The Obsidian Trail Never Feels Like the Same Hike Twice

July 28, 2026 • Three Sisters Wilderness • 11.0 Miles • 2100 Feet Elevation Gain

Every mountain has a personality. Some are defined by a summit. Others by a lake or a waterfall. The Obsidian Trail is different. Its personality comes from constant change. On this hike, the scenery transforms every few miles, carrying hikers through recovering forest, volcanic glass fields, alpine meadows, glacial valleys and cascading waterfalls—all in a single day. Having now hiked this trail several times over the years, one thing has become clear. The Obsidian Trail is never the same twice. Our July 28, 2026 hike followed the traditional Obsidian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail before returning via Glacier Way, the route once used by climbers heading toward Middle Sister. The loop totaled approximately eleven miles with 1,911 feet of elevation gain and, on a quiet Tuesday, we encountered surprisingly few other hikers despite near-perfect weather. Unlike many hikes this summer, smoke from the Akawa Fire stayed well away from the Three Sisters Wilderness on our day, leaving deep blue skies and outstanding mountain views from start to finish.

Entering the Wilderness

The day begins beneath towering firs at the Obsidian Trailhead off McKenzie Pass Highway. A Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required for this hike, but once on the trail the sounds of traffic disappear almost immediately. The first miles climb gradually through cool forest where moss hangs from old-growth trees and small streams still provide welcome reminders that water remains close by. It is a peaceful beginning that gives little hint of the dramatic volcanic landscape waiting farther ahead.

A Forest Still Recovering

Not long into the hike, the forest changes dramatically. Large sections of standing dead timber remain from the 2003 B&B Complex Fire, one of Oregon's largest recorded wildfires. Charred snags still dominate portions of the landscape, yet the forest floor tells a different story. Young lodgepole pine, wildflowers and grasses continue reclaiming the burned ground, demonstrating just how resilient these mountain ecosystems can be. It is one of the reasons this trail feels so dynamic. Recovery continues year after year, and every visit reveals another chapter in nature's rebuilding process.

Obsidian Falls

Before leaving the forest behind, the trail reaches one of its hidden gems. Obsidian Falls spills over dark volcanic rock in a cool, shaded canyon, providing one final encounter with abundant flowing water before the landscape becomes increasingly volcanic. The waterfall isn't especially large, but its setting is beautiful and often overlooked by hikers eager to reach the obsidian fields farther ahead. The sound of rushing water accompanies hikers for only a short distance before gradually fading into silence.

Walking Across a Volcanic Glass Field

Then the mountain changes again. Dark volcanic glass suddenly covers the ground. Thousands upon thousands of shimmering black obsidian fragments crunch beneath every step, reminders of ancient lava flows that cooled so rapidly they never formed crystals. Unlike many volcanic landscapes in Central Oregon, this one almost feels polished. Sunlight reflects from countless pieces of natural glass scattered across the trail, making every step a reminder that this wilderness was shaped by extraordinary volcanic forces. Few places in Oregon allow hikers to experience volcanic geology this closely while remaining on an established trail.

The Overlook Above the Valley

Then, almost unexpectedly, the trail opens onto one of the finest viewpoints in the Three Sisters Wilderness. After climbing through the obsidian fields, the terrain suddenly falls away, revealing an expansive glacial valley framed by North and Middle Sister and the surrounding volcanic ridges. Below lies a broad alpine meadow known as Sunshine, while remnants of ancient glaciers have sculpted the landscape stretching toward the Pacific Crest Trail. We sat on the rocky overlook for quite a while, watching the valley spread out below us. On many hikes, the summit is the destination. Here, there isn't a summit at all—just a place that invites you to stop, catch your breath, and appreciate the scale of the wilderness. On this Tuesday morning we shared the view with very few people, a surprising luxury on one of the Cascade's most celebrated trails.

Sunshine Meadow

Leaving the overlook, the trail gently descends toward Sunshine Meadow, and the perspective changes completely. What looked expansive from above suddenly becomes intimate. Wildflowers line the edges of the meadow, a narrow spring-fed creek quietly winds through the grasses, and North and Middle Sister towers overhead in a way that photographs can never quite capture. This is where we noticed how different the mountain looked from last summer. Following a relatively dry winter, the creek carried only a fraction of the water we had seen during our 2025 hike. The spring still bubbled from the volcanic rock beneath the overlook, but instead of racing across the meadow, the water wandered lazily through the grass before gradually disappearing into the porous volcanic soil. Watching that little stream simply vanish into the earth was a reminder that these mountains are constantly changing. Even when you return to the same trail, nature writes a different story every year.

Returning on Glacier Way

Instead of retracing our steps, we turned onto Glacier Way, the former climbers' route that follows the eastern edge of Sunshine Meadow before gradually descending toward the trailhead. Looking back across the meadow, Middle Sister dominates the skyline while the little spring continues its quiet journey through the grass. It may have been a dry summer, but this remained one of the most beautiful alpine settings in the Three Sisters Wilderness.

The Glacier Way route offers an entirely different experience from the climb up the Obsidian Trail. Moss-covered rock walls, seasonal stream channels and scattered springs reveal where snowmelt normally tumbles down the mountain. This year many of those channels were already dry, making the few remaining pockets of flowing water feel even more special.

One small spring still spilled over moss-covered rocks beside the trail before disappearing beneath the meadow below—a fitting reminder that water here is never wasted, only hidden.

Why I Keep Returning

Having now hiked the Obsidian Trail multiple times, we've stopped thinking of it as a destination. Instead, we think of it as one of those rare places that rewards repeat visits. Some years the creeks are roaring. Other years they quietly disappear into the meadow. Wildflowers peak at different times. Snow lingers longer—or melts away early. Smoke may obscure distant peaks or, as it did on our July 2026 hike, leave crystal-clear skies that seem almost endless.

The trail changes.

The mountain changes.

Even the experience changes.

That's exactly why hikers keep coming back.

We've now hiked the Obsidian Trail in multiple seasons and over several years. If you're planning your own trip, you may also enjoy our earlier experiences, which highlight different trail conditions, water levels, and perspectives on this remarkable wilderness.

• 2023 Obsidian Trail
• 2025 Obsidian Trail

Hiking Statistics

• Trail: Obsidian Trail / Pacific Crest Trail / Glacier Way Loop
• Location: Three Sisters Wilderness near McKenzie Pass
• Distance: 11.0 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2100 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Permit Required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit
• Best Season: Mid-July through September, depending on snow conditions