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