Take an easy family hike

Let's call this an "entry- level" hike. If you're looking for a walk in the woods that's a little more challenging than a sidewalk but still suitable for toddlers, Little Three Creek Lake might be just the ticket. My three-year-old daughter didn't have any problem with this trail; although in the interest of full disclosure, I should probably point out that that was 33 years ago.

This outing might also be a good choice for your visiting out-of-town relatives who consider wilderness to be anything with vegetation taller than the grass on a putting green.

The trail begins at the far end of the Driftwood Campground at Three Creek Lake (the "big" one). The trail is definitely easy, but there are a couple of short, steep pitches.

When we hiked this trail earlier this month a snowdrift still blocked the access road to the campground, so we walked the campground road for an extra half-mile each way. Parking constraints will probably make it necessary to park in the lot at the beginning of this road (Forest Road 900) anyway.

The hike to Little Three Creek Lake is billed as being about a mile one way, but it's not even that if you don't do some additional exploration. Otherwise, this is a very short hike; but it still offers the sense of genuinely being in the mountains. Not every hike needs to be an endurance contest.

The well-worn trail from the end of the campground loop turnaround winds through a mixed conifer forest that bears witness to the stress of surviving at an elevation of 6,700 feet. Many of the trees are twisted and stunted. One member of our party commented that some of the trees looked like bonsais. Still others manage to grow straight and tall.

Lodgepole and whitebark pine are found here, along with hemlock and an assortment of "true" firs. My wife has given up trying to distinguish among the various true firs that can confuse even forestry experts. She now lumps them all together into what she calls "those fancy-pants" firs.

About the time you're starting to feel warmed up, you'll see a little lake ahead. Stop to enjoy its beauty, but don't stop there. That's not your destination. It's even littler than Little Three Creek Lake, which is just a little bit farther.

The expansive rock wall rising above these lakes is Tam McArthur Rim, which rises to more than 7,700 feet. It is the same high rock ridge which, from Sisters, can be seen leading on up to the east side of Broken Top. This distinctive geographic feature is named for Lewis A. "Tam" McArthur.

In 1914, Gov. Oswald West appointed McArthur to the Oregon Geographic Names Board. Two years later, McArthur became the board's secretary, a position in which he served for the next 33 years. During that time, he literally "wrote the book" on "Oregon Geographic Names." Ironically, the rim that bears his name is probably one of the few prominent geographic features in Oregon that he never visited!

Little Three Creek Lake offers spectacular views and photo opportunities and also presents a great little crash course in the natural world, including plenty of wildflowers. On this trip, a bald eagle was circling the big lake. In August, it's not uncommon to see thousands of tiny frogs testing their new land legs. When these little creatures emerge from the water, they are about the size of a pinkie fingernail.

When our second son visited the lake at age five, he was fascinated with the swarm of little frogs. Due to an earlier incident that involved a cape, a tree, and an unexpected inability to fly, his arm was in a cast, and several of the tiny amphibians slipped inside, causing yet another unexpected problem.

This lake is very shallow in spots; and, with the weather finally warming up this summer, it's a great place to take a swim in the shadow of the mountains. It's also a perfect site for a woodsy picnic lunch to help introduce neophytes to the great outdoors. And, the "real" wilderness is only a matter of a few yards beyond the lake. As with many hikes this time of the year, don't forget to bring plenty of insect repellent.

To introduce yourself and your fledgling outdoor candidates to Little Three Creek Lake, take Elm Street south from Sisters. After crossing Whychus Creek, the road becomes Three Creek Lake Road. Follow it for a total of about 16 miles, the first 14 of which are paved. Turn right onto Forest Road 900 just before reaching Three Creek Lake. The trail begins at the end of this short road, but it will probably be necessary to park near the main road.

This is a fee use area. If you do not have an annual pass, a self-service fee station for daily passes is located nearby at the Tam McArthur Rim Trailhead. We'll save that more challenging hike for later in the summer, when more of the snow pack has melted.