Overview | Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop | Sawmill Trailhead | Lee Canyon, Nevada 

Adventure to occur during an upcoming Fall or Spring soon!

Great Variety of Terrain on the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop

The Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop has a lot of variety. The main loop begins in the beautiful pine tree zone at about 8,400 feet on Deer Creek Road. From there, it descends to its low point in the more barren high desert yucca and cactus zone at about 6,600 feet. Though the lower end of the loop is more arid, with fewer trees, the view opens up to spectacular scenes of the Sheep Range to the Northeast across I-11. The trail itself is very good, all a class 1 & 2 walk with no technical skills required.

What Are Those Cliffs Above the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop?

You won’t be ascending above the loop during this adventure, but it’s always interesting to note what you can see above. If you were to cross Deer Creek Road and continue upward looping around Seven-Mile Canyon above, you’d end up in the Bristlecone Pine Zone at the base of Mummy’s Nose at around 9,600 feet, but that’s another adventure. I only mention this to point out that those cliffs you see up the canyon above the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop are the cliffs of Mummy’s Nose, elevation 10,751 feet. 

Three Trailhead Access Points to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop

In order to show all three trailhead access points and connect the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop to the Sawmill Trailhead network, this adventure:

• Starts at the Sawmill Upper Trailhead
• Descends through Lee Canyon on the East side of the Blue Tree Loop
• Takes a right onto the Deer Creek Catch Pen connector trail
• Circles the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop clockwise (East side of that loop) reaching the Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead on Deer Creek Road at that loop’s highpoint.
• Descends the West side of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop back to the Lee Canyon connector trail.
• Crosses Lee Canyon, ascending to the Lower Level Mt. Charleston Trailhead area on Lee Canyon Road.
• Ascends the West side of the Blue Tree Loop back to the Upper Sawmill Trailhead area where the adventure began.

Just Do the Loop, Save the Surrounding Trail Network for Later!

You don’t need to take this elongated adventure visiting all these trailheads at once. Instead, just circle the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop beginning and ending at the loop’s highpoint at its main trailhead on Deer Creek Road! However, for variety, you could play around taking the loop from each of the other trailheads, or all of them as I did in this adventure. There’s nothing better than a long day of total wilderness immersion. But in that case, be prepared: Properly conditioned with 5+ liters of hydration and adequate energy food.

Best Time of Year for This Adventure

This is a good Spring or Fall adventure when the temperature in Las Vegas is not predicted to exceed 85 or 90 degrees. Mid Summer days can get dangerously hot. On those days head up toward Mummy’s Nose on the North Alpine Loop or Mummy’s Nose Summit Loop. Winter days can bring snow, ice and very low temperatures. When the temperature in Las Vegas is 40 degrees, the temperature on this loop can be as low as 20 degrees with a windchill factor bringing it even lower! On low temperature Winter days you’d be more comfortable in Death Valley, Lake Mead Area, Valley of Fire or the Eldorado Wilderness.

Trailhead Directions | Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop | Sawmill Trailhead | Lee Canyon, Nevada

You can start from any one of three trailheads which are all part of the Sawmill Trail network:

1. **Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead (on Deer Creek Road). This is the preferred route as it puts you immediately on the loop.
2. Lower Level Mt. Charleston Access (on Lee Canyon Road). This route begins at a small trailhead pullout on Lee Canyon Road about 2 miles below the main Sawmill Trailhead area, crosses Lee Canyon, then connects with the Catch Pen Loop access trail.
3. Sawmill Upper Trailhead (on Lee Canyon Road). This longest route takes you through Lee Canyon before reaching the Catch Pen Loop access trail.

**Directions to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead:

To get to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead from Las Vegas head North on I-11 taking a left onto Kyle Canyon Road, one of the last I-11 exits at the Northwest end of the Las Vegas area. Continue up Kyle Canyon road about 17 miles. A couple miles before Charleston Village, take a right onto Highway 158 (Deer Creek Road). This is the connector road between Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon. Deer Creek Road winds around the right side of the mountains passing Angel Peak, the North Loop Trailhead, Hilltop Campground, Deer Creek Picnic Area and the Camp Stimpson turnoff. The Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead is a small pullout with a large brown signboard on the right (East) side of Deer Creek Road just before you reach the larger Desert View Overlook parking area.

Directions to the “Lower Level Mt. Charleston” Access

This trailhead is pretty obscure. As you’re traveling up Lee Canyon Road, about 2 miles below the main Sawmill Trailhead area, don’t blink or you’ll miss it! It’s a little pullout on the East (left) side of Lee Canyon Road just beyond that road’s intersection with Blue Tree Road (on the opposite (West/Right) side of Lee Canyon Road). If you start seeing signs for Blue Tree Campground you’ve gone too far up Lee Canyon Road. Once you know where the trailhead is, it’s easy to find thereafter. There’s a large brown Forest Service signboard and parking for a few cars. The trail descending into and crossing Lee Canyon begins just behind the sign.  

Directions to the upper (main) Sawmill Trailhead:

Take Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas and take a left at the Lee Canyon Road exit (Hwy 156). Travel up Lee Canyon Road about 13 miles. Take a right onto the Sawmill Trailhead Access Road and proceed to the trailhead. Stay left to reach the upper trailhead parking area.

Narrative Guide | Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop | Sawmill Trailhead | Lee Canyon, Nevada

Adventure to occur during an upcoming Fall or Spring soon!