Under the Stars near Portland

(William L. Sullivan)

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Essentials

Directions : Roughly 16 miles south of Sisters. Take Elm Street /FS 16 and follow signs for Three Creek Lake.
Travel time : Approximately 3-1/2 hours.
Information : (541) 549-2111.
Reservations : No.
Fee : $12.
Open : Late June through mid-September.

Set at the foot of Tam McArthur Rim due south of Sisters, this campground is surrounded by meadows and has an impressive view of the rim, which rises 1,200 feet above Three Creek Lake. In addition to the Three Creek Meadow Campground, there are two other campgrounds right on nearby Three Creek Lake. Of these, I prefer the Driftwood Campground, which has a view of Tam McArthur Rim.

From Three Creek Lake Campground, you can hike to the top of the rim for spectacular views, and from Three Creek Meadow Campground, you can hike up to beautiful Green Lake, which, however, is one of the most popular hiking and backpacking destinations in the central Oregon Cascades. Expect crowds and tread lightly; the pumice meadows around Green Lake have been heavily impacted over the years. An easier loop hike will take you past Little Three Creek Lake and through nearby Park Meadow. Mountain bikers can head south on the scenic FS 370, one of the more popular mountain biking routes in the region. This road starts just south of Three Creek Meadow Campground. There's also good, though strenuous and technical, riding on nearby Trail 99. Although this trail will take you almost all the way to Sisters, most people just ride various loops that utilize some of the logging roads in the area.