I'm looking to visit Window Peak Lake next year. I'm thinking of going over Sawmill Pass. Baxter looks okay, too, but my understanding is Sawmill is the easier of the two options. Any recommendations on which of the two passes would be the better choice? Is the road to the parking area for either of the two trailheads a problem? I remember one year when the road to parking for Shepherd Pass was very difficult. I drive a minivan, so clearance over deep ruts can be a problem. Thank you!

You shouldn't have any trouble with either road: the Baxter Pass road beyond the Fish Hatchery is well-graded, and the Sawmill Pass trailhead is not far past the Division Creek Station (road is paved up until there).

Sawmill is the lowest of those wonderful desert trailhead, just below 5K, and the first 3K of gain is basically unmaintained sand with lots of sharp desert plants encroaching (wear pants!). Once you turn the corner, you'll head up the Hogsback amongst a burnt-out area, reaching some really cool pine forest above. It's a long slog up there, but really pretty, and some big honkin' fish in Sawmill Lake!

Baxter just heads up from the get-go, kind of like Taboose. The lower sections are burn- and flood-scarred, but it's pretty straight forward. The creek crossings can be interesting at times.

I know the trail down from Sawmill to the JMT isn't maintained, but last time I was there it was under snow anyway, so I can't say much except the Woods Lake basin is gorgeous! Cedric Wright and Colosseum are pretty easy walks from that side, as well.

Hope this helps!

-L

Thanks, Moose Tracks. Looks like Sawmill Pass is going to be the most interesting. I like the idea of a little fishing on this next excursion, it will be the first time in a few years that I'll pack a fly rod. Sawmill Lake would make for a relatively easy destination the first night, then I'd spend a couple of nights in Woods Lake Basin, which looks awesome from a topo perspective; I have heard from others it is a beautiful location, too. Thanks for the advice on wearing pants! I can always go back to shorts once out of the desert chaparral. Cheers!

If you'd like to see things, here are links to pics from a trip I did for my birthday in 2010 with my friend Scott McKenzie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 214800521/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 215000057/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 339814582/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 215253229/



Enjoy! Been meaning to get back to fish Sawmill since that trip. Maybe this summer myself...

-Laura