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Features Birding · Lake · Swimming · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly A nice swimmable lake at the bottom. The trail can be steep at times, but is kept well away from dangerous ledges and offers spectacular views at the top.

Need to Know

No water along this trail. Camel up before you start!

Description

A half-hour drive from Sisters, OR brings you to Three Creeks Lake. There are plenty of trail offerings in the area, and the Tam McArthur Rim Trail is one of the best.

Start your hike lakeside where you can park your car or setup camp along the lake. The trail wraps around the lake as you climb upwards, always offering a view of Three Creeks Lake and Broken Top looming in the distance. Once in awhile the desert to the east will pop into view, but the real treat comes at the peak of the climb when you make it to the top of the ridge. From here you can see the Cascade peaks in all directions, as well as that shimmering Three Creeks Lake.

The 2.5 miles up and down totals a 5 mile in-and-out that makes for an excellent day hike. It's a bit of a climb with no water along its length, so be sure to stock up before you start. The trail ends at the 2.5-mile mark above the lake, but you can continue onward and upward, following cairns around Broken Hand and up to No Name Lake which is a popular camping spot for those who start the Tam McArthur Rim Trail with the intent to continue along the Broken Top Loop Trail.