but you can check here for up to date air quality.

• Always practice Leave No Trace, especially in a fragile mountain terrain. Pack out all your trash, stay on trail to minimize your footprint and properly bury or carry out all human waste.

• You will need a Northwest Forest pass for all of these trailheads and a sno-park pass in the winter months. Not all trailheads have pay boxes, so plan ahead by purchasing a year pass or buying a day pass ahead of time to print and bring with you.

• As of April 2021, you will need a Central Cascade Wilderness permits for day hiking and backpacking in Central Oregon. Only two of the trails below require a permit. At 7AM PDT, a handful of permits are give out 10 days prior to the desired hiking date and the rest are given out 2 days in advance. You can go to Recreation.gov and reserve a day hiking or backpacking permit (these go live April 5th). Be aware that a popular hike like this will have permits completely gone within minutes of the 7am release.

Central Oregon Viewpoints Location

As I’m sure you can guess from the title of this post, these hikes are located in Central Oregon, which is in the center of the state. The Cascade Mountain range sits to the west and the high desert for miles to the east. The main town people visit and stay in is Bend, which has amazing restaurants, breweries and accommodations. All of these hikes are an hour or less from town.

Best Time of Year to Hike to These Oregon Viewpoints

Central Oregon is an outdoor playground paradise all year! Some of these trails will be inaccessible in winter months unless you have winter backcountry experience. Two of the hikes will be hikable with snowshoes or microspikes in winter. If you want to see them all, summer and fall are the best time for summit views because the snow has melted.

Central Oregon Viewpoints Trail Info

One of the reasons I love these hikes is because of the endless mountain views. I have done all of these hikes multiple times because I love them so much. They truly never get old and I can’t wait to share them with you!

South Sister

Let’s start with the queen of all viewpoint hikes! This hike is not for the faint of heart, but it is hands down the most amazing view in town. This trail starts in the tree line for the first 1.7 miles before popping you out and being completely exposed to the elements. The average hike time online is listed at 10 hours. I am a fast hiker and made it in exactly 8 hours with about 45 minutes at the summit.

I would recommend starting early, like really early for this hike. A majority of day hikers begin between 3-5am, but sunrise summit hikes should start even earlier. You can also backpack up to Moraine Lake with an overnight permit. In the summer months, you will be exposed to the sun and it will get hot quickly. Please remember it’s a mountain and the weather can change quickly.

You should always pack plenty of food, water and extra clothes. It may be warm hiking up, but the summit could be extremely windy and cold so you will want to have layers. Always hike with the 10 essential. When I did this hike, I had gloves, a down jacket and a beanie packed and wished I had packed more warm clothes than I did.

If you aren’t an experienced mountaineer, I would suggest waiting until at least mid-July to make the summit to allow ample time for the snow to melt. You will still most likely walk through some snow at the summit, but without proper gear, you do not want to summit in the snow.

There are only outhouses at the Devil’s Lake parking lot/trailhead, so if you need to go to the bathroom on this hike, you will need to practice Leave No Trace. This means walking 100-200ft off trail, digging a hole 6-8” deep and making sure to pack out your paper products. This area is an extremely sensitive ecosystem, so please do not step off the trail unless it is to use the bathroom.

The only water sources on this trail are at Moraine Lake and Lewis Tarn. You should pack a water filter to resupply on trail. Moraine Lake will require you hike down to it, adding around a mile round trip. Unless you are backpacking, it’s probably not worth the extra mileage just to filter water, so I would pack at least 2-3 liters to get you to Lewis Tarn.

When I hiked, I didn’t pack a water filter because I wasn’t hiking with one at that time like I should have been. I never ran out of my 3 liters, but if I ever do it again I would bring a filter. I was off the mountain by noon, so the heat never got to me, requiring more water intake than normal.

Once you make it to the summit of South Sister, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of her neighboring mountains Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, Middle and North Sister. You can also see mountains all the way north into Washington from her summit if it’s a clear day! This is the most difficult of the viewpoints but one I will do over and over again.

