The Obsidian Trail in Central Oregon

The Obsidian Trail is an 11-mile hike in Willamette National Forest/Three Sisters Wilderness and sits between 6,645 ft. at its highest elevation and 4,787 ft. at its lowest elevation. Its general location is 20 miles west of Sisters, Oregon on the south side of McKenzie Pass, a narrow road that’s best never driven in a new vehicle or at least without car insurance.

The wife and I hiked this trail just about 3 years ago and decided it was time to give it another go having forgotten its inherent contradiction, meaning, one’s working assumption about a trail named ‘Obsidian Trail’ would be that there’s obsidian rock on the trail, but the part of this combo out-and-back/loop trail that’s ACTUALLY named ‘Obsidian Trail’ is almost completely devoid of obsidian rock. In reality, almost all the obsidian rock one comes across during this trek is on a quarter-to-half-mile stretch of the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) that the Obsidian Trail intersects with to make it’s 11-mile journey. It’s also on the mile-or-so stretch of the PCT that one has any proper view of the Sisters mountains.

Most of the hike consists of three miles (with another three on the way back) through mostly shady forest (except for an eerily burned section) before reaching the hated lava field where shade goes to die. This section of the trail doesn’t last long, though, and you soon come to a stream on the other side of the lava where you have the option of continuing straight (counterclockwise to make the loop) and staying on the Obsidian Trail or detouring left onto Glacier Way Trail which is steeper on it’s climb to intersect with the PCT. Frankly, Glacier Way Trail is super boring unless you’re at the very top and after the steady 10-15% grade climb of the Obsidian Trail to the PCT, I was thankful to be going down Glacier Way Trail and not up it. Assuming one continues straight on the Obsidian Trail, one eventually reaches the PCT after what seems like an eternity. Turning left onto the PCT, you happen upon the unimpressive Obsidian Falls after which you cross another stream and AT LAST get to the goddam obsidian and some glacial ponds which felt AMAZING for my tired feet. Although the obsidian is pretty neat it is illegal to take it from here and there’s a good chance during this hike you’ll run into a ranger who’ll interrogate you about any rock you’re carrying and to see your required hiking permit for this area. After you pass what little obsidian there is to be seen, there’s a neat vista of the Sisters mountains before you start descending down the loop trail.

Of interest during the hike are some memorial plaques, the Montague Memorial Plaque and the Bronaugh Memoriam Plaque, both of which are on the loop part of the trail. I won’t tell you where they are exactly so you can keep your eyes out to enhance this ‘adventure.’ All things considered, The Obsidian Trail hike isn't the most exciting hike in the world but its not nearly the worst either. It's cool once or twice but there's no need to make repeated visits. 

Important Note: Day hikers and backpackers at the Obsidian Trail are required to carry an Overnight Permit or Day Use Ticket at all times in the Three Sisters wilderness. Permits must be purchased online prior to the date of your trip. The Three Sisters permit season runs from June 15th to October 15th, becoming highly competitive during peak summer months. Day use permits are additionally released on 10-day and 2-day rolling windows, allowing the possibility of snagging a permit shortly before a day trip. All permits are reservable on a first-come, first-served basis. To increase your odds of getting a permit, log into recreation.gov by 7AM the week before you want to backpack, and select your desired trailhead as soon as it becomes available. Permits sell out quickly for popular trailheads! You may hike without a permit before June 15th or after October 15th, but during these times please be prepared for the possibly of deep snow and difficult or dangerous conditions.