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

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.

• The Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop starting and ending on Deer Creek Road is about 7 miles.
• The extended loop adventure starting and ending at the main Sawmill Trailhead is about 20 miles.

I’ve included both loop options here. Each has its advantage, but if this is your first time, take the shorter Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop and save the extended version for your future exploration.

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

1. The Main Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead: This is located on Deer Creek Road less than a mile Southeast of the Desert Overlook Viewpoint. If you haven’t yet done the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop, make this the starting point for your first adventure on the loop. In this case, the loop will be a beautiful 7.5-mile hike.
2. Lower Lee Canyon Access Point: This is a wide spot with a few parking spaces and a large brown Forest Service billboard on Lee Canyon Road about a mile below the Blue Tree Group Camp. In this case you’ll take the Blue Tree Loop into and across Lee Canyon, connecting with the Deer Creek Catch Pen access trail, then over to the base of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. Finally, circle the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop, return to Lee Canyon on the access trail and ascend to the Lower Lee Canyon Access Point where you began.
3. The Main Sawmill Trailhead: This is located on Lee Canyon Road about a mile above the Blue Tree Group Camp. In this case you’ll begin on the Sawmill Loop, then take the Blue Tree Loop down into Lee Canyon, descend through Lee Canyon on the Blue Tree Loop, then take the Deer Creek Catch Pen access trail to the base of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. Finally, circle the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop, return to Lee Canyon on the access trail, ascend to the Lower Lee Canyon Access Point and take parallel forest roads along Lee Canyon Road back to the main Sawmill Trailhead where you started. This makes for a 20-mile all day magical wilderness immersion experience. 

Why Explore Options #2 and #3 (Above)?

• Connect the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop with the Sawmill Trail Network: The Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop is part of the Sawmill Trail Network, yet is located off to the East of the other Sawmill Trails. Options #2 and #3 give you an experience of how the Sawmill Trails are interconnected.
• Experience Beautiful Lee Canyon: Options #2 and #3 take you down into Lee Canyon, which is a truly beautiful place! 
• Connect the Dots: The Northeastern slopes of Mummy Mountain are often missed by hikers wanting to ascend to the higher altitudes and peaks in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. Yet the mid-altitude slopes have a unique charm in themselves. They offer unique views and a different perspective on the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. You’ll come away with a more complete understanding of the wilderness and where the high points are situated in relation to the wilderness as a whole.
• Experience a Magical Day of Total Wilderness Immersion: In the process of experiencing options #2 and #3, you’ll traverse a great variety of wilderness areas and emerge renewed and transformed. 

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 or drop below 60 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). Begin and end here for the preferred, non-extended 7-mile version of the loop.
2. Lower Level Mt. Charleston Access (on Lee Canyon Road). This route begins at a small trailhead pullout on Lee Canyon Road 2.3 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 (20 miles) 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

Main Loop from Deer Creek Road Trailhead

Getting Your Initial Bearings

To get your initial bearings from the trailhead on Deer Creek Road look up across Deer Creek Road, through Seven-Mile Canyon to the cliffs of Mummy’s Nose. Then look down from the trailhead. The Deer Creek Catch Pen Trail loops downward continuing through the same run-off as Seven-Mile Canyon above. Note the central ridgeline immediately below the trailhead. You’ll descend the loop on the left (West) side of the central ridge. 3.5-miles below, you’ll take a sharp U-turn to the right, rounding the bottom of the ridge, then ascend the right (East side) of the loop back to the trailhead. The loop is that simple! But beware that the trail is faint in places where you might need to watch carefully to stay on track.

Deer Creek Road Trailhead to Lower Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop

Begin descending the left (West) side of the loop, taking the loop in a clockwise direction. Why descend the left (West) side rather than the right (East) side? The West side follows the path of a gully and so is more gradual and easier on the body. The East side of the loop is mainly on a ridgeline with steeper inclines on a slightly less stable surface. I find it easier to ascend steeper inclines and descend more gradual inclines. In addition, the deeper gravel surface in the West side wash is a bit harder to ascend.

