First Tuesday in April, 7:00 AM PDT; 7-day rolling releases after that
Distance (elevation)
20.0 mi
3,830 ft gain / 4,150 ft loss
Typical days
2-3 days
Trailhead
Devils Lake Trailhead
Overview
A classic Central Cascades overnight, this route links Devils Lake, Green Lakes, and the broad volcanic shoulder beneath South Sister in one of Oregon’s most popular alpine basins.
How to book
Booking the South Sister + Green Lakes Loop
Central Cascades overnight permits are tied to the entry trailhead printed on the reservation, not the campsite you hope to use later. For this Devils Lake-based South Sister loop, the real decision is whether Devils Lake still fits the route or whether a different entry trailhead turns it into a different trip.
About 40% of overnight permits release on the first Tuesday in April at 7:00 AM Pacific, then the remaining inventory rolls out seven days before each trip start date.
You reserve by entry date, entry trailhead, group size, and trip length. You do not pick individual campsites in Recreation.gov.
If you pivot to a Green Lakes or Broken Top entry, change the permit too. The camp list here does not override the trailhead quota.
This loop mixes straightforward lake mileage with hotter, more exposed volcanic terrain once you push toward South Sister or the higher benches.
Camp Lake and the South Sister high-camp options feel much bigger with afternoon sun, wind, and limited shelter.
If lingering snow blocks the upper line, the lower camps can still make a good trip even when the full loop does not go cleanly.
Recommended gear
What to carry for this route
Sun protection + extra water capacity
the exposed volcanic side is hotter than the map suggests
Trekking poles
useful on dusty descents and loose volcanic tread
Traction or ice axe plan for early season
important if snow lingers near the higher camps
Water treatment
lakes and streams are easy to reach but still need filtering
Current smoke and trail status
late summer conditions can change quickly in the Central Cascades
Permit confirmation + trailhead plan
entry trailhead matters more than the camp list
Live permit availability
See what is open before you set the tracker.
This is a compact, current snapshot for the dates and route filters that matter to this trip. It is built from the projection-backed live availability table so the details page stays fast while still showing useful signal.
Showing route-relevant areas: Broken Top / Crater Ditch, Devil's Lake / Wickiup (South Sister), Green Lake / Soda Creek
Currently availableNot currently openNo recent snapshot
Planning notes
Route notes
Three Sisters focus
Green Lakes is the cleanest overnight anchor for a first Central Cascades planner route.
South Sister, Green Lakes, and the Broken Top side of the wilderness pull a lot of interest, but the overnight experience is shaped by a handful of camps that people actually use. This route starts from Devils Lake and builds around the camps most hikers recognize when they are sketching a strong two- or three-day trip.
It is not trying to be every Three Sisters itinerary at once. It is a deliberate first route that keeps the planner useful while the permit model catches up.
Moraine Lake works for a quick first night from Devils Lake.
Camp Lake is the better high camp if South Sister is part of the objective.
Green Lakes is the most obvious shared decision point between scenic mileage and summit ambition.
Permit fit
Choose the route first, then confirm which trailhead quota actually governs it.
Central Cascades permits are easy to misunderstand because camps are not the booking surface. What matters first is which trailhead you use to enter the wilderness and whether that specific entry point is available on your date.
This planner now maps the most likely entry trailheads behind the scenes so the tracker setup starts in the right place. You still need to confirm that the route you want and the trailhead you plan to use actually line up.
Devils Lake is the core entry assumption for this loop.
Green Lakes and Broken Top matter because they can govern the same camp decisions through different trailhead quotas.
A good tracker here follows the trailhead division behind your route instead of pretending the campsite is the reservation surface.
Trip FAQ
Common planning questions
Does a Central Cascades overnight permit cover any campsite in this area?
No. Central Cascades permits are issued by entry trailhead. Your camp choices matter for planning, but the permit question starts with where you enter the wilderness.
Which trailhead should I track if I want Green Lakes or Camp Lake?
Track the trailhead you actually expect to use as your entry. Devils Lake is the default assumption here, but Green Lakes and Broken Top can control some of the same camp choices if your route starts from those trailheads instead.
