Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain in Los Padres National Forest, CA

Hike Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain Los Padres National Forest, CA

Class 1 7.5 miles 1600 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jun 3, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain GPX Track

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Mount Pinos is the high point of the San Emigdio Mountains, part of the larger Transverse Ranges. Despite being a beautiful peak, I found myself wishing there was a more lengthy trail to enjoy the area, but the only trail access is via a closed dirt road very close to the summit. Fortunately, Sawmill Mountain, a summit of similar height to the west, has a trail leading between the two peaks, providing an opportunity for some good hiking along the often bald ridgeline.

I drove up to the large Mount Pinos Nordic Base parking lot and started the short hike through the forest along the dirt road/trail. There are some lumpy meadows along the way to Mount Pinos, and the views from this prominent summit are very nice, if a bit obscured. There's a radio tower at the summit, so I was looking forward to move along to the second half of the hike.

A short walk on more dirt road led to the start of the Vincent Tumamait Trail. This singletrack dropped a few hundred feet to the saddle with Sawmill Mountain, some switchbacks along the way and excellent views the whole time. From the saddle, the trail climbed more steeply along the ridgeline up to Sawmill Mountain, mostly through forest, until I found the best views of the day at the large summit cairn.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Pinos
8839 ft
4808 rise
2
Sawmill Mountain
8825 ft
438 rise

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Mount Pinos Trailhead.
Mount Pinos Trailhead.
Starting along a dirt road/trail through the forest.
Starting along a dirt road/trail through the forest.
The hike emerges into a lumpy meadow.
The hike emerges into a lumpy meadow.
Looking back as I hike through the meadow.
Looking back as I hike through the meadow.
Image 4 from gallery
Mount Pinos ahead.
Mount Pinos ahead.
More forest before the summit.
More forest before the summit.
Mount Pinos summit.
Mount Pinos summit.
View east from the summit of Mount Pinos.
View east from the summit of Mount Pinos.
Distant peaks to the north.
Distant peaks to the north.
Onward to Sawmill Mountain, first along a dirt road.
Onward to Sawmill Mountain, first along a dirt road.
The singletrack trail section of the hike finally begins.
The singletrack trail section of the hike finally begins.
The trail drops a few hundred feet, great views to the south.
The trail drops a few hundred feet, great views to the south.
Sawmill Mountain seen ahead.
Sawmill Mountain seen ahead.
Wide switchbacks down the slope.
Wide switchbacks down the slope.
Image 15 from gallery
Chumash Wilderness sign.
Chumash Wilderness sign.
Starting the ascent from the saddle.
Starting the ascent from the saddle.
View back toward Mount Pinos.
View back toward Mount Pinos.
Pleasant forested trail.
Pleasant forested trail.
Sawmill Mountain summit.
Sawmill Mountain summit.
Sawmill Mountain summit, view nrotheast.
Sawmill Mountain summit, view nrotheast.
Summit of Sawmill Mountain, view west.
Summit of Sawmill Mountain, view west.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!