As you begin the descent, take time to look at your surroundings. You’re in a beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest. There’s not much of a distant view at first, but the surrounding forest has its own beauty. As you descend, the terrain will open up in the more arid lower loop. The change is gradual, going from Ponderosa Pines and Mountain Mahogany to Pinyon Pines and Junipers and finally to Joshua Trees, Yucca and cacti. Notice how the plants become smaller in the more arid lower levels of the loop. They have to work harder to conserve scant moisture and protect themselves from the heat of the sun. Some adapt with curved leaves to limit exposure to the sun. Others adapt with smaller leaves and needles. Still others (the cacti) have large thick leaves and stems to store moisture.

As the terrain opens, watch for spectacular emerging views of the Sheep Range below and the cliffs of Mummy Mountain above. 

At about half way in the descent, the trail will leave the wash, crossing over a couple low ridges to the left (West) before continuing down another gully to the sharp U-turn at the lower end of the loop.

Lower End of the Loop Back to the Trailhead on Deer Creek Road

You’ll know when you’ve reached the very bottom of the loop. There’s a signpost there with arrows pointing in both directions. This is where you make your U-turn to head up the East side of the loop. Another branch of the trail continues to angle downward to the left (West). That’s the connector trail that would take you over to the Blue Tree Loop in Lee Canyon.

After making the sharp U-turn to the right, you begin ascending the East side of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. At first, the trail crosses over a few low ridges and becomes a bit confusing to follow in a few places. As a general guide, the large ridgeline in the center of the loop is on your right, and Angel Peak, separated by a large canyon is to your left. If you feel like you’re losing the trail, just scan the terrain ahead. You may not see the trail continuing at your feet, but you will likely see it resuming ahead.

After crossing the initial low ridges, you’ll see a higher ridgeline ahead a bit to your left. A steep ascent will take you up to the center of that ridgeline. Then it’s just a matter of continuing up that long ridgeline with it’s mostly relentless ascent all the way back to the beginning of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop on Deer Creek Road. As you’re ascending the long final ridgeline the views are spectacular featuring Angel Peak to your left (East), Fletcher Peak and Mummy Mountain ahead, the Sisters Peaks (Black Rock Sister, North Sister and South Sister) to your right, and Macks Peak and Bonanza Peak further to the East.

Near Deer Creek Road you’ll pass through a couple large, beautiful Mountain Mahogany groves, then enter a majestic stretch of Ponderosa Pine forest. It’s truly another world from the lower loop.

So often people rush to the higher peaks in the Mount Charleston Wilderness. The Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop in the middle altitude of the Northeast slopes of Mummy Mountain has its own unique charm!

Extended Loop from the Main Upper Sawmill Trailhead

This 20-mile loop takes you to the three access trailheads:

• Main Sawmill Trailhead on Lee Canyon Road
• Deer Creek Catch Pen Trailhead on Deer Creek Road
• Lower Lee Canyon Trailhead on Lee Canyon Road

In the process, you’ll see how the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop integrates with the larger Sawmill Trail network.

Extended Loop Adventure Route

Main Sawmill Trailhead to Lee Canyon

Beginning at the main Sawmill Trailhead, take a right onto the Sawmill Loop and take that loop for about 1/4th mile until it intersects with the Blue Tree Loop. Take a right onto the Blue Tree Loop, cross Lee Canyon Road and then descend into Lee Canyon on the Blue Tree Loop. Notice the lush Pinyon Pine forest on the Sawmill Loop. Compare this with the arid high desert terrain you’ll be experiencing later today. Also notice the cliffs of Mummy’s Nose as a great reverence point you will have throughout your entire adventure today. Mummy’s Nose always points both to the Sawmill Trailhead on Lee Canyon Road and the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Trailhead on Deer Creek Road. With Mummy’s Nose as your main point of reference, you’ll always know where you are in relation to the greater surrounding wilderness.

Take a moment as you’re standing on the upper edge of Lee Canyon to view the vast, beautiful expanse of that canyon! It’s one of the major canyons in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness.

