We have hiked from Three Creek Lake past Tam McArthur Rim toward Broken Top and No Name Lake several times, but the same trail is never quite the same hike. Weather, snow, smoke and trail conditions can completely change the experience. On September 22, 2026, remarkably clear skies gave us some of the longest views we have ever had from this route—and, for the first time, we watched a climber reach the summit of Broken Top.

Our route also differed from previous trips. We followed the maintained trail to Tam McArthur Rim, continued on the well-defined but unmaintained trail toward Broken Hand, and then took a much fainter path around the formation to meet the primary route to No Name Lake. After visiting the lake, the high overlook and our favorite lunch spot, we returned around the opposite side of Broken Hand.

By the time we reached the car, we had traveled 11.71 miles and climbed approximately 2,200 feet.

Climbing Above Three Creek Lake

The hike...

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Beyond Camp Lake: Hiking to the Dry Chambers Lakes Basin

On Saturday, September 19, we returned to the Pole Creek Trailhead for one of our longest hikes of the year: just under 17 miles with more than 2,600 feet of elevation gain. We have hiked to Camp Lake several times and have also followed the climbers' trail toward Hayden Glacier, but this time we continued beyond Camp Lake to explore new territory—the moraine between the two Chambers Lakes basins.

By the time we returned to the trailhead, the hike had given us beautiful mountain views, complete solitude at Camp Lake, a steep and occasionally sketchy climb above it, and one creek crossing that was very different in the afternoon than it had been that morning.

From Pole Creek Trailhead to Camp Lake

The hike begins at the Pole Creek Trailhead outside Sisters and travels for several miles through the burn scar lef...

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Maiden Peak: A Challenging Climb to One of Central Oregon's Best Views

There are hikes where the difficulty is obvious almost from the beginning, and there are others that save nearly everything for the end. Our August 1, 2026 hike to the summit of Maiden Peak definitely fell into the second category.

Starting from the Maiden Peak Trailhead off Gold Lake Road near Willamette Pass, our GPS recorded 11.41 miles round trip with 2,828 feet of elevation gain. Those numbers are consistent with published descriptions of this western route, which generally put the hike at roughly 11 to 12 miles round trip with about 2,800 to 2,900 feet of climbing. What those numbers don't convey particularly well, however, is how the hike actually feels. Much of the early trail is surprisingly moderate. Then, during roughly the final mile to mile and a half approaching th...

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Beyond the Burn: A Different Way to Reach Golden Lake and Broken Top's Hidden Tarns

There are two ways to reach Golden Lake in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness. The route most hikers know begins at the Green Lakes Trailhead. It's spectacular, climbing steadily toward Green Lakes before crossing the divide into the secluded basin below Broken Top. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most sought-after trailheads in the Central Cascades permit system. Unless you reserve months in advance—or get lucky with a last-minute cancellation—there's a good chance you won't be hiking

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