Learn more about this hike on AllTrails.

Tam McArthur Rim Trail

Tam McArthur has been one of my favorite Central Oregon trails for years. The trail starts at Three Creeks Lake, just south of Sisters, Oregon. I love to camp at the lake, especially since the trailhead fills up quickly because of backpackers, day hikers and boaters all using the same area. This trail is 5.3 miles round trip with 1,246 feet in elevation gain. The first half of the trail has some shade as it meanders in and out of the tree line. The last half of the trail is fully exposed. Once you reach the ridge, you will have stunning views of the Sisters mountains and the lakes below.

If you are a more advanced hiker, you can continue on from the rim down an unmaintained trail mostly used by backpackers and trail runners to reach Broken Top and No Name Lake. If you choose to continue down the unmaintained trail you will be adding 3-4 miles each direction, but it’s an amazing backpacking trail. You can learn more about the hike to No Name Lake here.

Learn more about this hike on AllTrails.

Black Butte

This hike is another Central Oregon must if you want amazing mountain views. There are two hiking options for this hike. The first is 9.8 miles and 3,389 ft in elevation gain starting at the base of the butte. If you are wanting amazing views with a shorter hike or just don’t have the time, there is a road that takes you up the butte to a second trailhead, which I’m sharing about.

The trail will begin in the tree line but quickly pops out where you will be fully exposed, so bring a hat and wear your sunscreen. The trail is narrow so be sure to find a safe place to step to the side if you need to let others pass you. You don’t want to be stepping on the fragile plants.

Once you reach the summit, you will see a large fire lookout tower as well as a old fire lookout house farther past. Be sure not to climb on or go near the tower as it is a working lookout and should not be trespassed. The view is actually better if you keep walking to the smaller lookout house. From the summit, you will be able to see everything from Mt. Bachelor to Mt. Hood. It is an amazing spot to watch a summer sunrise or sunset.

In the winter, this trail will have a lot of snow. The road also doesn’t get any sun to melt the snow so it can become a sheet of ice and not safe to drive. The road to the trailhead is open year-round but it is highly recommended taking a high clearance 4×4. I have hiked it with just microspikes when the snowpack wasn’t deep, but if there’s a lot of fresh snow you will want snowshoes.

Learn more about this hike on AllTrails.

Tumalo Mountain

This is a steep, but short hike located directly across from Mt. Bachelor. The trail starts at Dutchman Flat Snowpark, which is a very small and usually crowded parking lot. It can fill up quickly, so be prepared to either go early or wait for other hikers to leave. When you leave the parking lot, there will be a forest road you want to cross to the trailhead. Do not continue down the road because it is not the trail. There will be signs marking the trail, so make sure you look for those signs off the road on the left. Having a downloaded map will help you find the trail as well.

The trail has beautiful views of Mt. Bachelor as you work your way to the summit. When you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of Broken Top, the Three Sisters and Central Oregon. This is one of my favorite hikes in the winter as well. The trees get an icy layer that makes them look other-worldly at that elevation.

Learn more about this hike on AllTrails.

Paulina Peak

You can technically drive to the top of this one, but there is also a trail you can take. This area is full of amazing landscapes and a must-see. Besides the peak, there is a waterfall, obsidian lava flow, two lakes and even a hot spring all within a few miles of each other!

Paulina Peak is a must-see summit though because it gives you sweeping views of the forest, lava flow and lakes below. If you decided to drive to the summit and not hike it the road is unpaved, but doable with a low clearance car. From the summit, there are a few short trails you can explore to change up the view.

Learn more about this hike on AllTrails.

What to Bring

Below is a list of gear you should bring with you on these hikes. Hiking in alpine terrain exposes you to the elements and you need ot be prepared to encounter anything.

