Pinyon Pine Loop (Low Road to High Road) - 8/30/25

Traction Benchmark from our lowest Elevation

Starting down the "Low Road" of the Pinyon Pine Loop

View back as we started up the "High Road" of the Pinyon Pine Loop

Susan and Sue on our early morning Hike

Our curiosity about the Pinyon Pine Loop was primed. We had to go out and see more of it. After all, someone once told me that it's not "just" a desert hike, it's why we live in the desert! Many of us view the desert as a great new territory. It is something that many of us did not experience growing up. And, the Lady Hikers (aka The Wanderers) are here to tell you that the desert is a beautiful place. So, the lower elevations of the Spring Mountains is a perfect place to go right now, the morning temperatures are in the 60's and 70's. Perfect for a hike ... especially if there is a slight breeze once in a while. We drove up to the Sawmill Trailhead on Lee Canyon Road and parked at the lower end near the restrooms and horses.

Wandering game trails above the Sawmill TH

We finished our wander here at a trail junction.

Mummy Mountain from the climb up to No Mads Road

Turning onto the Green Trail Down

There is no direct trail up to the lower end of Sawmill ridge so, true to our new name, we wandered up through the Transition Life Zone (home to Pinyon-Juniper woodland) and stumbled upon a game trail. Following the trail, we climbed up to the small peak amidst the Sawmill Trails and descended down to a sharp curve on the Blue Trail. Trying to make sense of all the colored trail signs, (forget it), we climbed up to the lower end of the Sawmill Ridge and started down the Green Trail. We passed the Mud Springs junction and continued around to the right to drop into a nice wash. This was the "Low Road" of the Pinyon Pine Loop. Motorbikes have trenched the trail all the way down but ... well, ... at least the trail is clear. 

Dropping into the Pinyon Pine Loop "Low Road"

Low Road Trail on Pinyon Pine Loop

Starting up the High Road on the Ridge Trail

Beautiful Tree

The "High Road" we would use for our return was on top of the ridge to our right. It appeared to be easy to surmount the ridge at several points. At about 3.25 miles into the hike, the trail began crossing a few arroyos to the right to meet the ridge trail. It was easy to bushwhack up and take our break. The weather was still pleasant and the views down this low were different and beautiful. Now, the climb! It was a gentle climb for the most part. However, it was a climb of almost 2 miles before we reached the Sawmill ridge's lower end. During the climb up, we tried to find the ridge descent that we took 2 days ago but everything looks different from the other direction! The elk skeleton is probably still there!

Spring Mountain Divide from Ridge Trail

The Wanderers with Traction Benchmark in Background

The High Road Ridge Trail with Macks Peak in Background

Pinyon Pine Ridge Trail

At the top of the "High Road," we turned to reach the top ridge to our left. Here, we took the Blue Trail back to the vicinity of the parking lot. A bushwhack back over more or less the way we came led us back to our car. There were children, parents and horses all around. Holiday weekend. It was a great workout and we satisfied our wandering senses again.

Stats: 6.5 miles; 1300' gain; 3.75 hours

Susan climbs the Ridge

Nearing the top of the "High Road" Pinyon Pine Ridge Trail

Using the Blue Trail on the Return

Wiggles & Ridges (Lower elevations of Lee Canyon) - 8/28/25

Joshua Tree trying to make a Come-back (Pinyon Pine Loop)

Bull Elk Remains

There is an area of trails located in the desert terrain below Sawmill Trailhead that is mostly ignored by hikers in the summertime. The trails for this route are located between 6800' and 7000'. This is similar to the elevations for Kyle Canyon trails and not as crowded. The trails were made for the use of equestrians, however, I don't even believe some of them are used by them. It appears that there has been ATV usage, especially on the Blue Tree Loop trail. This is illegal.

