Wednesday, August 31, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
17
Matthieu Lakes: No. 1 hike recommendation
By Craig F. Eisenbeis
Correspondent
I am frequently asked to
name my favorite hike, and
that’s a really difficult task.
On the other hand, I have
an unhesitating response if
someone asks me, “We only
have half a day, where can I
take my friends on a hike to
show them the best of our
area?”
The answer to that ques-
tion is a no-brainer. I tell them
to hike the Matthieu Lakes
Trail, a pleasant outing in
the Three Sisters Wilderness
that does not involve a major
expedition. It’s a great hike
for people who aren’t really
looking for a hard-core all-
day adventure; and it has it all:
mid-range distance, a modest
level of difficulty, wilderness,
lush green (unburned) forest,
wildflowers, huckleberries,
swimmable mountain lakes,
and sweeping close-up moun-
tain views.
This six-mile loop sits
just on the Sisters side of
McKenzie Pass. The Forest
Service lists it as an “easy”
hike, but I would consider it
“moderate” because of some
steep sections. It is suitable
for children, but you will
probably end up carrying tod-
dlers. The outing can also be
shortened to a quick 4.6-mile
in-and-out hike by visiting
only North Matthieu Lake.
Less than a quarter of a
mile from the trailhead, the
route meets the Pacific Crest
Trail (PCT) at a wall of lava
rock. Turn left (south) onto
the PCT and continue for
another half-mile until the
trail forks to the right toward
North Matthieu Lake. If you
miss the fork, it’s no big deal,
because the two trails merge
again farther up the grade; but
you would have bypassed the
first lake.
The trail heads up a mod-
erate grade through a mixed
conifer forest of hemlock
and fir. The forest floor has
lush ground-cover, including
low-bush huckleberries, mak-
ing it more reminiscent of a
West-side forest. Of course,
the “West side” is only a half-
mile away. As the trail climbs,
it passes several ponds; it is
well maintained and the going
is pretty easy.
The Matthieu Lakes are
scenic mountain gems. The
first, North Matthieu Lake, is
2.3 miles in and is surrounded
by dense forest. The unusual
spelling of these lakes can
be traced to Francis Xavier
Matthieu. From Montreal,
Canada, Matthieu was among
several French pioneers in the
Oregon Territory who met at
Champoeg in 1843 to estab-
lish Oregon’s first provisional
government. Matthieu and
his fellow Frenchmen voted
to join with the Americans,
cementing the American
claim on the Oregon Territory.
Their action sounded the
death knell for British inter-
ests in the region. Matthieu
died at the age of 100 in 1919,
still an Oregonian.
The lakes were named for
him in 1924.
From the north lake, the
summit of the North Sister
can be seen peeking over a
ridge to the south. On the day
of our visit it was really hot,
so we took advantage of the
opportunity and jumped right
in. After a refreshing swim,
we continued on toward the
south lake, following the trail
around the east shore.
South Matthieu Lake is
another mile of mostly uphill
trail. The total elevation climb
from the trailhead is only 800
feet, but it seems like more.
The trail rejoins the PCT
just before reaching the lake.
South Matthieu Lake sits
right in the saddle of Scott
Pass, which is a feature of
significant historical interest
in Sisters Country.
The mountain view from
Scott Pass and the south lake
is truly majestic and is a great
place to celebrate your hike
with a well-earned lunch
break. As might be expected,
we jumped into the water
again and, this time, swam in
the company of some interest-
ing amphibians, slippery little
newts with external gills.
If you’re up for a little
extra exploration, continue a
short distance on the PCT. Try
to imagine bringing a herd of
a thousand cattle and several
wagons over this very steep
pass. That’s exactly what
Felix Scott, Jr., did here in
1862. He was instrumental in
pioneering an early east-west
route through this area. Scott
Lake, Scott Mountain, Scott
Pass and Scott Trail are all
named for him.
On the return route from
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south lake, we took
the right fork, or
“high road,” north
of the lake, stay-
ing on the PCT.
Soon we found
ourselves travers-
ing a steep red cin-
der slope. Keep an
eye out below, and
you’ll have a great
bird’s-eye view
of the north lake,
which you passed
on the way in.
Once you’re
back inside the for-
est, notice the bent
photo by Craig F. eisenbeis
trees lining the
sides of the cin- In the shadow of the North Sister, hikers take a
der hillside. Many swim break in South Matthieu lake.
of the tree trunks
have a prominent curve You’ll know if you’ve missed
toward the downward slope the turn, because the trail will
before they reach vertically soon set out across a portion
to the sky. When these trees of the lava field. The entire
were young, heavy snows loop can be easily completed
weighted them down-slope in a few hours, including
until they were tall enough sightseeing, swimming, and
and strong enough to over- lunch breaks.
come this seasonal force; but
The trailhead is easy to
their early history is preserved reach from Sisters. Drive out
in the misshapen trunks.
the McKenzie Highway (242)
The return is a pleasant for a total of about 14 miles.
one, and you will soon find Turn left onto a gravel road
yourself back at the trail junc- toward Lava Camp Lake after
tion where you turned off to milepost 78; it’s also clearly
the north lake. Continue north marked for the Pacific Crest
on the PCT, and take note of Trail. If you reach McKenzie
the numerous burls disfigur- Pass, you’ve gone a half-
ing tree trunks and limbs in mile too far. Turn right at the
this area. Burls are most often “horse use area,” which is
formed by the trees’ response about 0.3 mile off Highway
to insects or disease.
242 and before Lava Camp
When you reach the clearly Lake. The trail begins at the
marked return to the Lava loop parking area. Free wil-
Lake trailhead, take a right derness permits are required,
and return to your vehicle. and available, at the trailhead.