Exploring Sisters

One of the best parts about living in Central Oregon is the seemingly endless types of landscapes available for both nature and portrait photography. We’ve seen a huge climb in population in the last ten to fifteen years or so, and it’s easy to see why places like Bend have created such a huge draw from visitors and people looking to cultivate a more active, outdoor lifestyle. It has a little bit of everything, from decent shopping and fun breweries to tons of hiking trails right outside the city. It’s basically a photographer’s dream. 

As a local who was born and raised here (yes, there are a few of us left), I always find it amusing to watch everyone gravitate towards Bend and miss out on some of the other beautiful areas that are within an easy half-hour drive or less. Bend is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not the only place here worth exploring. 

Most people are at least somewhat familiar with Redmond’s high desert terrain and rock formations, thanks to places like Smith Rock, but what they may not realize is that Redmond has fantastic views of the Cascades in several areas, where you can often see all the way from Mt. Bachelor to Mt. Hood on a good day.

View of Mt. Jefferson from Redmond, Oregon.

There’s an impressive canyon that meanders through part of the city and a couple of little waterfalls nearby, and even a small cave system on the edge of town. And for a different canyon view, just stop by the Peter Skene Ogden State Park on the north side of town.

Peter Skene Ogden State Park and railroad bridge.

But my favorite place to take photos for both landscapes and portraits? The tiny little town of Sisters.

With a population of less than 3,000 people, it’s easy for travelers to either drive straight through or simply take in the many shops downtown without realizing just how many beautiful spots are beyond that stretch of highway. Thanks to its impressive quilt show and rodeo, Sisters has definitely become a popular tourist destination, but I think a lot of local photographers forget just how lovely the scenery is there. Beautiful pine trees and larches are just outside of town, creating great backdrops for portraits.

There are also several meadow preserves with short walking trails just outside town, where panoramic views of the mountains are paired with ecological interests.

One of these nature walks includes some old historical landmarks and even an old cemetery, with some graves dating back to the 1800’s. 

The Whychus Creek Overlook is a mere ten minutes or so south of Sisters, and it offers another easy walking trail with breathtaking views of the Three Sisters and Broken Top.

The Three Sisters, as seen from the Whychus Creek Overlook.

And if you’re willing to travel a little further west, Camp Sherman and the Metolius River offer even more trails. These are especially great options in the autumn, because the sides of the river are lined with deciduous trees that explode with color during the fall months. (That's worthy of a blog post all on its own.)

Whether you happen to be in the Central Oregon area for your next vacation or if you’ve just moved to the area, don’t forget to check out this absolute gem and add a few of these places to your list. 

Happy travels!