Three Sisters Wilderness
Area Management
The Three Sisters Wilderness is part of the 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the Three Sisters Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.General Wilderness Prohibitions
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the Forest Service office or visit the websites listed on the 'Links' tab for more specific information.
These general prohibitions have been implemented for all national forest wildernesses in order to implement the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act requires management of human-caused impacts and protection of the area's wilderness character to insure that it is "unimpaired for the future use and enjoyment as wilderness." Use of the equipment listed as prohibited in wilderness is inconsistent with the provision in the Wilderness Act which mandates opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation and that wilderness is a place that is in contrast with areas where people and their works are dominant.
Wilderness-Specific Regulations
Wilderness managers often need to take action to limit the impacts caused by visitor activities in order to protect the natural conditions of wilderness as required by the Wilderness Act of 1964. Managers typically implement 'indirect' types of actions such as information and education measures before selecting more restrictive measures. When regulations are necessary, they are implemented with the specific intent of balancing the need to preserve the character of the wilderness while providing for the use and enjoyment of wilderness.The following wilderness regulations are in effect for this area. Not all regulations are in effect for every wilderness. Contact the Forest Service office or visit the websites listed on the 'Links' tab for more specific information about the regulations listed.
ALL VISITORS
Wilderness Permits:
--Wilderness permits are required between the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and October 31 for all groups that enter the Three Sisters Wilderness.
--LIMITED ENTRY PERMITS are required for overnight and day visits to the Obsidian area. The Limited Entry Permits are ONLY issued at; McKenzie River Ranger District (Willamette NF) and Sisters Ranger District (Deschutes NF).
Group Size:
--Group size is limited to 12 people. Stock use is limited to 12 head.
Campfires:
--Campfires are prohibited within 100 feet of any permanent lake, stream, spring, pond or trail.
Mechanized Equipment:
--Wagons, carts (including game carts and wheelbarrows), bicycles, and other motorized, mechanized, or wheeled vehicles are prohibited.
Storing Equipment:
--Storing equipment, personal property or supplies (including geocaches) unattended for more than 48 hours is prohibited.
Rehabilitation Sites:
--Do not camp or enter sites closed for rehabilitation.
Area Campfire Restrictions:
--Campfires or stove fires, except for stoves fueled with liquid or compressed gas, are not allowed at the following areas. (The areas listed below are general locations, for a more specific description visit the Willamette or Deschutes National Forest web site): Golden Lake, South Matthieu Lake, Sisters-Mirror Lakes, Camp and Chambers Lake area, Moraine Lake, Green Lakes area, Husband Lake, Eileen Lake, Obsidian Limited Entry area.
Area Camping Restrictions:
--Camping restrictions apply at the following areas and limit camping to within a specific distance of a designated sites or no closer than a specific distance to a body of water or location. (For more detailed information about the listing below visit the Willamette or Deschutes National Forest web site): Moraine Lake Area, Green Lakes Area, North and South Matthieu Lake, Golden Lake, Upper, Otter, Middle and Lower Erma Bell Lakes, Husband and Eileen Lake Areas, Obsidian Limited Entry Area, Linton Meadows Area.
Dog Leash Restrictions:
--Dogs must be leashed at Green and Moraine Lakes dispersed areas and the trails accessing these areas.
STOCK USERS
Hitching, tethering, picketing or otherwise securing any pack or saddle livestock within 200 feet of the high water mark of any permanent lake, stream, pond, spring, or trail is prohibited.
Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.
