Oregon · Hiking · Near Sisters

East Metolius River Trail

East Metolius River TrailPhoto: Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
19.0 mi
round trip
1,403 ft
climb
3,016 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Aug–Sep
best months

Is East Metolius River Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name East Metolius River Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Deschutes National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The East Metolius River Trail is a 19-mile out-and-back hike in the Sisters Ranger District of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 2,715 feet to about 3,016 feet, with the steepest stretch at roughly 4.5 miles in, where the grade reaches about 13%. The climb is rated hard, and the route is on natural surface, with no horses or bikes allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sisters show July highs around 86°F and lows near 43°F, while September cools to highs around 76°F. The trail is open from about May 15 through October 31. The West Metolius River Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Riverside campground is 0.3 mile off. Camp Sherman "H" and the Black Butte Trail #4026 are both within about a mile and a quarter.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Riverside

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Kiwanis club

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit East Metolius River Trail

    Best months: May–June and August–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 21°

    2. Feb

      44° / 22°

    3. Mar

      51° / 25°

    4. Apr

      57° / 29°

    5. May

      66° / 34°

    6. Jun

      74° / 39°

    7. Jul

      86° / 43°

    8. Aug

      85° / 42°

    9. Sep

      76° / 36°

    10. Oct

      61° / 29°

    11. Nov

      47° / 25°

    12. Dec

      39° / 20°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sisters, OR, 11.6 mi away at 3,180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

West Metolius River TrailPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

West Metolius River Trail

Next door

1.14-mile out-and-back trail on the West Metolius River in Oregon

West Metolius River TrailPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Metolius River Trail

~3 min drive

Scenic out-and-back following the pristine Metolius River through Cascade forest.

Suttle Lake LoopPhoto: mdornseif, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Suttle Lake Loop

~8 min drive

3.14-mile out-and-back trail at Suttle Lake in Oregon with 413 ft gain.

HIKE

Upper Butte Link

~7 min drive

0.68-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 149 ft of elevation gain.

Black Butte Trail #4026Photo: Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Black Butte Trail #4026

~2 min drive

1.2-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 203 ft gain.

Upper Butte LoopsPhoto: Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Butte Loops

~3 min drive

18.53-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,559 ft gain.

West Metolius River TrailPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Metolius River Trail

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5.2-mile out-and-back hike on West Metolius River Trail in Oregon.

Larch TrailsPhoto: dogplusplus, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Larch Trails

~3 min drive

1.93-mile loop in Oregon with 127 ft elevation gain and loss.

Lower Butte LoopsPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Butte Loops

~7 min drive

7.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,070 ft gain.

Jefferson Creek TrailheadPhoto: DBerry2006, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jefferson Creek Trailhead

~15 min drive

5.16-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 650 ft elevation gain