Sawmill Mountain via Mount Pinos is a moderate, dog-friendly, 7.5 mile out-and-back trail with approximately 1,550 feet of climbing.

This two-peak hike is popular because it bags Mount Pinos, the highest point in Ventura County, and then Sawmill Mountain, the highest point in Kern County. While there are sections of the trail that can be challenging, it definitely doable for most by going slow and taking breaks, which is easy to do with the views along the way. It’s also one of the summit options on the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge and is dog-friendly. All of this means you’ll likely run into other people and dogs along the trail.

Ready to go?

Be prepared with the essentials

• Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Even though a good chunk of the trail is shaded, you’ll still spend some time in the sun at the peaks; especially if you like to stay to enjoy the view for a while like we do.
• Carry plenty of water. We recommend at least 2L per person, and more if you’re bringing your dog.
• Bring snacks to keep you (and your dog) fueled.
• Don’t forget the first aid kit.

Not sure what to pack? Check out our full list of essentials and shop our favorites.

Getting to the trail and parking

The drive up to the trailhead is beautiful. You’ll park at the Nordic Base parking lot, which is very large and typically has plenty of space available. A Forest Adventure Pass is needed to park here. We displayed our National Parks pass. Sometimes there are porta-potties here, but if not, there are vault toilets available at Chula Vista Campground. When you’re ready to get started, the trailhead is off to the left hand side when you enter the parking lot.

We used the directions to the trailhead on AllTrails (note: we only did a portion of this hike; AllTrails doesn’t seem to have a trail option that only hits Mount Pinos and Sawmill Mountain).

Hiking to Mount Pinos

The trail begins at the parking lot as a wide fire road. At one point we saw a couple of dirt bikes come through, but otherwise it was quiet and there were no other motor vehicles. You’ll follow the main trail past a gate. At the first fork in the trail, turn left. You’ll gradually climb a windy dirt road covered in shade from the pine trees.

When you come out of the pines, continue left along the wide trail up towards the meadow. When you reach the meadow you’ll start to see the Mount Pinos radio towers. There are two ways up to Mount Pinos from the meadow. We took the smaller trail to the right for sweeping views of the mountains on our way up (then took the other way down later). This detour is a little longer than the main road up, but the views are much nicer.

Follow the trail up to Mount Pinos (and the radio towers). Stop here for a quick break, enjoy the views, and take your summit selfie. Mount Pinos is the highest peak in Ventura County at 8,847 feet.

When you’re ready to continue on, follow the trail straight down to the main dirt road and continue straight to the Condor Observation Point (if you turn left, you’ll be headed back to the parking lot).

Condor Observation Point

After a few minutes you’ll walk up to the Condor Observation Point. There are some nice views here, but there are plenty more along the trail too. Continue on to the right of Condor Observation Point to follow Tumamait Trailhead towards Sawmill Mountain.

At the first junction, you can head right to a nice panoramic viewpoint, or you can continue straight along the main trail.

Hiking to Sawmill Mountain

As you head down the main trail, you’ll follow some exposed switchbacks down into the Chumash Wilderness before you’re reunited with some shade.

Eventually you’ll descend into the saddle before heading back uphill towards Sawmill Mountain. Most of the descent and climb is gradual, but there are a couple of sections where you might feel more comfortable having trekking poles.

Eventually you’ll meet another fork (lined with branches and rocks when we were there) that you’ll turn right to follow up to the peak. Follow this trail up. Soon in the distance you’ll see the the massive stone marker– you’ve made it! Sawmill Mountain is the highest peak in Kern County at 8,822 feet.

Enjoy the views and then head back down the way you came. Remember you can skip Mount Pinos and continue down the main dirt road back to the parking lot.

Happy Hiking!

Summer doesn’t have to mean your dog stays indoors while you get to have all the fun. Here are a few of our favorite dog-friendly summer hikes near Los Angeles.

Dogs can overheat just like humans, so it’s important to take precautions when planning your summer hikes. Check out our 7 Tips for Summer Hiking With Dogs before heading out to the trail.

Ready to go? Check out some of our favorite summer hikes around Los Angeles listed below. These hikes are generally shaded, and feel rewarding with water features; but we still recommend going early to avoid the hottest times of the day and crowds around these popular trails. Dogs are allowed on all of these trails but you should keep them leashed.

Hiking with your dog for the first time? Make sure you’ve packed all the essentials.

Have additional recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!

Switzer Falls

A generally easy to moderate 3.6 miles out-and-back hike with approximately 695 feet of elevation gain. Most of the trail is shaded, with only about half a mile exposed in a rocky section.

Be sure to park in the lower lot (follow the directions/signs down to the campground), otherwise you’ll have quite the trek back up to your car. An adventure pass is required to park so be sure to purchase one before you go. We used our annual National Parks Pass.

View more information about Switzer Falls on AllTrails.

Eaton Canyon Falls

There are a few trail options to get to Eaton Falls that range from 1.9-4.4 miles out-and-back. We usually take the 4.4 mile hike to enjoy a longer hike with multiple water crossings.

This is generally an easy hike, but do be careful at the water crossings. Rocks and logs can be slippery. If you do fall in, the water is usually only about ankle deep.

It’s easy to find parking at this park. The park offers a main parking lot with additional overflow parking in a dirt lot. There are plenty of signs to help guide you to additional parking. No parking passes were required during our visits.

View more information about Eaton Canyon Trial on AllTrails.

Millard Canyon Falls

A relaxing and easy 2.5 mile out-and-back hike. There are two ways to access the trail to Millard Canyon Falls.

You can park near and start at the point shown in the AllTrails link below, or you can drive to the lower Millard Canyon Campground parking lot and start from there for a shorter version of the hike.

