Sawmill Mountain

"Hitting the So Cal high country in Frazier Park. Mount Pinos is the highest point in Ventura County and Sawmill Mountain is the highest in Kern County. Both are reached on a single hike. " — MikeTeeples • Oct 26, 2025

"Peak #10 of round to o the 2020 SoCal Six (18) Pack of Peaks challenge. Of course I just had to do the 3-2-1 Challenge again. Three peaks (Grouse, Sawmill, Pinos), two counties (Kern, Ventura), in one day." — Philip-Yoho • Jul 18, 2020

"Took a bit of a drive north for the final day of the month just to complete a short 6.76 miles and two more peaks. Sawmill Mountain was Peak #14 of the 2020 SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge and my 5th peak of the Alternate Six Peaks. Tons of snow still just past Mount Pinos on the way to Sawmill. I wore microspikes most of the way, but at time regretted not bringing my snowshoes. I did a lot of post holing on my way to Sawmill. Still a fun filled day though." — Philip-Yoho • Feb 29, 2020

"Part of a quick over-night camping trip. We got to the Pinos Nordic Center at 10:30am to a very full parking lot, though there were still several camp sites available at Chula Vista. After staking our claim, we headed up the road to Mt Pinos, a fairly quick and easy 1.6 miles. Just past the summit is a scenic overlook with great views. Then on to Sawmill Mountain. Then all of the way back to get the campfire going! Couldn't ask for better weather and clear skies!" — marc • Jun 15, 2019

"Another trip up north to conquer the 3-2-1 Challenge again (3 peaks - Mount Pinos, Sawmill, and Grouse Mountains; 2 counties - Kern and Ventura, in one day - 6/8/2019) Not sure where my photos went though. They're not in my file folder where they are suppose to be. :/ " — Philip-Yoho • Jun 8, 2019

"Completed the 3-2-1 Challenge today. Three peaks (Pinos, Sawmill, and Grouse), two counties (Ventura and Kern) in one day 9/21/2018. Started this hike from the Nordic Base and completed about an 11 mile out and back with a short detour to visit Sheep Camp." — Philip-Yoho • Sep 21, 2018

"This was the middle peak of my Mount Pinos - Sawmill - Grouse Mountain traverse. It was great to visit the Chumash Spirit Tower on the summit, which was decorated at some point before I showed up. From there, I continued on to Grouse Mountain." — MikeTeeples • Sep 15, 2017

"Lovely, very scenic hike from Mt. Pinos Nordic Base to Mt. Pinos, then down to saddle, and then to Sawmill Mountain. Overall elevation gain from Nordic Base to Sawmill and back to Nordic base is roughly 1,300'- 1,500' (a couple of ups and downs). Great forested areas with Jeffrey Pine, White Fir, Limber Pine, and occasional stunted Singleleaf Pinyon. Large, neat rock cairn at summit." — brianpowell • Sep 10, 2016

"Stop 2 of 4. Descent from Pinos was a bit sketchy in places, but teeth on bottom of snowshoes saved me. Got a good view of the incoming weather that would follow me the rest of the day. Big summit cairn." — edg • Mar 13, 2016

"Did Mount Pinos and Sawmill in one little trip. The trails up toward Sawmill from Pinos were a little dilapidated and became quite difficult to pin down, especially later on. No signs on the trail until further on much further down the trail I took. I had a difficult time finding the summit (actually found it on the way back up Sawmill, on a off-the-beaten-path trail that was nearly unrecognizable as a trail). At the top there are a pile of rocks that recognizes the high point. Great views, of course. Just wish it were a little more apparent which trail(s) lead to the summit. " — red-schindler • Oct 28, 2015