Oregon · Hiking · Three Sisters Wilderness · Near Sisters

Louise Creek

27.0 mi
round trip
4,786 ft
climb
5,851 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Louise Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Louise Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Louise Creek is a hard out-and-back hike in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, within the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The trail is 27 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 4,786 feet and a high point of 5,851 feet. It starts at roughly 3,587 feet and finishes at the same elevation, making it a full climb and descent in one trip. The route is natural-surface and allows horses but not bikes. The steepest section comes around the 9-mile mark, with a grade of about 29 percent. The climb is rolling rather than a single long push, but the sheer distance and the high point make this a demanding day on foot. The trip takes about 11.5 hours, and the trail is open year-round. For those planning a longer stay, Alder Springs Campground sits about 4.7 miles away, and Separation Lake is just 0.6 miles off the route. Rainbow Falls is 1.8 miles away, and paddlers can find Separation Creek about 3.8 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Camp White Branch

    Campground

    Campground · 2.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Takoda's

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 24 mi
  • If it rains

    Clearwater Gallery

    Gallery

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sisters

Local outfitters

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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

PROXY FALLSPhoto: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

PROXY FALLS

~6 min drive

1.35-mile loop trail with 429 ft gain and 420 ft loss in Oregon.

Linton LakePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Linton Lake

~9 min drive

3.32-mile out-and-back trail to Linton Lake in Oregon with 653 ft gain.

Scott Trail #3531Photo: Bonnie Moreland (free images), Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Scott Trail #3531

~13 min drive

10.54-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,914 ft elevation gain/loss

HIKE

SEPARATION LAKE

~1 min drive

16.2-mile out-and-back trail to Separation Lake in Oregon with 3,492 ft elevation gain

Proxy Falls Trail #3532Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Proxy Falls Trail #3532

~6 min drive

1.72-mile out-and-back trail with 451 ft gain in Oregon

Scott MountainPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Scott Mountain

~14 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail to Scott Mountain summit in Oregon.

Benson Lake Trail #3502Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Benson Lake Trail #3502

~14 min drive

11.3-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 2,597 ft gain/loss and 5,538 ft max elevation.

HIKE

Separation Lake Trail #3536

~1 min drive

15.88-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,412 ft elevation gain

Substitute PointPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Substitute Point

~7 min drive

1.40-mile out-and-back trail at Substitute Point in Oregon, 451 ft gain.

HIKE

Horsepasture Mtn

~11 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,369 ft elevation gain.