+ 5
Middle Sister
Hiking Trail
Hard
16.08 mi
5,449 ft
The shortest of the Three Sisters is still more technical to climb than the tallest.
Middle Sister is the shortest of the Three Sisters at 10,046 feet, but it's still a more technical climb than South Sister, the tallest of the three.
The route mapped here approaches via the Pole Creek Trail and Camp Lake Trail. The same approach can be used for North Sister, so some climbers will turn this into a multi-day expedition and climb both peaks from a basecamp in the middle.
The ascent to Middle Sister follows the climber trail up the valley between Middle Sister and North Sister. The route mapped here ascends the moderate valley all the way to the saddle between the two peaks. The peak is accessed "via Hayden Glacier on the east side,” according to Keema on []( The climb up the valley is an "easy glacier [slog] to a saddle between North and Middle Sister,” according to Keema. The route then turns left to make the main push for the summit of Middle Sister.
The steep ascent up Middle Sister is fairly straightforward, following the ridge from the saddle almost directly for the summit. That said, the snow and glacier travel continues, with rocks and boulders mixed in.
After you’ve enjoyed the stunning views from the summit, retrace your steps back to the car or your basecamp for the night.
Sources:
[](
[]( Written by Greg Heil
Middle Sister is the shortest of the Three Sisters at 10,046 feet, but it's still a more technical climb than South Sister, the tallest of the three.
The route mapped here approaches via the Pole Creek Trail and Camp Lake Trail. The same approach can be used for North Sister, so some climbers will turn this into a multi-day expedition and climb both peaks from a basecamp in the middle.
The ascent to Middle Sister follows the climber trail up the valley between Middle Sister and North Sister. The route mapped here ascends the moderate valley all the way to the saddle between the two peaks. The peak is accessed "via Hayden Glacier on the east side,” according to Keema on []( The climb up the valley is an "easy glacier [slog] to a saddle between North and Middle Sister,” according to Keema. The route then turns left to make the main push for the summit of Middle Sister.
The steep ascent up Middle Sister is fairly straightforward, following the ridge from the saddle almost directly for the summit. That said, the snow and glacier travel continues, with rocks and boulders mixed in.
After you’ve enjoyed the stunning views from the summit, retrace your steps back to the car or your basecamp for the night.
Sources:
[](
[]( Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Forest Development Road 1526 Climb | 1.84 mi | 436 ft | 4.5% |
| Unnamed Road Climb | 0.54 mi | 899 ft | 31.2% |