Whychus Creek Overlook

The Whychus Creek Overlook Trail provides a fantastic view of namesake Whychus Creek as well as the surrounding mountains on a clear day. The easy 1-mile trail forms a loop that is even ADA accessible. The close proximity to the town of Sisters makes this a great choice for anyone looking to go on a short hike with stellar views.

At the trailhead you’ll notice a few signs with some history of the area. Whychus Creek was once a proper river, and home to many steelhead. But as homesteaders began building up the town of Sisters, water was lost to irrigation withdrawals, the river became a trickle of a creek, and the steelhead population died out. Today the creek is federally protected as a Wild and Scenic River and is coming back to life, with steelhead having been reintroduced into the creek.

From the trailhead, begin hiking the trail counterclockwise. You’ll come to a couple viewpoints including one with an informative plaque and bench. At around the halfway point you’ll reach the main viewpoint with sweeping views down to Whychus Creek. The Three Sisters and Broken Top mountains are also visible from here on a clear day. Once you’ve enjoyed the view continue along the loop trail until you again reach the trailhead.