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Bend and Sisters via Elk Lake and Santiam Pass

Bend and Sisters via Elk Lake and Santiam Pass reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

Bend and Sisters in central Oregon form a major urban-services cluster for PCT hikers, typically accessed via trailheads and road crossings near Elk Lake on the Cascade Lakes Highway or at Santiam Pass on Highway 20.

Key points

  • The PCT crosses or approaches multiple access points that connect to Bend and Sisters, including Elk Lake trailheads on the Cascade Lakes Highway and the Santiam Pass area on Highway 20.
  • Bend is a larger regional city with extensive grocery options, outfitters, lodging, and transportation links; Sisters provides a smaller but well-equipped trail-friendly town environment.
  • Many hikers choose at least one full resupply and rest stop in this corridor due to the depth of services and availability of replacement gear.
  • Multiple trailheads and highway crossings give hikers flexibility in how far they carry food between Shelter Cove, Bend/Sisters, and subsequent stops such as Big Lake or Timberline.
  • Access typically involves hitches or prearranged shuttles from trailheads, with distances and wait times varying by time of day and season.
  • The area’s popularity for outdoor recreation means that PCT hikers are one of several user groups sharing local infrastructure.

Details

The central Oregon stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail passes through a region with multiple connection points to the towns of Bend and Sisters. For northbound hikers, these access points often come after a resupply at Shelter Cove or another mid-Oregon location and before the Highway 20 / Big Lake corridor and Mt Hood to the north.

One common approach uses trailheads near Elk Lake and the Cascade Lakes Highway. Short side trails from the PCT lead to the highway, where hikers may seek rides into Bend or, in some cases, access smaller lakeside facilities. This route allows a relatively early connection to full-service resupply if a hiker prefers shorter food carries or needs gear support sooner rather than later.

Another widely referenced access point is Santiam Pass on Highway 20, where the PCT crosses a major east–west route. From Santiam Pass, hikers can attempt to hitch either west toward the town of Sisters or farther toward Bend. Distances, traffic patterns, and wait times vary, but the highway’s role as a regional corridor generally provides a consistent flow of vehicles during daylight hours in peak hiking season.

Bend itself functions as a large resupply and gear center, with multiple supermarkets, outdoor retailers, lodging options at various price points, and transportation links to other parts of Oregon. Many hikers use Bend for major gear replacements, medical appointments, or extended rest due to this service density. Sisters offers a smaller, more compact downtown with grocery options, lodging, and a trail-aware community atmosphere, making it attractive for hikers who prefer a quieter environment while still accessing core services.

Because there are several ways to reach these towns, hikers can tailor their logistics to match pace and preference. Some will enter town once, others may make multiple shorter town visits via different trailheads, and some may choose to bypass the larger urban stop entirely in favor of resort-style resupplies and smaller nodes.

Overall, the Bend/Sisters corridor provides one of the most comprehensive service clusters along the Oregon PCT, combining flexibility in trailhead access with a wide range of in-town support options that can accommodate a variety of long-distance hiking strategies.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.