Think Las Vegas is just a hot and dusty desertscape? Think again! When locals want to escape the heat, they head up to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. In these mountains north of Sin City, you’ll find tons of high elevation trails, greenery, and much cooler temps. A great spot for equestrians is the Sawmill Trail System. The trailhead gives access to several trails that wind through the trees and offer 360 views of the mountains and the valley floor.
There are a number of equestrian designated loop trails from Sawmill of varying lengths – Mud Springs, Pinyon Pine, Rocky Gorge, and Blue Tree Loop being the main trails. There are also lots of unofficial trails and connectors, so you can really explore and put together your own route for whatever distance you want. And with so many trails, there is enough in the Sawmill Trail System to warrant many return visits.
The terrain is pinyon and juniper covered hills, interspersed with sweet smelling mountain mahogany in the higher areas and Joshua trees in the lower sections. It’s a mix of nonmotorized and motorized use, so you’ll find singletrack trails and two-track roads. In some places you’ll feel enveloped by the trees, but there are places that open up to reveal incredible vistas of the desert and the mountains.
Signage on the trails is sparse. There are some carsonite markers, but they do not have trail names on them. Instead, they refer to the different trails by colors. For example, the trail for Mud Springs is Red and Pinyon Pine is Green. So you will see colored stickers on what few signs there are, but because some of the trails overlap it can be confusing. Because of the inconsistent signage and naming structure, it would behoove you to make sure you have some good maps downloaded before you get here. There is no cell service at the trailhead, but you can usually get it on a ridge.
Some parts of the Sawmill Trail System can be rocky so boots or shoes are recommended. There is no water on the trail, unless you ride back to Mud Springs. There hasn’t been a lot of trail maintenance, so watch for low branches in some places. As with most trails around Mt. Charleston and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, this trailhead is especially popular on the weekends with hikers and bicyclists.
Getting Here
Where to Park: Sawmill Trailhead has a large day use parking area and equestrian parking area. You’ll find designated horse trailer pull through parking for many rigs, as well as hitching posts. There are also picnic tables and grills around the parking area for day use, and restrooms. There is no water.
Trail Maps