Starting up the Blue Tree Loop (Mummy Mountain in Background)

Blue Tree Loop (Macks Peak in Background)

Susan and Sue on the Blue Tree Loop

 Anyway, we parked where one of the campground roads turns off of Lee Canyon Road just below 7000' in elevation. Instead of following the road down to the right, we bushwhacked through the light desert foliage to where the road is at its low point. The main dirt road we connected with is called No Mads Road. This dirt road is steep and rocky so, if you want to try taking your vehicle on it, it better be a good one! We climbed the road a short distance and found the Blue Tree Loop trail to the left. I have hiked down this trail many times in the past but this would only be the second time that I hiked up. (BTW, I just learned that this is the trail that my husband helped build with REI and Nevada Wilderness around 10 years ago.)

Old Juniper Tree on Blue Tree Loop

Blue Tree Loop (Mummy's Nose in Background)

Spring Mountain Divide from Pinyon Pine Loop
 (L-R Macks Pk, Bonanza Pk, Willow Pk, Wheeler Pass, Wheeler Pk)

Pinyon Pine Loop eastern View

My favorite name for this trail is the Wiggles! The obvious reason is that it twists, curves and turns all the way up toward Sawmill Trailhead for over a mile and a half. We junctioned with a rocky dirt road, turned right and climbed the hill until we reached the top of No Mads Road that turns to the right at 2 miles into the hike. The road leads down a gentle slope for a quarter mile then turns sharply to the right. Here, the Pinyon Pine Loop trail veers off to the left. We hiked down this trail balancing on a narrowish ridge for ~0.8 mile. The ridge and views were beautiful. At this point, there is a gentle ridge descent to the right that we bushwhacked down, landing us gently into what we would later name Elk Wash.

Mysterious cairn on Pinyon Pine Loop (cross route?)

Mule deer Antler in Elk Wash

Elk Wash

Approach to bull elk Remains

We had no idea what surprise was coming! First, as we were walking down the game trail in the middle of the wash, Sue and I absently stepped over a deer antler. It was Susan that exclaimed, "What have we here?" It was a mule deer antler. We don't see that many of those. So, we continued and, not much further, "Oh, WOW!" All three of us were stunned with the remains of a large bull elk. He was huge! We tried not to think about the carnage that was involved as a mountain lion took down his / her kill. The bull's remains were mostly concentrated in one spot of the wash. We didn't touch any of the bones except to adjust the skull and antlers so that photos were made easier. We spent about 5 minutes there just saying, Wow! Wow! Wow! ... etc. Finding this poor elk's remains made the whole hike worth while, especially since it was just a beautiful desert trail, we were hiking. Leaving the elk behind, we continued down the wash and followed a game trail up to the adjacent ridge to the right. This eventually led us to No Mads Road. (No, the upper road and the lower roads do not connect anymore. I think these roads did at one time since they travel to Mud Springs and the Cold Creek areas. It must have been a very very long road!

"Look at all those teeth!"

The dinner table!

Elk Details

Huge head and Antlers

We arrived at the road where it circles at the end. First, we attempted to follow the road back to our car but the road is not very user friendly for hikers. Steep and rocky. So, we began bushwhacking more or less parallel to the road. The hills were much easier to deal with among the desert foliage. Finally, after about a mile of keeping the road in our peripheral vision, and a few other weird things (like never quite going far enough to find the Rocky Gorge Trail to cross until we gave up!), we descended the last hill and bushwhacked back up to the car. Fun day full of exploring and surprises!

Stats: 5 miles; 1100' gain; 4 hours

Another view of bull elk remains in Elk Wash

Unusual Lizard (maybe Spiny Lizard or Great Basin Fence Lizard or ...?)

Nearing off-trail bushwhack on Pinyon Pine Loop

No Mads Road on last leg of hike causing parallel Bushwhack

Lee Canyon Narrows (Bottom Up) - 8/25/25

Kay and Sue peer into the Lee Canyon Narrows

Susan checks out the climb up to the top of the Narrows (Nope!)

