The 20 Most Amazing Peaks in Deschutes County

Deschutes County offers a variety of popular peaks. Among them, South Sister Summit is the highest and most prominent, offering challenging hikes and panoramic views. Paulina Peak is known for its accessible summit drive and expansive vistas. For unique geological features and views, Misery Ridge Trail provides sweeping views of rock formations.

Yes, several spots are suitable for families. Active Fire Lookout Lava Butte is a family-friendly viewpoint with a historic fire tower. View of Bend from Pilot Butte, an extinct volcano, offers a rewarding 360-degree panorama of the Bend area and is accessible for many. Paulina Peak also allows driving to the summit for easy access to stunning views.

Deschutes County's mountain peaks are rich in volcanic and glacial features. You can explore active stratovolcanoes like South Sister, which still hosts glaciers. Broken Top is a glacially eroded complex stratovolcano with a distinctly rugged appearance. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument, home to Paulina Peak, showcases cinder cones, lava flows, and crater lakes. Little Belknap Crater and Ball Butte are other notable volcanic summits.

Hiking South Sister Summit is considered challenging. It's a demanding 13-mile scramble with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The ascent typically takes a full day, often 8-12 hours round trip, depending on fitness levels and conditions.

Mount Bachelor is a year-round outdoor playground. In winter, it's a premier destination for skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing. During summer, it offers a lift-served mountain bike park with over 13 miles of trails, a thrilling zip line, scenic chairlift rides, mountaintop dining, and hiking trails to its summit.

Yes, permits are required for hiking in the Three Sisters Wilderness, which includes peaks like South Sister and Broken Top. Specifically, permits are needed for day use and overnight trips between June 15 and October 15. It's advisable to check current regulations and obtain permits in advance, especially for popular trailheads like Devil's Lake.

For breathtaking scenic viewpoints, Pilot Butte offers a 360-degree panorama of the Bend area. Paulina Peak provides expansive views of the Three Sisters, Mount Bachelor, and even Mount Hood on clear days. The summit of South Sister also boasts dramatic panoramic views of neighboring peaks.

Deschutes County offers a range of hiking routes. For easy hikes, you can explore options like Tumalo Falls via North Fork Trail or the Crooked River Trail. Moderate trails include the Tumalo Falls Loop. For more challenging ascents, consider the routes leading to South Sister Summit or Asterisk Pass. You can find more details on these and other routes in the Easy hikes in Deschutes County and Waterfall hikes in Deschutes County guides.

Absolutely! Mount Bachelor features a lift-served mountain bike park with over 13 miles of scenic trails. Additionally, the region offers extensive mountain biking. You can find routes like Ben's, Pinedrops and Phil's Trail Loop, or Funner and Tiddlywinks Loop. Explore more options in the MTB Trails in Deschutes County guide.

The best season for hiking the higher Cascade peaks like South Sister and Broken Top is typically mid-summer to early fall (July through September), when snow has melted, and trails are generally clear. Wildflowers are abundant in mid-summer. Permits are required from June 15 to October 15. Lower elevation trails and viewpoints like Pilot Butte are accessible year-round, though winter conditions may require appropriate gear.

Broken Top is unique due to its distinctly rugged and 'broken' peak, a result of extensive glacial erosion. This complex stratovolcano, located southeast of the Three Sisters, ceased erupting around 100,000 years ago, and its exposed interior contents and remaining glaciers (Bend and Crook Glacier) offer a dramatic landscape for hiking and climbing, with grand views of the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor.

Yes, you can drive to the summit of Paulina Peak. This offers an accessible way to experience some of the most beautiful panoramic views in Deschutes County, including Broken Top, the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Hood in the distance, without a strenuous hike.