Sawmill Flats?

[Hikin_Jim]

When I was out on the Marion Mountain Trail on Friday, I passed this sign at a "trail" junction (more of an old road, really).


Looking at the topo map, I think I've identified the trail in question. Anyone been out there? Just curious what's there. Interestingly, it's not marked on the State Park Service map.

I assume by "Stone Creek Camp," they mean Stone Creek Campground, a State Park car camping type campground, not a trail camp.

HJ

[Andy]

Jim,
I remember hiking out to the Sawmill Flats area when I was a kid but I don't remember what is left to see there. I think we got to it from the Stone Creek campground where we would have camped. If you look at your map in satellite view, Just east of, and slightly north of your "D" marker you can make out some old foundations. makes me want to check it out again and try hooking up with the Marion Mt trail. Thanks!

[Hikin_Jim]

Well, sure enough, you can see something on the satellite view. Interesting. Yet another on my "to do" list.

HJ

[WOLFDOG]

Ok, been to Sawmill Flats a couple of times over the past 20 years, and it's a fun place to explore with all the old logging roads meandering on the west flank of Marion Ridge. Most fun, and not too much know about is that of the Pipeline Trail that leads out of another flat area just southeast of Sawmill Flats (believe this is the site of upper Dutch Flats sawmill). Now the Pipeline Trail (I named it unless someone has a confirmed name for it from the past) heads out of upper Dutch Flats and is a trail that follows and old abandoned pipeline, that I believe was once used to supply water from a well down to Thousand Trails Campground. So the trail follows the pipeline for about a 0.5 to 0.75 mile then follows up the west facing slope (marked with small rock cairns along the trail) to where it eventually connects up with the Deer Springs Trail, just 0.25 mile south of Strawberry Junction. Hard part is initially finding this trail just as you climb out of the flats. Fun part, is doing this hike as a loop by parking at Marion Mtn. Trailhead and doing it counterclockwise (to Sawmil Flats, Pipeline Trail, to Deer Springs Trail to Deer Springs (Marion Mountain Jct.) and back down Marion Mountain Trail---approx. 8 to 9 mile loop).

[Hikin_Jim]

Interesting! That would be a fun loop.

HJ

[Ulysses]

There are several glass insulators with pieces of 1/8 copper wire still attached on several trees near Strawberry Junction. They seem to come from the general direction you reference (southwest). I have often wondered about their history. I assume they would be used to provide electricity to a site of some sort on the mountain?

[Andy]

There are several glass insulators with pieces of 1/8 copper wire still attached on several trees near Strawberry Junction.

You'll also find these along the South Ridge trail and I assumed that they once served the lookout. Nice that nature provides the poles for your wire run

[WOLFDOG]

That's correct, there was a line that was strung up along and nearby the Pipeline Trail as it headed up near to Strawberry Jct. Also saw two discarded wire bundles (non-copper) just south of the campsites there. I always remember hearing that there was a lookout station constructed somewhere near Strawberry Jct but was later torn down. It could be possible the Idyllwild Town Crier may have archives describing this. What I can tell you is that there was a lookout tower that was located on the Old Deer Springs trail (starts at Chipmunk Trail near the 3 mg water tank) at the 6,300 foot level. The lookout tower faced southwest overlooking Pine Cove and beyond (Sage, Temecula, etc). All that is left are rock cement foundation beam supports, a discarded broom (probably for sweeping the observation deck) and wire strung up on trees with porcelin insulators up to the site.

[HH8]

It could be possible the Idyllwild Town Crier may have archives describing this.

All the dinosaurs left as hints were bones