Sisters sits at the foot of the Cascade Range, surrounded by cinnamon-hued forests of ponderosa pine and in the shadow of the Three Sisters mountain peaks. Buildings all over Sisters are constructed to resemble the Old West, but the town’s charm extends to restaurants, watering holes, and boutiques throughout town. Here’s a sampling of what to expect on your next visit: Local Dining, Libations, Vintage Shopping, Camping in Sisters, Hiking, and Skiing, Tubing, and Other Winter Activities. Keep reading for our round-up of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon.
Table of Contents
Keep reading for our round-up of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon.
Skiing, Tubing, and Other Winter Activities
Roughly 22 miles northwest of Sisters, in the heart of the Cascades, Hoodoo Ski Area is ground zero for nearby winter recreation. Usually open between December and April, Hoodoo hosts 34 runs across more than 800 acres of terrain off a rounded butte—and has been a community institution since opening in 1938. Runs challenge skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, with deep powder and groomed runs alike.
In addition to a mix of beginner, intermediate, and expert runs, Hoodoo hosts the Autobahn Tubing Park (where kids of all ages can ride inner tubes down the fast-moving slopes), the region’s only night skiing (with 23 runs operating until 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays), and a variety of Nordic skiing trails.
Local Dining
Whatever you’re craving, Sisters has you covered—from classic burgers to classy dining experiences. Best of all: They’re usually run by creative chefs who use local ingredients to craft one-of-a-kind dishes. Here’s a sampling of a few favorite restaurants in Sisters, Oregon.
The Open Door
The Open Door prides itself on dishing elevated comfort fare—think halibut, pasta, and pork chops—with a menu that changes often to reflect what’s fresh and in season. Find the perfect pairing on an extensive wine list, and make time to peruse the on-site art gallery.
Famille
Famille is one of the newest restaurants in Sisters—and among the most stylish. Its elegant menu boasts influences from around the world, all while using fresh ingredients whenever possible; highlights include perfectly cooked steaks, seafood, poke-inspired appetizers, and frog legs with a cornmeal crust.
Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill
The down-home Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill sits in the heart of downtown, dishing a classic take on Western fare, and is one of the most popular restaurants in Sisters, Oregon. Choose among burgers crafted with local beef, steaks from Pacific Northwest producers, fresh salads made with Central Oregon ingredients, and more—all in a family-friendly space that looks like an old-school saloon.
Sno Cap Drive In
The old-school Sno Cap Drive In has been a Sisters staple since 1954 and is beloved, more than 70 years later, for its classic burgers, housemade ice cream, and hearty milkshakes. Noshing on a towering, post-hike ice cream cone, in fact, is one of the best things to do in Sisters, Oregon.
Ski Inn Taphouse and Hotel
Ski Inn Taphouse and Hotel is already a popular stop, thanks to its airy overnight stays in downtown. But an on-site taphouse makes it one of the top restaurants in Sisters, Oregon. The casual eatery dishes a wide-ranging lineup of appetizing comfort fare—including creative burgers and sandwiches, seasonal soups, filling entrees, and house-smoked meats.
Luckey’s Woodsman
Luckey’s Woodsman brings outdoor influences to every item on its camp-inspired food menu—with plenty of dishes to take to the trailhead or back to your campsite. Choose among wraps and breakfast burritos, burgers crafted with beef grown in nearby Tumalo, and a variety of casual snacks—including a heaping pile of nachos with perfectly crispy carnitas. Luckey’s camper kits, meanwhile, are designed to be heated up over a campfire or portable stove.
Libations
Craft beverage producers dot the Central Oregon landscape, and you’ll find their work on tap lists, wine lists, and cocktail menus all over Sisters. Here’s where to get a quality drink around Sisters.
The Barn in Sisters
The Barn in Sisters is a sprawling food-cart pod and one of the most fun restaurants in Sisters, Oregon—complete with four food carts, plenty of outdoor seating, and an on-site kitchen that sources many of its ingredients from nearby producers. Whatever you eat, it all goes well with a drinks selection that encompasses local craft beer, creative cocktails, wines from around the world, and several zero-proof offerings.
