Weekender: Sisters. Ore
Sisters: a Western Playground
Story and Photos by Amy Whitley
Photo at right: The view from the Peterson Ridge Trails near Sisters, Ore.
Twenty miles outside of Bend, Ore., the community of Sisters—known affectionately by locals as “Sisters Country”—offers Central Oregon’s trademark high desert terrain merged with just the right amount of dense pine forest. As my husband and I rolled into town on Highway 20, its eclectic mix of outdoor outfitters, organic bakeries, upscale shopping, and cowboy diners immediately reminded me of Jackson Hole, Wyo. Sisters could be her…well, little sister.
We began our weekend by checking into a lofted suite room at The Lodge at Suttle Lake, located just outside of town in the heart of the Deschutes National Forest. This new lodge (built in 2005) features both family-sized lakeside cabins and spacious lodge rooms.
Arriving in time to hike the 3.5-mile lakeshore loop, we watched for the occasional beaver or deer venturing lakeside for a drink. We returned from our hike hungry, ready to take our complimentary glasses of Northwest-produced wine and cheese plates out to the glass-walled gazebo. There, we sipped wine and watched the flat-as-glass water turn from blue to green in the lowering sunlight as the last of the paddle-boarders and kayakers came into the marina. A swimming beach lies adjacent to the lodge, and we watched the last of the beach-goers collect their things and call to their dogs.
For dinner, we ate dockside at The Boathouse, the oldest building on the Suttle Lake Lodge property and the original 1926 marina boathouse. Our meal was wild mushroom mac and cheese paired with a Suttle Lake Purple Sunset, a delicious huckleberry and tequila concoction.
Kayaking and hiking Suttle Lake
Suttle Lake Marina: Rent a boat for a spell at the Suttle Lake Marina.
Kayaks and other non-motorized boats on Suttle Lake are available at the marina for hourly, half-day, or full day rentals. Hiking in the area is not limited to the lakeshore; we also explored the nearby Camp Sherman area, where numerous day hikes weave throughout the forest, including a short walk to a stream bubbling right up from the ground.
The next morning, we had a full day of mountain biking in store, so we hit the ground running with a breakfast at The Gallery, Sisters’ low-key, traditional cowboy diner. The food was delicious, but heavy, so I chose the (slightly) less hearty egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich on The Gallery’s homemade biscuit with a side of their specialty applesauce.
We made our way from The Gallery to Melvin’s Natural Food Market, where we picked up grab-and-go sandwiches for lunch and met up with Casey at Blazin’ Saddles Cycle ’n Style, Sisters’ full-service cycling shop. Casey set us up with bike rentals for use on the nearby Peterson Ridge Trail System, where we planned to spend the better part of the day navigating the single-track trails.
Navigating the Peterson Ridge Trail System
The cabins at FivePine Lodge
The trailhead for the Peterson Ridge Trail System is located just a few blocks from Blazin’ Saddles, in the heart of Sisters. From there, it’s easy to lose yourself in the spiderweb of trails, which is not necessarily a bad thing. We picked up a trail map at Blazin’ Saddles, which marks the various options by number and sometimes trail name, but still spent a good portion of our time blissfully lost.
Each trail is assigned a color (green for easy, blue for intermediate, and black for expert only), which prevents riders from getting in over their heads. We cruised along the lower “green” trails along the sandy, sometimes volcanic trails, then wound our way slowly upward, eventually reaching a ridge overlook and its reward of incredible views of the Three Sisters peaks and a much-appreciated picnic table. Be ready to navigate boulders and rocks, sand, and a stream crossing or two.
The trail system drops cyclists back out where they started at Sisters, but an easy offshoot took us directly to FivePine Lodge, our accommodations for the night. Located closer to town than The Lodge at Suttle Lake,
FivePine is the perfect antidote to a day of hard trail riding with its heated outdoor pool, full spa, and whirlpool baths in beautifully-appointed, peaceful guest cabins.
We checked into our Classic Cabin, and sank immediately into the two Adirondack chairs facing a meandering stream and small meadow of wildflowers on property. Steps from our cottage was Three Creeks Brewing Co.—we had the beer-infused black beans and rice tacos—and Sisters Movie House, the town’s four-screen movie-plex housed in a barn (and serving wine or beer to your seat!).
We awoke the next morning to a lovely complimentary breakfast of locally made bagels, granola, yogurt, and scones in the FivePine Lodge “Cozy Room,” located in a building adjacent to our cottage.
Before departing for home, we made a stop at nearby Camp Polk Meadow, an eco-preserve with a half-mile interpretive walkway showcasing the conservation efforts of the Sisters community. Just a few yards from the preserve is the Polk Cemetery; its eccentric plots and grave markers date back to the late 18th century.
We said goodbye to Sisters and headed for home, but we agreed we’d be back in the winter for more outdoor fun and relaxation—this time in the snow.
If you go:
Sisters Oregon is located on Highway 20, and is less than 30 minutes drive from Bend or two hours drive from Salem, Ore. Get helpful information from the Sisters Country Chamber of Commerce website.
Sisters and the surrounding area enjoy 300 days of sun a year, making it a great year-round destination.
Where to Rent a Bike:
Blazin’ Saddles Cycle ’n Style:
www.blazinsaddleshub.com
Where to Fuel Up:
The Gallery Restaurant and Bar:
www.galleryrestaurantandbar.com
Three Creeks Brewing Co.:
www.threecreeksbrewing.com
Where to Stay:
Lodge at Suttle Lake: www.thelodgeatsuttlelake.com
FivePine Lodge: www.fivepinelodge.com
Amy Whitley is a freelance travel writer, lover of the outdoors, and editor of family travel website Pit Stops for Kids. She makes her home with her husband and three kids in Southern Ore.
