Trail Overview
This is a spirited mountain track that offers a quintessential tour of the southern Monitor Range foothills. Explorers should note that this route is no longer a functional loop for full-size vehicles. While older maps show a through-route, the southern half has been significantly reclaimed by nature and is currently only passable by motorcycles or small ATVs. The northern segment remains the primary, well-established access point for those looking to reach the Sawmill Creek Hiking Trailhead. The journey begins at the valley floor and climbs steadily into the foothills, where the open sagebrush gives way to a vibrant forest of Pinyon Pine and Utah Juniper. The driving is physically engaging as you "duck and dive" between the ancient trees on a technical two-track. The area is a stronghold for local livestock; the trail often feels like a cattle "highway," with tracks and signs dominating the middle of the road. While no established dispersed campsites were noted along the route, the trail provides spectacular views of the rugged mountain interior and a profound sense of Great Basin isolation. Expect zero cell service for the duration of this trail. The foothills create a total signal dead zone. Download offline maps before leaving the Tonopah or Highway 376 corridor.
Difficulty
Rated a 3 due to several technical washouts and the rocky, unmaintained nature of the track. Paint damage (Arizona pinstriping) is likely. The pinyon and juniper branches are dense and crowd the trail in multiple sections. Navigation Warning: This is no longer a loop. Do not attempt the southern portion of the trail in a full-size vehicle, as it is heavily overgrown and potentially impassable.
History
The "Sawmill" name is a direct link to the early 20th-century mining booms in nearby Manhattan and Belmont. In a landscape dominated by sagebrush, canyons with reliable timber and water were the industrial hubs of the era. This creek likely supported a small-scale sawmill that provided the essential "mine timbers" and firewood needed to sustain the booming silver and gold camps. Today, the fact that the loop is being reclaimed by the forest is a testament to the desert's power to slowly erase the footprints of man once the industrial demand has faded.