One of the large cairns at a wash Crossing

Sunrise view of Mummy's Nose at beginning of Hike

Rain was predicted at noon in the lower elevations of Lee Canyon and the temps were quite pleasant down there for a change. The Lady Hikers were able to sneak in a short 4.5 mile hike starting at the Blue Tree Loop Trailhead located at 6600' on Lee Canyon Road. I used to call this the Old Lee Canyon Trailhead, mostly because it is located on a section of the old Lee Canyon Road that curves out from the new one for a very short distance. Recently, a new sign has been placed there naming this trail, the Blue Tree Loop. This is a route I named in the past as the Lee Canyon / Sawmill Wiggles Loop. For info on this route, search for this name on the blog. However, in the future, I'll use the new name.

Passing large tree, arriving at bottom of Lee Canyon

A sunny Spot

Beautifully maintained Trail

Hiking along interesting Cliffs

There is ample parking at the trailhead and just a couple of days ago, I noticed that there were several cars parked here. After this hike, I am wondering if these cars belonged to people who were maintaining the Lee Canyon Trail below. Our hike was extremely pleasant due to a recent maintenance of the trail. It was beautiful! In recent years, this trail was difficult to follow. There are several wash crossings that were often obliterated by rainstorms. It's not like you will get lost! You just either go up canyon or down canyon. Your choice! But, it is always very nice to have a trail and, right now, the hike up or down Lee Canyon is the best it has ever been! We dropped into the canyon on the long descent and found a signed intersection where we turned to the right.

Trail at base of Cliffs

So, Susan, what's the password?

Entering the Lee Canyon Narrows (note the high gravel level)

But, the low gravel level under Obstacle Rock

The trail to the left, climbs over the ridge and leads over to the catch pen and lower parts of Deer Creek Canyon. Right at the intersection, there are two of the very old "Deer Creek Loop" signs that have migrated here and there over the past few years. We started the gradual climb up the wide canyon. There are huge cairns built on either side of most of the wash crossings. The trail is built on the side of the canyon furtherest from the Lee Canyon Road above. We hiked over to the road side once during the morning to see that the main wash is wide and deep. Different than in years past. Following the trail, we hiked past a wall filled with holes and layers. Interesting look! How many animals and birds live in those holes? I guess the walls are indicative of what Lee Canyon went through over the eons. It wasn't until we were reaching the vicinity of the Lee Canyon Narrows that the trail became more messy. No matter. The trail was clearly directional. Then we came to a familiar section where the trail is crossing the wash(es) and ends at the bottom of a hill that heads diagonally up to the left. This was our landmark to backtrack a tad and go straight up the gravel wash. There are a few cairns about but, a simple trek up wash will lead you to the entrance of the narrows.

Very low gravel level at the top end of the Narrows

Axle (?) under rock in photo Above

View back under Obstacle Rock (no more duck walking)

Lady Hikers in Lee Canyon Narrows

The narrows are also in very good condition. Cleaned out and new "flooring." For those of you have visited the narrows, I will note that the shelf alcove inside the walls, is no longer a shelf. Gravel has been washed down and the shelf is now level with the floor. Also, of note, the floor below obstacle rock is lower! We didn't have to bend at all to pass through to the upper end. Next, there is a 3' to 4' shelf before you get to the much higher obstacle to the top. I don't recall the large stair-stepping decor before Hilary hit. The only enigma is, why is the floor lower under obstacle rock and higher at the alcove shelf? Hmm. I'm so confused! Isn't nature wonderful? We explored. We took our photo. We stepped out of the narrows for our snack break. Then, we started back down the wash to meet the trail that crossed perpendicularly. A right turn started us back toward the car.

Sue says, "What did I bring for lunch?"

Interesting cliffs along Trail

Very nice Trail

Following trail along lower portion of Hike

The trail was just as easy to follow downhill as it was uphill. Although we didn't see any burros or wild horses, we did see some evidence. We also saw a few deer (elk) prints. This may be a thoroughfare for animals heading to the springs of Deer Creek Canyon. We were back in our car before any cloud buildup above us. It was a very pleasant and easy hike.

Stats: 4.5 miles; 700' gain; 3 hours

A wash Crossing

Nice Joshua Tree near Trailhead

Susan smile during the challenging climb Out