On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
StringOnAStick
The Green Lake trail on South Sisters Peak in Oregon has become my favorite trail thanks to the many and varied waterfalls on the lower half of the trail. Be aware that this is in a Wilderness Area and to manage traffic a permit is now required during peak season so they can control the number of cars trying to park in the available parking areas; this permit system is in use at numerous other trails in the local Wilderness Areas as well. Half the permit reservations are available before the season opens, and the other half become available on a rolling basis 10 days before each day.
The road to this area is paved but it is closed during the winter due to deep snow. It opens in June usually.
The first major waterfall, seen here on a lovely early fall day.
Yet another striking waterfall. Depending on how you designate something to be a waterfall or not, I have counted 15, plus or minus, on this trail.
OK, find Mr. (Mountain) Toad! Granted he is barely 1″ long and blends in well with the gravel. This particular day they were everywhere so we paid extra attention to avoid stepping on this unfortunately declining species.
Probably the biggest drop of any of the waterfalls on this trail.
Steeplejack (phone)
Great pictures.
I love the PNW. Used to travel there a fair bit, but It has been decades since I was last there.
Ten Bears
I remember when it was barely a trail. Nice walk …
debbie
Never been, but damn, it’s a beautiful place. Thanks!
BretH
Thanks for taking me places before work!
HinTN
I love waterfalls and these photographs make me happy.
SkyBluePink
What a beautiful land we live in-
And photos that capture that beauty!
Scout211
Oh my. StringOnAStick, you are triggering so many wonderful memories. Mr. Scout grew up in Leaburg, Oregon and climbed the Three Sisters often as a teen. The two of us have climbed the South Sister twice, almost three times (snow and zero visibility fog near the top made us turn around—in July). We have always loved that area and have hiked, climbed and backpacked there often, just the two of us or with our kids during the years they were growing up. Such a gorgeous area. Good memories.
tokyocali (formerly tokyo expat)
That top photo is lovely. It’s the kind of photo I love to have on my desktop to remind of what’s out there if I could manage to take a break from work and disconnect from the world. Thank you for sharing!
opiejeanne
@Scout211: There was an article this week about the Three Sisters, saying that they had risen about an inch in the past year, measured by satellite. No immediate danger of an eruption, they think.
StringOnAStick
Just yesterday they announced some changes to the permit system, apparently because so many spots were claimed at the beginning of the hiking season but the permits were never used. The season where permits will be required has been pushed back to June and later into October. The first change makes sense because you can’t get to the trailhead until the highway opens for the summer, the latter because there’s plenty of good hiking weather in mid September to mid October and the point of the system is to reduce excess use. I think the new plan is that permits can be obtained 10 days and 2 days before the given date, so we’ll see how it goes.
Sorry about the double posting of the same image, I messed that up somehow.
StringOnAStick
@opiejeanne: South Sisters is the youngest of the three and it is growing. You are correct that the scientists aren’t expecting an eruption.
eclare
Gorgeous photos!
Dan B
My former SIL and niece’s family live in Redmond and Bend. That area has the greatest variation of terrain of any area I’ve ever visited. John Day Fossil Beds is otherworldly and the plateau to the west with views to the Cascades volcanoes is striking. Add in Three Sisters with lakes, streams, and huge lava flows and it’s amazing country.