Le Bar
Le Bar resides inside Famille and offers a fascinating, wide-ranging drinks menu day and night. By day, Le Bar is a charming coffee bar that pairs its caffeinated drinks with fresh-baked pastries and light bites. As the evening approaches, Le Bar transforms into a stylish lounge with inventive cocktails, refined wines, and an extensive selection of aged spirits. If you’re making it a fun night out, pair your visit to Le Bar with a stop at one of the many exciting events in Sisters.
The Three Creeks Brew Pub
At the eastern edge of Sisters, a visit to the Three Creeks Brew Pub has long been one of the most fun things to do in Sisters, Oregon. Today, the veteran pub serves its tried-and-true ales and lagers, as well as pub food that includes pizzas, tacos, burgers, and more. The interior feels like the world’s most fun log cabin, with Western-inspired knick-knacks lining the walls, and the patio area hosts a cozy fire pit.
High Camp Taphouse
The locally owned, nationally celebrated High Camp Taphouse is a wildly popular stop that specializes in Himalayan cuisine. Take your pick of sandwiches with meats that are marinated in Himalayan herbs and spices, Tibetan dumplings (called momos), curry dishes, stir-fried noodles, and more.
Vintage Shopping
You’ll find plenty of vintage stores in Sisters that sell locally designed clothing, antiques, and other must-have items. Here’s where to start your next trip when shopping in Sisters, Oregon.
Crazy like a Fox Vintage
Old-school apparel takes center stage at Crazy like a Fox Vintage. The tastefully designed shop sells a wide variety of apparel, works of art, high-quality accessories, Western-inspired furniture, and other curated finds.
Painted Lady Antiques
Just across the street from Crazy Like a Fox is Painted Lady Antiques. In addition to antiques, the Western-inspired shop sells custom-built furniture, apparel, yard art, and seasonal trinkets—with much of the selection suited to a farmhouse or country home.
Big Chief Vintage
You’ll find a variety of vintage stores in Sisters, but few capture the community’s Wild West ethos quite like Big Chief Vintage. The shop delivers a curated selection of Western items for anyone shopping in Sisters, Oregon. The selection will no doubt vary from visit to visit—but may include antique motorcycles, vintage clothing, Western wear, artwork, fun T-shirts, boots, and more.
Lonesome Water Books
Lonesome Water Books is a local institution in Sisters, having sold new and used titles for more than 40 years (and counting). Beyond your next favorite book, the shop sells vintage buttons, antique maps, art prints, and other fun items.
Kalamazoo’s Antique Mall
You need to enter Lonesome Water Books through Kalamazoo’s Antique Mall, so why not spend some time perusing its always-changing selection? Kalamazoo’s sells an eclectic lineup of vintage dinnerware, all manner of trinkets, seasonal decor, toys, and other fun items—making the mall a must-stop for anyone shopping in Sisters, Oregon.
Camping in Sisters
With so much to see and do, pitch a tent, park your RV, and spend a night or two in and around Sisters. Here are a few popular Sisters, Oregon, camping options for your next overnight stay.
Sisters Creekside Campground
Sisters, Oregon, camping doesn’t get much more central than this: Creekside Campground, home to 60 campsites (nearly 30 of which are full-hookup), sits within city limits and just a short walk from downtown. Sites come with a fire pit and picnic table, and restrooms and shower facilities are available to guests. Note that the campground is open April-October—and that seasonal fire regulations mean you may not get to start a campfire.
Suttle Lake Campsites
Roughly 15 miles northwest of Sisters is Suttle Lake, which sits surrounded by a thick forest of fir and pine, Suttle Lodge, and a trio of campgrounds on the south side of the reservoir. The appropriately named South Shore Campground hosts nearly 40 nonelectric sites and a boat ramp, Blue Bay Campground is home to nearly two-dozen tent and RV sites (with no hookups), and Link Creek Campground offers tent and RV sites (without hookups), as well as yurts (which come with electricity and are available year-round). That beautiful location makes Suttle Lake an excellent choice when camping near Sisters, Oregon.
