Obsidian Falls - Opie Dildock Loop

18.5 miles of hiking • 3500' elevation gain • 1 night

Lavapalooza, Day Four! The original plan was for an in/out lollipop to Obsidian Falls, but we had a strong group so the hike was extended into a full loop along the PCT over Opie Dildock Pass to the Collier Glacier Viewpoint, then back down the Scott Trail to our starting point. Despite a persistently overcast sky, it was yet another incredible day along the McKenzie Pass corridor.

The start of the Obsidian Trail is non-remarkable. And then... You break out at a lava field, and there are tremendously powerful views of the Sisters right before you. As we continued on, the ground became littered with chipped up obsidian. Our first crossing of Obsidian Creek was something of a letdown. No falls? Hmmm, well, carry on. Of course, there was the massive Obsidian Cliff right there beside us, and that was truly something.

After we hooked a left on the PCT, the actual waterfalls soon became apparent. Almost as beautiful as I remembered it from the last time I was here - forty years ago! (Things were greener, and there was more water, then.) We lunched above the falls, then wandered over to Sister Spring, which turned out to not only be the source of Obsidian Creek, but just about the only source of fresh water we'd see all day.

The trail took a steady dip as we wound around Little Brother, and then the climb up to Opie Dildock began. Wow! What an awesome stretch of PCT this was! Not sure I can recall many as fascinating. The turns and twists as we ascended a lava chute were entirely hidden from below, but totally visible from above. Very cool.

The group was a bit hesitant about climbing up to the Collier Glacier View, but only a bit. When each got there, an exclamation was heard. Totally worth every bit of effort, and then some! Most awesome view, which could only have been improved with a bit more blue in the sky and green on the ground. :-)

We lingered for a long time before continuing on over Opie Dildock and down towards Minnie Scott Spring (which was also dry). Finally, we encountered our return trail, hooked a left, and began the long descent. Lots to see on the Scott Trail, and it would ordinarily be quite the highlight. But we'd been on sensory overload for awhile, so just sort of scurried along across most of it.

Exceptional day with incredible new trail friends!