S.T.A.R. Project - Sisters Country's First New Trails in 15 Years are Getting Underway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2026
Flagging is now underway as Sisters Trails Alliance and partners move the STAR Project from planning into early design, marking the start of the first major trail expansion in Sisters Country in 15 years.
Sisters, Oregon — After more than a decade without new trail construction in the Sisters Ranger District, the Sisters Trail Additions and Realignments (STAR) Project is moving forward. Planning and flagging work is now underway, marking the first tangible steps toward nearly 60 miles of new, formalized, and realigned trails that will connect the Sisters community more directly to the Deschutes National Forest.
The STAR Project will include the creation of nearly 17 miles of new trail, the formalization of 30 miles of existing equestrian routes, and the realignment of 12 miles of trails to improve wilderness access, protect wildlife habitat, and provide a better experience for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and trail runners. Caltopo map
S.T.A.R. Project georeferenced map can be found here.
The STAR Project is a collaboration between Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET), Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), and Save our East Cascades Trails (SECT), with each organization planning and building different segments of the expanded system. Joint volunteer work parties are expected to bring the broader trail community together as construction progresses in the coming months and years.
Two priority projects led by Sisters Trails Alliance are already underway. The Sisters Tie Trail reroute will replace sections of existing doubletrack with new singletrack and create a direct connection from the trail to the City of Sisters sidewalk system, making it easier for residents to walk, run, or ride from their neighborhood straight into the forest. The Crossroads Trail reroute and addition will add approximately two miles of new singletrack connecting to Cold Springs Campground, eventually allowing trail users to ride continuous singletrack from Sisters High School through the forest to Cold Springs Campground.
Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) is leading the design and construction of three additional segments. Trail F will add a new singletrack within the Peterson Ridge Trail system, Trail B will reopen the Cache Mountain Trail, while Trail H is shaping up to be a premier mountain bike trail in the Sisters area. A technical, terrain-driven route designed for riders looking for a more challenging experience than what currently exists in Sisters Country. COTA plans to build the lower portion of Trail H this year, with the upper portion to follow in 2027.
"We’re really letting the land dictate the design—working with the natural grade and trees to create something unique," says COTA’s Alex Brieger. "The goal is to offer a more rugged experience that’s built to last and gives local riders something new to get excited about."
Equestrian trail work is also getting underway. Oregon Equestrian Trails' Central Oregon Chapter volunteers, led by Pat Marquis, have begun scouting and flagging new alignments near Sisters Cow Camp and Whispering Pines Equestrian Campground. When complete, the OET segments will add approximately 27 miles of trail designed to bring riders back to their starting point through a mix of singletrack and existing forest roads.
Save our East Cascades Trails (SECT) is contributing three segments to the project. The Brush Creek Trail is a long-requested restoration of a spectacularly scenic route offering quick access to the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail was impacted by the 2003 B&B Wildfire Complex, and had fallen out of use due to lack of maintenance. SECT is also working on the Glacier View Reroute and Trail A, adding more options for wilderness trail users in Sisters Country. "Brush Creek Trail restoration has been a long time request," said Mark Scott of SECT. "We are beyond excited to have the opportunity to restore this trail back for public use. This will be a wonderful and unique addition to our wilderness trails."
If you've been out on the trails recently, you may have noticed small flags marking the ground in areas near the Sisters Tie and Crossroads corridors. Those flags are part of the active design process — they mark the center line of proposed trail routes and help the project team evaluate how the final trail will flow through the landscape. Mapping a trail corridor takes weeks of careful work in the field, and those markers are essential to getting the design right. If you come across flagging while out hiking, riding, or running, please leave it in place for the project teams.
Sisters Trails Alliance volunteers, donors, and trail users interested in getting involved can sign up at Better Impact or visit sisterstrails.org for updates as the project moves forward.
About Sisters Trails Alliance Sisters Trails Alliance is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance outdoor recreation and connect communities through stewardship of Sisters Country trails. STA works under a volunteer service agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and is supported by a volunteer corps of more than 300 hikers, cyclists, equestrians, trail runners, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, and nature lovers.
