Sawmill

Sawmill is a hard hike in the Tongue Ranger District of Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming, about 9 miles long and with a total elevation gain of about 2,700 feet over the course of the out-and-back route. The trail rises from a low point of about 7,976 feet to a high of about 9,133 feet, and the steepest part comes at about 3.6 miles in, where the grade reaches about 14 percent. The trail is open year-round and has natural surface. Bicycles and horses are both allowed, so the hike works for riders and for pack animals. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Burgess Junction weather station run to highs around 71°F and lows around 42°F in July, and the station sits roughly 1,000 feet below the high point, so temperatures on the mountain top run cooler. The Sawmill Lakes parking area is the trailhead. For more to do nearby, Upper Sawmill Lake and Rock Chuck Pass are both within about 2 miles, and the Eastern Big Horns climbing area is about 2 miles away. Ranger Creek Campground is about 6 miles off.