Sisters Country trails: Sisters Tie Trail

One of the most popular trails in Sisters Country is known as Sisters Tie Trail. The main trailhead is located just north of the intersection of North Pine Street and Barclay Drive. A map at the kiosk details the trail, which winds for six miles through the local woods, terminating at the Indian Ford Campground, on Forest Service Road 11.

The trail is a multiple-use path enjoyed by walkers, bike riders, and equestrians. The trail parallels Pine Street in a northerly direction, allowing residents and visitors from Indian Ford Ranch and Sage Woods to enter at North Pine Street and National Forest Lane, off Crooked Horseshoe Road.

The trail turns westerly, along a combination of built trail and decommissioned Forest Service roads. Because there are side roads and informal equestrian trails which can be confusing, STA (Sisters Trails Alliance) logo reassurance signs confirm to the trail user that they are indeed on the correct trail. 

The trail winds past a lava outcrop, and approximately five miles from Sisters parallels an old irrigation ditch, which, according to Jeremy Giffin, Deschutes Basin Watermaster, was "historically about three miles downstream (called the Oliver Ditch) and served four different water rights." The oldest water right dates to 1871.

In 1946, the ditch was diverted upstream to what is now Indian Ford Campground, and used until 2005. At that time the owners of Willow Ranch transferred their water rights back to Indian Ford Creek in lieu of new well water rights on the ranch. An old fish screen at the head of the ditch will be removed in the future. 

Plans for Sisters Tie Trail include the construction of a separated hike-bike trail out to Indian Ford Campground and FS 11, which would eventually be part of a single-track bike route to Camp Sherman.

Although all trails are dog-friendly, it is recommended that a leash always be available to avoid user conflicts

This is the first in an occasional series of articles about trails designed, built and maintained by the Sisters Trails Alliance. Follow STA at www.sisterstrails.com for updates and information about Sisters trails, or follow STA on Facebook.