Sawmill Lake
...fishing and dispersed camping are allowed
DESCRIPTION:
Although the lake lies entirely on private Nevada Irrigation District lands, fishing and dispersed camping are allowed.
Hiking: The Grouse Ridge Trail can be accessed by crossing the dam and spillway, but wading across is not advisable in high water periods.
DIRECTIONS:
To Sawmill Lake
At the Bowman Lake Dam the road continues along the lake’s north shore but becomes a primitive road not recommended for low-clearance vehicles. See Grouse Ridge Map.
If you want to access the area above Bowman Lake with small trailers/RVs or low-clearance vehicles, roads from the east via Jackson Meadow Reservoir are somewhat better but still delightfully remote (see East Slope and Grouse Ridge Maps.
To get to Jackson Meadows Reservoir: From Truckee, take Highway 89 north for 17 miles. Turn right (west) off Highway 89 at Little Donner Summit. Follow Jackson Lake Road (#S07) for 16 miles. To reach the west side campgrounds, continue over the dam and turn left onto Graniteville Road (#S122) around the west side of the reservoir. To continue to Bowman Lake and Sawmill Lakes follow Sierra County Road #122 west.
Fording the Jackson Creek above the Jackson Creek Campground is not advisable for anyone during high water.
ACTIVITIES:
Fishing (Rating: Good)
Rainbows, Kamloops Junction strains, stocked (1999). Shoreline fishing often rewarding, especially along south shore.
Boating - Motorized (Rating: Good)
Smallish lake but it offers nice flatwater paddling. Car-top launch of small boats.
