Hiking Canyon Creek Meadows

Stunning views of the Three Fingered Jack crags and lush fields of wildflowers make Canyon Creek Meadows one of the premier hikes in the Sisters region. Access was somewhat limited this year by heavy winter snows coupled with a cool spring, but it's all clear sailing now.

The meadows are not a very well-kept secret. Last Sunday, we counted 21 cars in the Jack Lake trailhead parking lot. Even so, the trail did not seem crowded. A loop trail leads to the meadows, and the Forest Service encourages clockwise movement through the area. As a result, we didn't encounter enough people to drive all the cars.

The total trip is about five to seven miles, depending on how far the hiker chooses to venture onto the lower slopes of Three Fingered Jack. The hike is judged to be "moderate," primarily due to some steep pitches after the trail leaves the creek and heads up onto the shoulders of the rocky mountain.

The trail leaves the Jack Lake parking lot and follows the shore counterclockwise. Much of this area was badly burned in the B&B Fire of 2003; but many pockets of green survive, particularly on the north shore, which was in the lee of the fire. The Forest Service has done a good job of cutting the trail through the deadfalls resulting from the fire.

Less than half a mile in, the trail enters the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area; almost immediately, the trail forks. The fork is well marked. Take the left fork to comply with the clockwise circuit that will minimize encounters with other hikers. The trail winds pleasantly for the two miles leading to the meadows. As the trail rises and then descends past a second pond, you will be approaching the meadows and the return loop.

Wildflowers abound, with lupine providing the most impressive displays with colorful accents of Indian paintbrush and many others. At lower elevations on the trail, the lupine has already gone to seed; but, at the higher elevations, lupine blooms still carpet the earth. The 1,400-foot climb also takes the hiker from a predominantly pine forest into one of fir and hemlock.

Our niece, Kelly Chang, who was raised in Hawaii and is now a psychology professor at George Fox University, was fascinated by the changing variety of conifers along the trail. She recalled visiting Oregon as a child and thinking of it as a "magical land" because there were "Christmas trees" everywhere she looked.

Upon reaching the trail junction at the meadows, the hike can be shortened by immediately returning on the "one way" northern loop back to Jack Lake. Take some time, however, to explore the trail leading to the left and into the heart of the meadows. This is the area where noted Sisters artist, Dan Rickards, painted his well-known piece "Canyon Creek Meadow." Rickards' work can be seen at Clearwater Gallery on Cascade Avenue in Sisters.

Sweeping views of the mountain, meadows and snowfields can be seen all along the trail as it rises steeply to more than 6,000 feet. Be prepared to traverse or skirt some lingering patches of snow - yes, even in August.

When it's time to return, take the northern loop back; and you'll be in for a real treat with lessons in forestry, climate zones, and forest fire behavior. The return trail immediately plunges into lush, pristine, old growth fir forest as the trail follows Canyon Creek in its gentle descent.

With the beauty of the forest, you'll hardly notice the passage of the next mile. When you find yourself at the trail junction to Wasco Lake, you're on the home stretch. Stay on the south side of Canyon Creek to return to Jack Lake, but don't be so focused on the return that you miss the scenic falls just a few yards downstream from the Wasco Lake trail.

The final leg of this hike takes you through more of the burn. Some areas were lightly burned and are on their way to recovery. Some spots were passed over and remain green. Other areas were so severely burned that the soil remains completely barren. There's a lot to see and learn on this hike, and you'll almost be sorry when you arrive back at the parking lot.

The Jack Lake trailhead is a fee-use area, so be prepared to pony up some cash at the self-service kiosk if you don't have a trail pass. A wilderness pass is also required but is free at the trailhead. When we arrived Sunday, however, all available passes had been used. Instead, we left an informal note in the box.

To get to the Jack Lake trailhead, take Highway 20 west from Sisters for 12 miles. Turn right onto Jack Lake Road. Stay on paved Road 12 for 4.3 miles to a right-turning curve, where you make a left turn toward Jack Creek. Cross the one-lane Jack Creek bridge and continue straight about a mile-and-a-half until the pavement ends. Follow the signs to Jack Lake on gravel road 1234 for about another five miles to where the road ends.