Outdoors in Sisters
Sisters sits at the edge of Deschutes National Forest, which the Forest Service says covers about 1.6 million acres in Central Oregon. The Sisters Country site says the area includes the town, Camp Sherman and Suttle Lake, with access to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Three Sisters Wilderness
The Three Sisters Wilderness is managed with use limits, along with the Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington wildernesses, under the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit system. In the 2025 season the forest said an overnight permit was needed for every trip from June 15 to October 15, reserved through Recreation.gov, and that some trailheads need a reserved day-use permit while others use a free self-issue permit at the trailhead. Campfires are banned above 6,000 feet, and camping is restricted near some lakes. Permit details change from year to year, so read the current Forest Service page before you go.
Metolius River
The Forest Service describes the Metolius as a spring-fed Wild and Scenic River in the Sisters Ranger District, running through ponderosa pine forest near Camp Sherman. Its recreation page describes a route from Metolius Spring north to Bridge 99, with stops that include the Camp Sherman fish viewing platform, the Metolius Research Natural Area and the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. The East Metolius River Trail bans horses, mountain bikes and motorized use.
Conditions and fire
The forest posts road status, trail conditions and closures on one page. Central Oregon Fire Info, linked from the forest site, carries fire information.