Lee Canyon to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Connector Trail

On my first pass through Lee Canyon I was surprised and how unique, wild and beautiful it was. Traversing many canyons in the region requires navigating brush and boulders and a gravelly canyon wash. Lee Canyon is different. The Blue Tree Loop Trail in Lee Canyon is a beautiful forested trail with a surface more like good trails in the higher altitudes. On the way down through Lee Canyon, you’ll pass a half-buried old dilapidated car of 1940s vintage. How it got there is a total mystery! Then you’ll ascend on the trail to bypass Lee Canyon Narrows, where water has carved a narrow path between high surrounding cliffs. Finally, in lower Lee Canyon, you’ll arrive at an unmarked trail branching off to the right and ascending the East rim of the canyon. That unmarked trail is the Deer Creek Catch Pen Connector Trail. connecting the Blue Tree Loop to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. The color code for that trail is orange/yellow, same as the color code for the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. There might be a post with that coloring, and you’ll see a couple cairns marking the trail above.

Deer Creek Catch Pen Connector Trail to the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop

The 1.3-mile Deer Creek Catch Pen Connector Trail takes you up the East rim of Lee Canyon into a more arid terrain with smaller Pinyon Pines and Yucca. The smaller, more sparse vegetation coupled with the higher perspective presents spectacular views from the cliffs of Mummy Mountain above all the way to the Sheep Range below. You’ll cross at least three intervening canyons and ridges before reaching the base of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop. You’ll know you’ve arrived at the base of the loop when you see a small sign post with arrows pointing in both directions: Left for the East side of the loop; Right for the West side of the loop. I suggest taking the loop in a clockwise direction, ascending the steeper East side and descending the more gradual West side. Descent is easier on the joints when it’s on a more gradual incline. See the narrative above for a description of the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop.

Returning to Lee Canyon, Crossing the Canyon and Ascending to Its West Rim on Lee Canyon Road

Once you’ve completed the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop you’ll again find yourself at the lower end of the loop with the sign post and arrows pointing in both directions. Angle to the left back to Lee Canyon on the Deer Creek Catch Pen Loop Connector Trail. As you stand on the East rim above Lee Canyon, take a moment to notice the beauty of the canyon before descending. Also, look carefully to see a few trailers and RVs parked across the canyon on its West rim. You’ll soon find out how to get to those beautiful dispersed campsites with such a spectacular view!

Once you’ve descended into Lee Canyon, take a right onto the Blue Tree Loop to cross Lee Canyon and ascend the West rim to the small trailhead on lower Lee Canyon Road. Once on the West rim of Lee Canyon, take a moment to enjoy the unique and spectacular views of the canyon below from this perspective. You’re now standing at a small trailhead parking area on an unpaved road that parallels Lee Canyon Road.

Lower Trailhead on the West Rim of Lee Canyon to the Main Sawmill Trailhead

Getting back to the main Sawmill Trailhead is a matter of following a couple unpaved forest roads that parallel Lee Canyon Road. This final stretch of your 20-mile adventure is 2.3-miles long on a gradual, but healthy uphill incline when your energy may be at a low point! But there are some cool features along the way. For the first mile you’re on an unmarked, unpaved road along the very edge of Lee Canyon’s West rim. Views of the canyon below are spectacular! And to add to the experience, notice a number of dispersed camping pullouts along this road, leading to undeveloped sites at the very edge of Lee Canyon’s West rim! Here is a great opportunity for camping with spectacular views and access to some amazing trails!

As the unpaved road along the East side of Lee Canyon Road runs out, cross Lee Canyon Road and take a left onto the unmarked Forest Road 001. Now you’re in the Blue Tree camping area with additional beautiful campsites. Continue up through this lush forested area on Forest Road 001 all the way to where it reaches the main Sawmill Trailhead.

Congratulations on Completing This Magical Day of Total Wilderness Immersion in and Around Nevada’s Lee Canyon!

Along the way you’ve traversed a number of fascinating climate zones along the Southern mid-slopes of the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. You’ve enjoyed unique views of the upper heights of the Mt. Charleston Wilderness, gaining new perspective of those wilderness areas. In addition, you’ve experienced a few of the interconnections in the trails of the Sawmill Trail Network. Whether you’re a hiker or a trail runner, the conditioning factor of this 20-mile 3,000ft elevation gain route on good trails is hard to beat!