Note that sites can fill up fast, especially on summer weekends, so try snagging your site close to when the booking window opens six months in advance. For a quieter stay, consider a shoulder-season trip in May, early June, late September, or early October. The campgrounds are all largely closed between November and April.
Scott Lake
The compact Scott Lake Campground sits in the heart of the Cascades, alongside OR 242 (McKenzie Highway), and is usually open July-October—depending on the season’s snowfall. The campground’s basic sites, available on a first-come, first-served basis, sit near numerous hiking trails that head through alpine forests and to rushing waterfalls. A visit in late September or October is ideal for solitude and a (mostly) mosquito-free experience—and its remote location makes the campground ideal for stargazing on clear evenings.
Note that access depends on when the McKenzie Highway is open (usually mid-June through October); check conditions before heading out to ensure the highway is accessible.
Three Creek Lake
Some 15 miles south of Sisters, unplug at the cozy Three Creek Lake Campground, open mid-June through September. The Sisters, Oregon, camping outpost hosts 11 sites on the shore of its namesake reservoir and at the base of Tam McArthur Rim, as well as a boat ramp for kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other non-motorized craft. Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow trout and brook trout all summer long. Note that you may need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for many of the hikes nearby.
Hiking
Enjoy epic mountain views, glacial lakes, and other natural wonders along hiking trails near Sisters. Here are a few favorite trails, along with what to know before lacing up your boots and enjoying one of the most fun things to do in Sisters, Oregon.
Before heading out, please follow the seven Leave No Trace principles so you can preserve and protect Central Oregon for
future generations of visitors.
Tam McArthur Rim Trail
The five-mile (round-trip) Tam McArthur Rim Trail is one of the iconic hikes in all of Central Oregon. You’ll gain 1,200 feet while ascending to the sweeping summit of Tam McArthur Rim. Along the way, you’ll walk past a famous fragment of the Bend Glacier, as well as the bright teal No Name Lake. This trail is dog-friendly but is not usually snow-free until August. You’ll need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit between mid-June and mid-October.
Whychus Creek Overlook Trail
Just five miles south of Sisters, the Whychus Creek Overlook Trail delivers big views for minimal effort. The highlight of the one-mile (round-trip) loop is an overlook that affords wide-open views of the Three Sisters mountains, as well as the Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River below.
The South Trail, made up of packed gravel, is wheelchair-accessible and offers an easy out-and-back experience between the trailhead and overlook platform. The North Trail, meanwhile, ascends through a forest of ponderosa pine and delivers additional Cascade peak views. Together, both trails form a loop.
Obsidian Trail
High in the Cascade Range, along the McKenzie Highway, the Obsidian Trail takes hikers through a sampling of the many landscapes that make Central Oregon so beautiful. In all, the dog-friendly trail measures 11.5 miles (round-trip) with more than 2,100 feet of elevation gain; the hike can be done as one long day trip or, most commonly, as a one-night backpacking adventure. It passes through old-growth forests, wildflower blooms, a recovering burn scar, lava flows, and more; all the while, views of Mount Washington, the Three Sisters, Three Fingered Jack, and other Cascade Range peaks loom overhead.
The trail is generally snow-free by mid-July, and hikers need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit between mid-June and mid-October.
Suttle Lake Loop
When camping near Sisters, Oregon, the Suttle Lake Loop Trail offers a pleasant experience between spring and fall—and is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Sisters, Oregon. The loop trail totals 3.2 miles, with an elevation gain of about 50 feet—most of which comes via rolling hills, rather than sustained inclines. It’s pet-friendly, as well, and your pooch will enjoy playing fetch in Suttle Lake’s chilly waters.
Afterward, grab a snack and a cold beverage at the Suttle Lodge, whose seasonal boathouse doubles as a lounge; food and drink year-round are available year-round in the lodge. The thoughtful snacks and regionally inspired cuisine make it clear why the lodge is among the best restaurants in Sisters, Oregon.
If you’d rather not camp, you’ll find plenty of hotels, motels, lavish resorts, and more nearby. Get the skinny with our guide to places to stay in Sisters.
