Sawmill Loop (Easy) - 8/14/21

Sawmill Trailhead

McFarland Peak and the Spring Mountain Divide from Sawmill Ridge

Three Lakes Valley from Sawmill Ridge

Climbing to Ridge

We had a "Mean Eighteen" club members on today's Easy Saturday hike! This is a record number of hikers on one hike since the club reconvened after the pandemic shutdown. I expect that the number of hike participants will rise as the weather cools down. Today, was not really hot but it was rather warm in the lower elevation of Sawmill Trails. We started out from the trailhead located on Lee Canyon Road and circled around on the Red/Yellow Trail. This trail comes close to Macks Canyon Road then leads up to the Sawmill Ridge, a diminutive ridge to the northwest of the trailhead. On the way, we passed two trail junctions, both of which we chose the left option. Reaching the ridge, we came to another trail junction where we took the right option.

Mummy's Nose from Sawmill Trail

This option led us along the ridge (Green Trail) where we stopped for a break to enjoy the views of the Spring Mountains Divide. McFarland Peak rose prominently in the distance to the west.

Resting at the Red Trail Junction

Following the ridge trail, we could see a distant view of Three Lakes Valley down in the lowland desert. Next, we passed the Green Trail junction and the No Mads Trail junction. A steep downhill followed.

The Mean Eighteen! (a colorful bunch!)

Taking a Break

The next trail junction that offered a turn to the right is the Yellow Trail. We turned right and followed this trail down before the trail climbed back up a ways. Eventually, we arrived at the first trail we had come up and turned to the left. This brought us back to the cars. Everyone was happy with the slow speed of the hike even though it was quite warm. It was so nice to welcome our club president, John Ward, back home from his summer home in Michigan. Welcome back everyone to the Around the Bend Friends!

Stats: 3.7 miles; 550' gain; 2.5 hours

Hiking down the Yellow Trail

Mummy's Nose from Yellow Trail

Returning on the Red & Yellow Trail