Shortly after you pass the campsites you’ll meet a 4.5-5 foot tall wall that you’ll need to climb to access the trail. There are some rocks that act as steps, but might require a little jump up for you and your dog. This is the hardest obstacle you’ll encounter.

There is nice shade throughout the trail, and a few shallow river crossings. Rocks and logs are placed to help you at these crossings.

View more information about Millard Canyon Falls on AllTrails.

Gabrielino Trail: Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the USFS Dam

This is a longer trail that totals about 9.3 miles out-and-back, but is otherwise pretty easy terrain with about 954 feet of elevation gain that is very gradual along the way.

The first half of the trail is wide and much more trafficked. You might even run into some horses.

Once you pass Gould Mesa Campground the trail begins to narrow and you’ll see people less frequently. There are a few water crossings after the campground, most of which have a path laid out by rocks or logs, before you’re met with the sounds and view of the Dam.

View more information on the Gabrielino Trail to USFS Dam on AllTrails.

Escondido Fall

Escondido Falls is an easy 3.7 mile out-and-back trail near the beach. There isn’t much elevation gain throughout the hike, but there is one section at the start of the trail that might be a little steep for some.

There is a very small parking lot that requires a parking pass just off of PCH. This lot fills up fast, and many will opt to park across the street along the Pacific Coast Highway. Since the start of the trail is in a residential area, you’ll need to walk up through the neighborhood from the parking lot to access this trail.

The walk from the parking lot to trailhead is exposed along a road. Once you make it to the trailhead, most of the trail is covered. You’ll follow the trail, cross two small water features, before making it to Escondido Falls.

View more information on Escondido Falls on AllTrails.

Paradise Falls

Paradise Falls is located in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California. There are a number of trails you can access in this park, and many of them connect to Paradise Falls. Generally speaking you can follow the trail for a 2.1 out-and-back hike to the waterfall, or you can turn it into a 3-4 mile loop by connecting it to a few other trails.

There are some picnic tables near the Falls should you choose to bring a snack to eat while you stop and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall.

View more information on Paradise Falls on AllTrails.

Happy Adventuring!

Summer is around the corner, which means we have to be even more thoughtful about how we plan our hikes, especially with our dogs. Below is a list of tips to stay safe on summer hikes with your dog.

We love hiking with our dogs, and we hike with them a lot. However, I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t say we definitely take some breaks from hiking in the summer when the heat is too much.

Dogs can overheat just like humans, so it’s important to take these precautions when planning your summer adventures.

Avoid the hottest times of day

There are a number of variables we keep in mind when it comes to the heat. This is definitely number one. Summer means we take on more early morning or the occasional late evening hike.

Going early in the morning helps us avoid the hottest times of the day, and the ground is usually at it’s coolest.

Why do I bring up the ground temperature? Because we want to protect our dogs paws from burning. The ground can be a lot hotter than the air temperature. We usually start to double check the ground when the air temperatures start to reach mid to high 70’s (F).

If you’re unsure if the ground is too hot, try the seven second test by placing the back of your hand on the ground and wait several seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.

Find shaded hikes

Although shade doesn’t actually make temperatures cooler, it does make a difference in how you feel. Generally, it’ll feel 10-15 degrees cooler in the shade because you’re avoiding direct sunlight, which is still a benefit in my opinion!

Hike closer to water

If you have access to areas by the beach, the cooler ocean waters bring in a comforting sea breeze.

One of our favorite things to do is hike to a water feature, usually a waterfall or a lake. It’s feels like a treat when we make it to our destination and are rewarded with both the views and mist from the falls. Chase especially loves when we hike to a lake that he can swim in, like Rainbow Lake in Colorado (pictured below).

Note: Be careful around stagnant water as that can be a breeding ground for bacteria or fungi that’ll make you and your dog sick.

Hike in higher elevation

Higher elevation usually means cooler air temperatures.

The exact amount of change, however, depends on factors like sunshine (which is more intense at elevation), clouds/fog, wind, and if there’s any precipitation. Be careful about how high you decide to go though! There may still be snow in the summer. And in some cases, inversions might actually make it feel hotter, which basically sounds like a long winded way of saying you should still always double check the weather.

Plan to give yourself more time

Hike slower – It’s not a race! Take it easy and enjoy the view. Plus, it’s better for your joints and can add an element of meditation, which is good for your mental health too!

Preparing for the heat

Just like you have to adjust your planning, the things you bring will also change.

Pack plenty of water

I’m always under the mindset that I’d rather have carried too much water than not enough, and this is even more important when it comes to a warm day. Plus, any “extra” water can also be used to help cool you or your dog off, like soaking your bandana or your their cooling vest.

Adding electrolytes to your water can also be beneficial in the summer to keep you hydrated and avoid cramping. If you need to encourage your dog to drink more, one trick that has worked for us is mixing in some bone broth to their water.

Wear the appropriate clothing

For us this means moisture wicking clothes (avoid cotton) with SPF protection, and a good sun hat.

We also pack items like dog booties and cooling vests for the dogs, just in case. (Links to Kurgo’s Blaze Cross Dog Shoes and Dog Core Cooling Vest. Although we are Kurgo Ambassadors, these are not affiliate or sponsored links. We just genuinely love their products.)

For a full list of hiking essentials, check out our blog post Hiking With Your Dog: The Essentials. And if you are looking for new gear and want to save a few bucks, you can check out our discount codes here.

Think about other options

Sometimes it’s just simply too hot to hike, and that has to be OK. Consider other fun summer adventures like kayaking or paddle boarding. This can be relaxing alternative, or at least an excuse to try something new. And, if your dogs are anything like mine, they might jump off and prefer to swim around to keep things exciting. As long as they’re OK with water, I see that as a benefit (they go home tired!).