Four in One Cone

Distance: 9.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet.

Four in One Cone is a cool geological feature located in the northwestern corner of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Here, four cinder cones are lined up side by side, so close that there is a continuous ridgeline along their summits, with four different craters blowing our their northwestern flanks. The hike to the cone is nice gradual, if long, uphill through varying terrain of forest and lava flows. And the views are amazing.

The trail to Four in One Cone begins at the Scott Trailhead, located right off of Highway 242 at the entrance road to Scott Lake. Follow the Scott Trail (yes, this is a lot of Scotts) as it leaves out of the western edge of the parking lot and quickly crosses over the highway before entering the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Once across the highway, the trail becomes its slow and methodical climb towards Four in One Cone. The lower elevations are dominated by lodgepole pine and some nice understory of huckleberries. So if you time your hike right, like mid-August or so, you should be in for a nice treat. They are an especially nice reward on your way back down. Perform a sharp switchback with a viewpoint over Frog Camp Creek Canyon and keep treading higher. The vegetation will start to switch to Hemlock and Bear Grass. And you will keep hiking.

Just before the 3 mile mark, you will reach the first lava flow. The trail can get a little loose here as you march through the alien landscape. Small trees try their best to establish themselves in the black rock, and not all of the make it. Soon, you will pop out into a small forested island, and then enter the lava once more. Keep your head up so you can start catching your first glimpses of the North and Middle Sister in the distance.

Just a third of a mile after first entering the lava, you will drop back down into another, much larger forested island. Here you will continue along the edge of the flow as you make the final push towards Four in One Cone. Around the 4 mile mark, you will again enter into a lava/pumice area and will see the cone through the trees on your left. Keep hiking along the trail just to the point to where you feel like you are passing it. Then, you will crest over a small hill and see the trail spread out before you in a sea of black rock. You will also see the user trail heading up the cone. Once you reach it, you will know it’s the right trail because there is a sign saying User Trail. There’s also the “Not Maintained” warning but don’t worry, this trail is easy to follow.

So make the left and begin the quick climb up the cone. The trail sidehills up the eastern face of Four in One Cone, but never seems to steep. Soon, you will find yourself on a saddle between two of the craters, and the rim of the cone stretches out to both your left and right. The true summit if the southernmost cone to your left, and this has the best views, so if you have to head somewhere, left is what I would recommend. The slopes down into the craters and very steep and loose, so don’t get too close to the edges. Once you reach the summit, enjoy the jaw dropping views of North and Middle Sister, with Collier Glacier spilling down from Middle. There’s also Little Brother right in front of the sisters and jagged ridgeline of The Husband can be seen to the right of it all. To the north, Belknap Crater, Scott Mountain, Mt Washington, Black Crater, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt Jefferson are all laid out for you. So enjoy yourself. And start thinking about those Huckleberries on the way back.

Directions

From Sisters, head west on Highway 242 over McKenzie Pass. The trailhead will be on the west side of the pass, 20.5 miles from Sisters, on your left. From Eugene, head east on Highway 126 until you reach the junction with highway 242 after 56 miles. Head right onto 242 and continue up the pass for 16 miles. Make note that McKenzie Pass is closed for the majority of the year. It closes once the snow starts to fall and usually doesn’t open again until sometime in June or even July.

Things to Know

Passes: A Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required to access this area between June 15th and October 15th. The permits will be available from recreation.gov and will go on sale in early April. A Northwest Forest Pass is also required to park at this trailhead.

Dogs: Allowed and must be on leash or under voice command at all times.

Usage: Light

Open Season: Higher elevation trails usually melt off sometime in July and remain open until the first snow falls.

Bugs: Mosquitos can be bad during the melt season, usually June-July, then will mostly clear up moving into August.