It’s impossible to mention the city of Sisters, Oregon, without acknowledging its Old West stylings—and the way those flourishes capture the imagination of visitors from around the world. Public bathrooms, after all, are labeled as being for “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls”. Frontier architecture brings wooden sidewalks and false-front facades to the sides of modern buildings. And more than a few businesses around town sport swinging saloon doors that usher visitors out of Central Oregon and into the community’s storied past.
Of course, Sisters—which sits 24 miles northwest of Bend—isn’t just its architecture and affinity for Old West towns. Today, it’s a year-round base camp for outdoor adventure in the Cascade Range and the Three Sisters Wilderness, a destination for art enthusiasts, a playground for families, a relaxing place to unwind over fresh fare and local craft beer, and so much more.
As you consider a trip to see what all the city has to offer, we brought together five great reasons you should consider visiting Sisters, Oregon:
Abundance of Scenic Views & Outdoor Activities
Sisters sits at the foot of the Cascade mountains, in the midst of a massive ponderosa pine forest, and along the banks of Whychus Creek. It’s no surprise, then, that the community is a popular home base for outdoor adventures.
In summer, the McKenzie Highway (Oregon Route 242) takes drivers and cyclists directly from Sisters into the heart of the Cascades—where miles-long lava flows, the rugged Dee Wright Observatory, quiet campgrounds, and sweeping viewpoints await; the highway is usually open for a scenic drive between late June and late October, and most trails that begin along the highway are snow-free by mid-July.
Just 15 miles northwest of Sisters, Suttle Lake hosts a peaceful hiking trail, boat rentals and overnight stays at The Suttle Lodge, a few campgrounds, and other outdoor attractions. The lake, surrounded by a forest of fir and maple, is busiest in summer—but fall foliage displays and migratory bird sightings make fall a pleasant time to visit the alpine lake.
By winter, Hoodoo Ski Area transforms into a winter wonderland at the summit of Santiam Pass—complete with 800 skiable acres, nearly a dozen beginner-friendly runs, the region’s only night skiing opportunities and a mammoth tubing park. For more on the ski area’s past, present, and fun-loving culture, learn all about Hoodoo Ski Area near Sisters.
Between spring and fall, mountain bikers love riding more than a dozen miles of paths across the Peterson Ridge Trails system—featuring a mix of (mostly flat) single-track trails and U.S. Forest Service roads. Best of all: The network’s northernmost point is just south of downtown, so it’s possible to leave your campsite or hotel room and be on the trail within just a few minutes.
Small Western Town Vibes
Of course, there’s plenty to appreciate without ever leaving city limits. Sisters is beloved for the small-town charm it evokes through an Old West influence that appears on just about every building in town.
Even so, Sisters’ history is as a timber town, not a Wild West outpost.
In the mid-1860s, the first local European-American settlement was Camp Polk—a small military encampment along Whychus Creek. Camp Polk was quickly abandoned, and subsequent emigrants moved to the community’s modern-day town site; there, they established the city of Sisters—initially as a trading post for local sheep herders and later as a prolific contributor to Central Oregon’s burgeoning timber industry. In the early 1900s, the pine forests around Sisters were harvested and processed at several local sawmills.
The demise of the local lumber industry led to the closure of the community’s last mill in the 1960s—and in 1970, Black Butte Ranch welcomed its first guests and forever changed Sisters’ fortunes. The new resort, offering vacation homes and rentals less than nine miles from Sisters, brought eager visitors to town—kicking off a tourism-driven boom that continues more than 50 years later. Soon after Black Butte Ranch opened, Sisters sought to capitalize on the flurry of new visitors by adopting a building code that required buildings to look like 1880s-era storefronts; today, the community of 3,000 is a modern Wild West town with period-appropriate architecture and plenty of rural charm.
Get a feel for that small-town vibe when you visit Sisters, Oregon, for Western adventure.
Annual Festivals & Events
Several family-friendly festivals draw visitors from near and far every year—many of which are steeped in decades of history and tradition.
Perhaps the community’s biggest annual event is the Sisters Rodeo, which has been going strong since 1940 and has been nicknamed the “Biggest Little Show in the World”. Today, the rodeo—one of the top things to do in Sisters, Oregon—takes place the second weekend in June and features a variety of old-school attractions. Those include a parade through the heart of town, bull riding, steer wrestling, bronc riding, and other classic rodeo events. If you’d like to catch all the action, try booking your hotel early—at least six months out, if possible—and get started with our guide to planning your vacation in Sisters.
Part of what makes Sisters so special is its close proximity to family farmers and local growers who bring their wares to the Sisters Farmers Market between June and October each year. In all, roughly 50 season-long vendors sell a wide range of goods—including fresh produce, locally sourced meats, baked goods, packaged beverages, fresh-cut flowers, and even treats for your four-legged friends.
In mid-July, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show takes over town with displays of more than 1,000 quilts on the sides of local buildings, as well as an annual fundraiser and a walking tour with one of the festival’s featured artists. The free celebration of fiber arts routinely draws thousands to Sisters—and always enchants with creative, colorful designs.
In late September, the town bids farewell to summer with a rocking good time. The Sisters Folk Festival spotlights more than 30 performers spanning a variety of genres—including bluegrass, country, rock, jazz, and (of course) folk—on seven stages around town. Artist talks and workshops round out the festival’s eclectic offerings.
Local Culture in Downtown Sisters
When you visit Sisters, Oregon, you’ll find plenty of arts and culture around the city’s downtown core.
First and foremost: Nearly a dozen art galleries in Sisters display all manner of work by local, regional, and national artists. In addition to rotating exhibits, some of the galleries sell art supplies, host studios, and offer other fun attractions to make art accessible for a wide variety of audiences.
While visiting, you can also learn about Sisters, Oregon, history at the Three Sisters Historical Society & Museum—housed in an old library building. There, you can dive into the past while browsing a collection of photos, documents, and artifacts.
You’ll also find plenty of appetizing eateries around town—many of which source fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. You’ll find down-home breakfast fare, modern takes on old-school Western cuisine, classic Mexican dishes, and even Himalayan meals at some of the top restaurants in Sisters, Oregon.
Year-Round Fun
Sisters, Oregon, attractions shine in all four seasons, making the city a year-round destination that offers something new with every visit.
In winter, the city is an outstanding home base for skiers and snowboarders at nearby Hoodoo Ski Area, which sits just 22 miles northwest of town. After a day on the slopes, you’ll find plenty of seating at family-run restaurants around Sisters and can keep warm around crackling fire pits.
With snow in the mountains and warming temperatures around town, spring makes an idyllic time to go mountain biking around Sisters, hike the West Metolius River Trail in nearby Camp Sherman, and savor fresh fare at local eateries as growers supply restaurants with the season’s first crops.
Summer brings warm weather, snow-free trails, vibrant fairs and festivals, and other fun events to Sisters. The community is never busier than on summer weekends, so give yourself plenty of time while traveling through (and around) Sisters. If possible, book campsites and hotels four to six months out, especially on festival weekends, for the best selection of overnight stays.
By fall, the community returns to a quieter state. Take time to enjoy foliage displays along local trails, peruse the selection at local shops, visit art galleries run by passionate locals, and admire the season’s first snowfall in the Three Sisters Mountains.
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