South Sister, Devil's Lake

Activity Notes

Meeting time and driving directions: 

Carpooling is strongly encouraged.  Please contact the leader in the week before the climb and share your transportation plans.

Drive to Bend either via Government Camp and Madras (Hwy 26) or via Salem and North Santiam highway  (Hwy 22).  From Bend, take the Cascade Lakes Highway (Century Drive) toward Mt. Bachelor.  Drive past Mt. Bachelor Ski Area to Devils Lake Campground (south side of the Highway).  The campground is about 29 miles west of Bend.

We will car camp here Saturday night.  Plan to be at Devils Lake campground no later than 5:00pm on Saturday; earlier is better if you want a good campsite.  We’ll eat dinner around 6:00 or 7:00, and have a pre-trip briefing at 8:00 pm or earlier.  On Sunday, we will wake up at 3:00 and leave for the trailhead at 4:00 am.

Roundtrip mileage from Portland is about 380 miles. The Mazamas suggest a gas contribution of $0.14 per mile, or $53.20 per person to a maximum of $152 per car, payable to the driver. One way drive time is about 4 hours.  The most dangerous part of the trip may well be the drive home, so please carpool for safety and take a nap if you need to.

Permits / Fees (Trail, entrance, parking):

The US Forest Service requires a trailhead parking permits (NW Forest Pass) at Devils Lake. The Inn at the Seventh Mountain (on Century Drive between Bend and the campground) sells a day pass for $5.00, which is available at the recreation office.  Call them to confirm this. (Note that you do not need a parking pass if you park more than ¼ mile from the trailhead.  Move your car a bit, and no fee).