Sawtooth Mountain

Sawtooth Mountain, photo by Steve Russell

Sawtooth Mountain, Photo by Steve Russell.

Peak Name

Sawtooth Mountain

08C

Elevation

5200

feet

Status

active

Region

Liebre Range

Range

Sierra Pelona-Portal Ridge

Nearby peaks

Liebre Mountain, Burnt Peak

Location

34.6605413,-118.5523076

Description

Originally named Liebre Mountain, the name was later transferred to the nearby peak that now bears that name. Sawtooth and its neighbors lie on the northwest edge of the San Gabriel Mountains range, where the San Andreas Fault marks the transition from forest to desert. It is usually hiked in conjunction with Burnt and Liebre.

Route 1 is an oddball. From the parking area it descends over several bumps but always descending, until the final very steep ascent to the summit, which is still at a lower elevation than your vehicle. It may be from 4-7 miles depending on a gate that is on the road. Route 2 comes from the south, on a combination of old road, firebreak, and use trail.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

2400′ total, 1500′ out plus 900′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

7.4 miles round trip on trail and steep firebreak

Estimated time

2 1/2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-5 north to the town of Castaic and exit on Lake Hughes Road.
Take Lake Hughes Road northeast for 23.6 miles to where it ends at a junction with N2, Pine Canyon Road. Turn left (west).
Go 4.7 miles to Bushnell summit with a junction with 7N23 on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 2.0 miles, fork. Go right.
At 3.2 miles, junction with 7N08 and a gate. Park here. If gate is open, you can turn left onto 7N08 and continue another 1.7 miles to a parking area at 5350′.

Hiking route

Go through the gate and head south then east 1.7 miles to where a firebreak takes off on the right (south) side of the road.
Follow the firebreak down into a saddle and up over a bump and on out the ridge to the summit. The summit is about 150′ lower than the parking area.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2

Elevation Gain

2700′ total, 2500′ out plus 200′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

11 miles round trip on road and steep firebreak

Estimated time

6 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, moderate

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-5 north to the town of Castaic and exit on Lake Hughes Road.
Take Lake Hughes Road northeast for 13.2 miles to a dirt road on the left with a sign “Warm Springs Canyon Road”. Turn left on 6N32, a good to fair dirt road (do not take the paved road to the detention facility). Google Maps identifies this road as “Warm Springs Fish Canyon Truck Trail”.
Follow the main road which climbs the right canyon wall about 2 1/2 miles to a saddle and a 3 way road junction. Park here. Ample parking.
Note: motorcycles can continue another 4 miles on 7N13 by going over some berms that stop progress of vehicles.

Hiking route

From the parking area (2900′), hike up the road for about 4 miles to the road’s end.
Continue up a firebreak, bearing around to the left at a junction about 100 yards below the top of the first bump.
Bear right around the second bump following the fire road to the third bump which is the summit. This has also been reported as the fourth bump.

Route Notes

Printable Route