FSR 4084 - 3.4 miles
However, this presumes that you are able to drive to Aliso Springs. I managed this in my 4runner for this hike, but on two occasions prior to this, I took a look at one steep bad hill, parked my truck and added 0.8 miles of one way hiking distance.
Drive west on FSR 92. Avoid the right turn to Kentucky camp and be sure not to go "left" to the Boulder Creek resort. In other words take pains to stay on the Gardner Canyon road for 5.8 miles where you will cross Sawmill Creek (which always seems to have water). Continue another 0.5 miles (for 6.3 miles total) and you see a big sign pointing right to Aliso Springs on FSR 4084.
You should have no trouble getting this far with almost any vehicle, though the climb after the stream crossing could give a sedan trouble. To drive on 4084 for any distance will definitely require 4x4. To drive 4084 all the way to the end will require 4x4, some skill driving it, along with serious intent and determination.
The above map shows the current path of FSR 4084. The old 4084 (which stayed in the bed of Sawmill Canyon) now makes a nice hike. The map shows the old 4084 (no longer open to vehicles) continuing all the way to the Greaterville road.
The distance all the way to the end of 4084 is 3.4 miles. I recommend parking at a decent spot at 2.6 miles, but choose for yourself. I drove to the end in my 4runner, but on the return trip, descending the bad hill, I was amused to find my vehicle on two wheels (one front left, one right rear, probably) and in balance tipping back aind forth. We took an hour to carefully drive the 3.4 miles, so you can ponder if you would enjoy hiking or driving more.
The "end of the road" at Aliso Springs is a big camping area under big trees that shows signs of heavy use. Apparently the road here was bulldozed by the Forest Service around 2011. If it was in good condition then, it has clearly deteriorated drastically since. The heavy use may have taken place back then.
The Spring itself it someplace just a bit above the parking area. There are two old concrete basins that once had pipes that kept them full of nice water, but those days have passed. There was a nice stream of water running alongside the camp area when we visited in 2023.
We saw an incredible amount of really big bear poop in large quantities all along the trail, and pretty much all the way to Sawmill Spring. We never did see the bear, but she must be a big one. The trail descends a bit, swings to the west and changes character from a sunny hillside to a walk along the stream under big trees.
Eventually the trail crosses the stream (there may or may not be water, there was none on this visit) to the left and gets busy switchbacking up the nose of a ridge and at 7000 feet elevation you find yourself at Sawmill Spring. There is some kind of metal cylinder that is supposed to collect water from the spring. The pipe is apparently clogged. They had a budget to construct this thing 25 years ago, but nobody ever comes along to maintain it. There is a concrete spring box just up the hill with nice water. Alongside of it is a big concrete box with a metal lid. Very likely the problem with the pipe is inside.
The trees in this area are big and inviting. Florida Saddle is up at 7800 elevation. Only 800 feet up! -- and about 2.4 miles further. That is a surprisingly modest elevation gain for 2.4 miles of hiking. A hike to Florida Saddle from Aliso Springs would be 4.4 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1800 feet, not a bad plan for a full day, at least for me someday. This was not our plan for this day however.
Tom's hiking pages / tom@mmto.org