Before the European settlers first appeared, the area around what is now Sisters was frequently inhabited by Native American tribes. These bands are now part of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Warm Springs Reservation is just to the north of Sisters.
Camp Polk, a military outpost, was formed in 1985 but lasted less than a year. The town of Sisters was formally established in 1901. The town is known as the Gateway to the Cascades as it is surrounded by the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests. Besides camping, activities in the nearby forests include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, paddling, fishing, and rock climbing. Nearby Smith Rock hosts world-class climbing routes. You can also travel along a wealth of scenic byways.
The year-round population of Sisters is around 2,600. While small, the town hosts a range of restaurants, shopping opportunities, and art galleries that you would expect in a much larger town. Coffee and old-fashioned treats abound at places like Sisters Coffee Company and Sno Cap Ice Cream. You'll also find breweries, saloons, and more formal sit-down restaurants. The town is less than two square miles, but it has several small parks, a labyrinth, and a community garden.
At the Park & Recreation District Office are a skate park and the Hyzer Pines Disc Golf Course. Along the southwest edge of town, you'll find a beautiful, developed area to relax and take in the majesty of the Three Sisters peaks.
Sisters Rodeo – This rodeo is dubbed “The Biggest Little Show in the World” and occurs during the second week of June. Festivities include a parade in Sisters as well as typical rodeo events like bull riding, barrel racing, and roping competitions.
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show – This annual event in early July has been going on for over 40 years. Billed as the world's largest outdoor quilt show, it displays more than 1,300 quilts and draws visitors from all 50 states and abroad.
Sister Folk Festival – This annual, three-day event usually occurs in late September and early October across multiple venues in Sisters.
Crater Lake National Park is Oregon's only national park. It's about a two-hour drive from Sisters. The lake was formed after Mount Mazama underwent a cataclysmal eruption and then collapsed. It is the ninth-deepest lake in the world. Seasonally, you can hike down to the water, but it is a steep, taxing climb back up. The drive around the rim is spectacular.
Lofty Mount Rainier in neighboring Washington rises to 14,417 feet. At Mount Rainier National Park, you'll find dozens of trails, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. You can traverse old-growth forests and subalpine meadows. The glacier-covered volcano is not extinct and smoke still drifts out of the top. Mountain goats, deer, and black bears are just a few of the wildlife species you may encounter at this park, which is about 300 miles to the north of Sisters near Tacoma.
Walking in the shadow of the redwood forest, the trees have a presence all their own at Redwood National Park, which is around 400 miles south of Sisters in Crescent City, CA. It is operated jointly with the California state park system. Whether you are looking for a leisurely scenic drive or you plan to spend a few weeks, you can find hiking trails among these giant trees to suit your needs. Other activities include exploring tidepools, kayaking, biking, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding.
Tumalo State Park occupies a tract along the Deschutes River less than 30 miles southeast of Sisters. It's one of the few spots along the Deschutes River where it is safe to swim. You can also enjoy this popular spot for floating, hiking, and fishing. The park offers a playground, flush toilets, showers, and a dump station.
For year-round camping and outdoor recreation, visit The Cove Palisades State Park. It covers both the Deschutes and Crooked River canyons. Hiking, swimming, paddling, and fishing are all popular activities. The park offers boat rentals at the marina, playgrounds, flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station.
Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are all common activities at LaPine State Park, which is about an hour northeast of Sisters. The park offers a playground, flush toilets, hot showers, an off-leash dog area, and a dump station.
Rock climbing is the main attraction at Smith Rock State Park, which is approximately 35 miles northeast of Sisters. It boasts several thousand climbs of all types and levels. Seasonally, it's home to a variety of nesting raptors. Hiking is another popular activity.
Hoodoo Ski Area is located about a half-hour drive from Sisters. It offers day and night skiing and snowboarding. It also features Nordic trails and the Autobahn Tubing Park. There are lessons for all ages and levels in skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country. You can also learn to ride a ski bike or ski trike. One- or two-day visits are common.
The Metolius River, approximately 60 miles north of Sisters, is one of the most pristine rivers in the U.S. and features trophy-sized trout. You will find hiking trails and can visit the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Interagency work is ongoing to restore the Chinook and sockeye salmon. Birders can glimpse birds of prey as well as shore and wading birds.
Elephants, giant sloths, and saber-toothed cats used to roam this area, and at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located 115 miles east of Sisters, you can learn all about them. This park is also home to the Painted Hills, where layered deposits offer an otherworldly landscape.
Start your exploration of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which is 33 miles south of Sisters, at the Lava Lands Visitor Center. The park covers over 54,000 acres of lakes, lava flows, and other fascinating geological structures. You can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or you can take part in one of its interpretive and educational programs.
Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort, found four miles south of Sisters, is a pet-friendly facility that offers full hookups at its back-in and pull-through sites. Rates start at $40 a night and include free Wi-Fi. Crooked River Ranch RV Park, located 40 miles to the northeast of Sisters, offers 30- and 50-amp, full hookup sites. Discounted rates for Good Sam members, veterans, and active-duty military start at $36.87 a night and include free Wi-Fi. A playground and walking path can help you keep moving during your stay. River Rim and Big Horn RV Parks, 25 miles to the northeast in Terrebonne, focus on long-term occupancies and start at $550 a month. Pets are allowed, and Wi-Fi is free.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Sisters, OR, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Sisters?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Sisters from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Sisters?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.