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Riding Central Orgegon Horse Trails
Southern Three Sisters Horse Camps and Trails
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The ride possibilities in the southern Three
Sisters area are almost endless. Advance reservations are
required for this premier horse camping location. There
are many opportunities to do loop rides on the region’s
intersecting trails, and you may be able to choose from
several trails that lead to your chosen destination. The
views in this area can be breathtaking, with mountain peaks
soaring above pristine lakes, jagged lava flows next to
verdant forests, and sparkling streams flowing through lush
meadows.
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Quinn Meadow Horse Camp:
Set in a stand of large ponderosas adjacent to a sunny meadow,
Quinn Meadow is the crème-de-la-crème of horse
camps. Advance reservations are required.
Todd Horse Camp Trail:
OK, this horse camp isn’t nearly as nice as Quinn Meadow.
However, it provides access to the Southern Three Sisters
region when there are no campsites at Quinn, and it’s
8 miles closer to Bend.
Broken Top Loop Trail:
This trail originates at Todd Horse Camp and offers striking
close-up views of Broken Top crater.
Devils/Quinn Loop Trail:
The trail runs primarily through lodgepole and mountain hemlock
forest. On the east side of the loop it passes many interesting
lava outcroppings as well as the springs that create Quinn
Creek. On the west side it follows the track of an old wagon
road.
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Green Lakes Trail:
The Green Lakes are nestled between South Sister and Broken
Top, with the mountaintops looming so close you can almost
reach out and touch them. Add to this the lovely waterfalls
along Fall Creek and the enormous lava mesa on the flank of
South Sister, and you have the makings of an unforgettable
ride. This is also a very popular hiking trail, so plan to
ride on a weekday if you can.
Horse Lake Loop Trail:
This is a nice ride over forested terrain, and Horse Lake
is a very pretty destination. The large meadow just east of
Horse Lake makes a good picnic spot.
Lava Lake Trail:
The trail runs along the shore of the lovely Lava Lake. Then
it heads north into lodgepole forest. There are interesting
lava outcroppings near the south end of Hosmer Lake.
Mink Lake Basin Trail:
The Mink Lake Basin is quite different from the area just
a few miles north on the slopes of South Sister and Broken
Top. The vegetation under the old-growth timber is lush and
green, and if you throw a rock in any direction it will probably
land in a lake.
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Quinn Creek Trail:
This is a good warm-up ride for the longer trails in the southern
Three Sisters Wilderness. It travels along the very pretty
Quinn Creek from Quinn Meadow Horse Camp to Hosmer Lake and
the Metolius-Windigo Trail.
Senoj Lake Trail:
Senoj Lake was named in honor of someone named Jones –
spelled backward. This is an easy ride on the forested trail
that runs past Blow Lake and Doris Lake and ends on the grassy
shore of Senoj Lake.
Sisters Mirror/Koosah Lake Trail:
Sister Mirror Lake is a pretty spot anytime, but on a windless
day when the lake is calm, the reflection of South Sister
on its surface is lovely. From the top of Koosah Mountain
there are excellent views of the Sisters, Mt. Bachelor, and
the surrounding forest.
Sisters Mirror/Wickiup Loop Trail:
This loop near the base of South Sister is a great way to
take in both Sisters Mirror Lake and Wickiup Plain. On a clear,
calm day, South Sister is beautifully reflected in the lake.
The open expanse of Wickiup Plain is a stark contrast to the
forest that flanks it.
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Sparks/Hosmer Lakes Trail:
This trail runs from Todd Horse Camp to Sparks Lake and Hosmer
Lake. Most of the trail is heavily forested, but there is
a great close-up view of Mt. Bachelor not far from Todd Horse
Camp.
Todd/Sparks/Quinn Trail:
This is a mostly-forested ride that connects the two horse
camps in the area with Sparks Lake.
Wickiup Plains Trail:
Wickiup Plain is an ancient ash flow that lies at the base
of Rock Mesa and LeConte Crater, south and a little west of
South Sister. The plain’s gravelly soil and sparse vegetation
contrast sharply with the forest that borders it, plus it
offers spectacular views of South Sister. The trail includes
stands of beautiful old-growth forest.
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