Layers

You should always pack warm layers when you’re doing a summit/higher elevation hike. Even in the summer the winds can pick up and the weather can change quickly. Below is a list of clothing layers you’ll want to help you stay warm:

• Down jacket
• Fleece
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Wind Breaker

Hiking Shoes

Always wear proper shoes when hiking. This means trail runners or hiking boots because they will provide the best traction over rocks and loose terrain. Sandals and tennis shoes are not great footwear for the trail.

Water and Electrolytes

It’s so important to stay hydrated hiking, no matter the time of the year. Plan to have one liter of water per 2 hours of hiking. I also bring electrolyte snacks on every hike I go on. I like using my bladder to make sure I’m consuming enough water since it’s easier to drink from. A large water bottle is a great option if you don’t like bladders. I always carry my water filter with me so I can resupply my water as needed. 

Sun Protection

Preventing sun stroke and sunburns is important, so bring and use proper sun protection. I always pack sunscreen to reapply throughout the hike as needed. Bring a hat to help keep the sun off your face and neck. Wearing a sun shirt to help protect skin from harmful UV rays will help prevent sunburns and heat stroke. Even on a cloudy day you can get a sunburn so always be prepared.

Toilet Kit

Be prepared with a bathroom kit, which you should have on any hike. I always bring my reusable pee cloth when I’m hiking to reduce waste and keep my pack lighter by not needing to carry things like toilet paper and extra bags to throw it away. Another must have is a lightweight trowel to dig a cat hole. If you do bring toilet paper or any other disposable product, remember to always pack it out and dispose of it properly off trail. Never leave toilet product on trail and always bury your poop in a cat hole. Other items I keep in my toiletry kit: Extra compostable bags and hand sanitizer.

Technology

If you have the means, it’s so important to carry a satellite communications device with you into the backcountry. This will allow you to get ahold of emergency services should you need it but also communicate with friends or family off trail. I also use a Garmin watch to track mileage and elevation on the trail so I can properly determine where I am on the hike.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles will be extremely helpful on these hikes if you want to save your knees from the constant downhill stepping. They are also great for helping keep you balanced on uneven terrain and the slick mud. I always carry poles in my pack and find my knees hurt less when I use them. I love my collapsible Black Diamond poles because they are so compact in my backpack.

The 10 Essentials

No matter the length of difficulty of a hike, you should always carry a backpack with the 10 essentials. You can learn more about these item in my “The 10 Essentials” guide. This hike is a more difficult hike and if there were an emergency and you had to get help on trail you will want to have these items on hand. In addition, you can always help a fellow hiker in need.

Backpack

Every person hiking should always have their own backpack with water and supplies. Never rely on someone else to carry your gear because if there is an emergency everyone should be individually prepared. I like to use one between 25-28L so I have plenty of room for food and layers. I have the Gregory Jade 28 and the REI Trail 25.

Reminders

• Know your limits and be okay with turning around, especially if you are hiking in summer months when it’s hot. Hiking in Central Oregon is beautiful, but it’s still the desert. If you’re showing signs of heat exhaustion, get back to your car asap and cool off. 

• Always plan ahead and know what the current trail and weather conditions are. You do not want to be on trail unprepared or get stuck in a bad storm.

• Always practice Leave No Trace, especially in a fragile mountain terrain. Pack out all your trash, stay on trail to minimize your footprint and properly bury or carry out all human waste.

• Know what passes and permits you need for each trail and have them with you for the hike. Rangers will ask to see proof of a permit on trails that require it. If you do not have a Forest Pass displayed in your car, you could receive a ticket.

I hope this guide helps you with your adventure to these epic central Oregon viewpoints! Central Oregon is my home and an absolutely amazing place to spend a few days exploring, eating and relaxing by the lakes. Mountain views are waiting for you, will you answer? If you have any further questions or want to share your experience after, please leave a comment below!

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Other Central Oregon Guides

Best Winter Hikes in Central Oregon

Broken Top and No Name Lake: The Best Oregon Trail

The Ultimate Guide to Oregon’s Beautiful Smith Rock State Park

A Complete Guide to The Best Lake’s In Central Oregon