BCJ - Aug 24, 2019 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
After the fire
Completely burnt and exposed snags for the first 2.5 miles so there is very little protection from the elements. The burnt area has its own kind of beauty and it does open the views along the way. The view from the summit is one of the better ones in Central Oregon.
cjwhat - Jun 15, 2015 6:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2015
Longer option
Hwy 242 was still closed at MP 84 ... with no advance warning. That added 3 1/2 miles of highway walking to get to the trail head. Heidi was glad for the extra miles because she's an animal. Our dog Oreo, who is literally an animal, loved playing in the snow fields near the top, but lost all enthusiasm doing the extra 3 1/2 miles of highway walking on the way out. We were the only hikers this day.
emilie - Oct 9, 2014 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2014
Lovely hike
Awesome hike. 1 hr 42 mins to the top. Great training.
Nick Turtura - Aug 25, 2013 12:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
Great View
Beautiful day for a climb. 1.5 hrs up 1 hr down. It went a lot quicker than expected so don't worry if you want to add another peak to this trip.
Lunadog - Jul 6, 2010 2:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Snowy
Only my second Independence Day and I celebrated with a summit. Lots of snow, we didn't think we'd make it but I followed my Dad and we did. Dexter and I had fun wrestling and running in the snow fields. I tried to eat as much snow as I could to help the next hikers but I didn't get to it all.
alpinedon - Nov 22, 2009 2:39 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 1999
Deep Snow
Did this one on a record-setting snow year that saw McKenzie Pass open later than it ever had, and as a consequence, there was virtually no trail after the first eight of a mile or so. But, I found my way up the peak and eventually got to the summit to find a beautiful vista of lots of fluffy clouds. But, something told me not to linger, so after a few minutes time I glissaded down the north slope and dropped back into the trees. Shortly after that the thunder and lightning unleashed and I practically ran all the way back to the car.
Bombchaser - Aug 31, 2009 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2009
Easy Hike, Nice Views
Climbed Black Crater using the standard trail approach. The hike up is easy. Actually saw two wiener dogs make it to the top! The views form the summit are spectacular. Many of the Oregon Cascade volcanoes are visible and in your face. The 500 foot cliff on the west side can make for some nice cool guy photos!
Pallando - May 30, 2009 12:45 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
Route Climbed: East Face
Went with my dad from the east side on back roads (Gate was still closed). Climbed the southeast ridge of the crater to find snow most of the way up. Two hour ascent with beautiful views. Came out on top from the east side to see Mt. Washington, 3FJ and Jefferson rise up on the west side. Hour long descent back to the car.
verdeleone - Aug 31, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2008
crowded but cool
Good hike on a glorious day. Lots of other hikers. Couldn't ask for better weather--68 and sunny.
johnny72k - Jun 1, 2008 12:24 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2008
from the east, snowboard down
drove some dirt roads as high as I could, then hiked through last years burn and up the north ridge of the east bowl to the summit. it was a slog in my snowboard boots, but the ride down was worth it. dropping into the east bowl is crazy steep and all kinds of fun.
simonzster - Mar 19, 2008 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2000
Awesome!
This is so cool. Black Creater was the first thing I ever climbed. I climbed it with my dad, and we went down into the creater and kinda improvised our way down from there.
I have been up to the top twice. Once with a buddy in the early nineties, and once as a club hike. The view is one of the best of the Mckenzie lava complex. Both hikes where during warm weather and dusty trail conditions.
calebEOC - Jul 12, 2006 1:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2006
Killing time
I got the day off to find an apartment in Sisters, which I managed to knock out early enough in the morning that I had time left over to hike BC. Only saw three other people on the trail this weekday. It was pretty hot out, but a nice gusty wind blew all day keeping conditions enjoyable. View was great, it was a tad cloudy but not enough so to obstruct any of the views.
Route Climbed: black crater trail Date Climbed: august/1/05
Tried this hike earlier in the season but there was too much snow wich we weren't prepared for so we came back in august and reached the summit. you could see from Mt. Hood to broken top probably could have seen further on a clear day.
Route Climbed: East Face Date Climbed: April 2, 2004
Hiked in on the East side to Black Crater Lake and hiked up from there since McKenzie Pass was not open. Climbed up the North side of the bowl and then on up to the summit. Amazing views of North Sister and the lava flows. Snow didn't make for the best skiing down and we ended up on the wrong side of the bowl. It was super steep and heavily treed. Made for some tricky traversing to get back to the North Side but when your a bad ass, it can be down. Hiking out of the depression kind of sucked but after that, the snow was nice and firm and skiing back to the car made for the best turns of the day.
Route Climbed: Black Crater Trail Date Climbed: September 21, 2003
A wonderful Sunday afternoon hike with my favorite climbing partner, Cornvallis. Beautiful trail. The view of North Sister doesn't get any better (except for maybe from Middle). The crater is very cool. We stayed about 90 minutes on the summit eating lunch and scrambling out the north side of the crater. Up an down in about 5 hours including our time at the top.
calipidder - Jul 25, 2022 2:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2022
Early morning hike to beat the heatOne of my favorite central oregon summits plateaus.
nader - Sep 21, 2019 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2019
Black CraterSee trip report.
Through the burnt forest.
BCJ - Aug 24, 2019 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
After the fireCompletely burnt and exposed snags for the first 2.5 miles so there is very little protection from the elements. The burnt area has its own kind of beauty and it does open the views along the way. The view from the summit is one of the better ones in Central Oregon.
cjwhat - Jun 15, 2015 6:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2015
Longer optionHwy 242 was still closed at MP 84 ... with no advance warning. That added 3 1/2 miles of highway walking to get to the trail head. Heidi was glad for the extra miles because she's an animal. Our dog Oreo, who is literally an animal, loved playing in the snow fields near the top, but lost all enthusiasm doing the extra 3 1/2 miles of highway walking on the way out. We were the only hikers this day.
emilie - Oct 9, 2014 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2014
Lovely hikeAwesome hike. 1 hr 42 mins to the top. Great training.
Nick Turtura - Aug 25, 2013 12:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
Great ViewBeautiful day for a climb. 1.5 hrs up 1 hr down. It went a lot quicker than expected so don't worry if you want to add another peak to this trip.
Lunadog - Jul 6, 2010 2:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
SnowyOnly my second Independence Day and I celebrated with a summit. Lots of snow, we didn't think we'd make it but I followed my Dad and we did. Dexter and I had fun wrestling and running in the snow fields. I tried to eat as much snow as I could to help the next hikers but I didn't get to it all.
alpinedon - Nov 22, 2009 2:39 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 1999
Deep SnowDid this one on a record-setting snow year that saw McKenzie Pass open later than it ever had, and as a consequence, there was virtually no trail after the first eight of a mile or so. But, I found my way up the peak and eventually got to the summit to find a beautiful vista of lots of fluffy clouds. But, something told me not to linger, so after a few minutes time I glissaded down the north slope and dropped back into the trees. Shortly after that the thunder and lightning unleashed and I practically ran all the way back to the car.
Bombchaser - Aug 31, 2009 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2009
Easy Hike, Nice ViewsClimbed Black Crater using the standard trail approach. The hike up is easy. Actually saw two wiener dogs make it to the top! The views form the summit are spectacular. Many of the Oregon Cascade volcanoes are visible and in your face. The 500 foot cliff on the west side can make for some nice cool guy photos!
Pallando - May 30, 2009 12:45 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
Route Climbed: East FaceWent with my dad from the east side on back roads (Gate was still closed). Climbed the southeast ridge of the crater to find snow most of the way up. Two hour ascent with beautiful views. Came out on top from the east side to see Mt. Washington, 3FJ and Jefferson rise up on the west side. Hour long descent back to the car.
verdeleone - Aug 31, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2008
crowded but coolGood hike on a glorious day. Lots of other hikers. Couldn't ask for better weather--68 and sunny.
johnny72k - Jun 1, 2008 12:24 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2008
from the east, snowboard downdrove some dirt roads as high as I could, then hiked through last years burn and up the north ridge of the east bowl to the summit. it was a slog in my snowboard boots, but the ride down was worth it. dropping into the east bowl is crazy steep and all kinds of fun.
simonzster - Mar 19, 2008 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2000
Awesome!This is so cool. Black Creater was the first thing I ever climbed. I climbed it with my dad, and we went down into the creater and kinda improvised our way down from there.
cascadetraveler - Sep 19, 2006 12:53 pm
Not sure of the dates?I have been up to the top twice. Once with a buddy in the early nineties, and once as a club hike. The view is one of the best of the Mckenzie lava complex. Both hikes where during warm weather and dusty trail conditions.
calebEOC - Jul 12, 2006 1:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2006
Killing timeI got the day off to find an apartment in Sisters, which I managed to knock out early enough in the morning that I had time left over to hike BC. Only saw three other people on the trail this weekday. It was pretty hot out, but a nice gusty wind blew all day keeping conditions enjoyable. View was great, it was a tad cloudy but not enough so to obstruct any of the views.
Harry of Oregon - Sep 5, 2005 7:48 pm
Route Climbed: Black Crater Trail Date Climbed: September 3, 2005Hiked the trail on Saturday along with the 25 other people seen on the way. Didn't know it was this popular.
Had the summit all by myself though!
Was surprised by the beauty of this trail.
Clouds came in and blocked the view for a time reminding me winter is on it's way.
alexr - Aug 4, 2005 4:31 pm
Route Climbed: black crater trail Date Climbed: august/1/05Tried this hike earlier in the season but there was too much snow wich we weren't prepared for so we came back in august and reached the summit. you could see from Mt. Hood to broken top probably could have seen further on a clear day.
K2McKay - Nov 22, 2004 6:48 pm
Route Climbed: East Face Date Climbed: April 2, 2004Hiked in on the East side to Black Crater Lake and hiked up from there since McKenzie Pass was not open. Climbed up the North side of the bowl and then on up to the summit. Amazing views of North Sister and the lava flows. Snow didn't make for the best skiing down and we ended up on the wrong side of the bowl. It was super steep and heavily treed. Made for some tricky traversing to get back to the North Side but when your a bad ass, it can be down. Hiking out of the depression kind of sucked but after that, the snow was nice and firm and skiing back to the car made for the best turns of the day.
annaleiserabinek - Sep 22, 2003 5:31 pm
Route Climbed: Black Crater Trail Date Climbed: September 21, 2003A wonderful Sunday afternoon hike with my favorite climbing partner, Cornvallis. Beautiful trail. The view of North Sister doesn't get any better (except for maybe from Middle). The crater is very cool. We stayed about 90 minutes on the summit eating lunch and scrambling out the north side of the crater. Up an down in about 5 hours including our time at the top.
cmc56789 - Aug 4, 2003 12:29 am
Route Climbed: Black Crater Trail Date Climbed: August 3, 2003A pretty easy hike on a partly cloudy day. still had pretty nice views of north sister and the lava beds. I saw 21 other people on the trail.