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 Reporter |
Summary: Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's mountain railway and resort was Southern California's must-visit attraction, drawing more than three million visitors from1896 to 1936. Echo Mountain (3207'), known as "The White City," was the heart of the resort with its elegant Echo Mountain House hotel, chalet, observatory, and small zoo. It has all since vanished, but this fascinating hike takes you to the ruins of this official historic landmark. From the stone gateway at the north end of Lake Avenue, walk east about .2 mile to the marked beginning of the Sam Merrill Trail. After a short decent into the creek bed, the trail climbs steadily up the east slope of Los Flores Canyon. Just short of a half mile past the two-mile marker you will reach the old rail bed of the Mount Lowe Railway. Turn right (south) and follow the rail route about 100 yards to the Echo Mountain site. Plan to spend some time exploring the ruins, reading the historical plaques, and enjoying the views. Trailhead: From the I-210 Foothill Freeway in Pasadena, exit at Lake Avenue. Drive north for 3.4 miles to the end of Lake Avenue (where it intersects with the terminus of Loma Alta Drive running east and west). Park along the street. The hike begins to the left of the stone gateway on the east side of the street. (Lat:34.20406 Lon:-118.13054) Trail Guides for Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail: Trails of the Angeles by John W. Robinson (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles River Ranger district: 626-574-1613. Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Dan Simpson, who has posted 4 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 8 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by RP on 4/27/2008 I MAY BE BIAS, BUT I HAVE HIKED TO ECHO AND MT. LOWE, INSPIRATION POINT, SAN GABRIEL PEAK SINCE I WAS A BOY (THAT IS, SINCE 1971). THAT HIKE IS STILL MY FAVORITE, MAYBE BECAUSE I KNOW THE TRAIL AND THE HISTORY OF THE RESORT THAT ONCE WAS. I LIVE IN DENVER NOW AND THE ROCKIES ARE ALL YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, BUT ON THOSE RARE TIMES WHEN I RETURN TO PASADENA, I TAKE THE HIKE. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE, AMATEUR TO SEASONED PRO, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. 
Reviewed by JG on 3/31/2008 I took the hike on Saturday with my children. It was tough at first, but I would do it again.... The view from the top was beatiful....
Reviewed by Hank on 3/6/2008 Went today for the first time. I'm a novice hiker and I thought this was a good start: not too easy and not too hard for a first timer. I saw some people running down the trail and I thought they were crazy. However, ruins at the top was well worth taking a look at. I'd do it again.
Reviewed by km on 1/20/2008 There is much to like about this hike. For one it is easy to get to being only minutes from the 210 fwy. It provides some difficulty in that it is basically straight up and back down a mountain, but you don't necessarily need to be a seasoned hiker to do it. But the best part for me is the breathetaking views combined with the history that the ruins provide.
Reviewed by AS on 1/14/2008 Went up to Inspiration Point on 01/13/08 and had a blast! The condition of the trail is very good and the views are amazing. This hike looks easy when you step on it, but the constant gradual grade really starts kicking in after about an hour. Picture perfect views!
Reviewed by Dave on 1/10/2008 This hike is an absolute gem for local residents. Case in point I got off work early and hit the trail head at 2:45pm - was back to my car by 5. The view at the top of Echo Mountain is fantastic, and there are a lot of great places to relax and look around up top. If you are an avid hiker and in shape, this is an easy hike - but well worth it. The trail is very well maintained. My only gripe about this hike is having to share the trail with mountain bikers. Nothing against them, I just prefer foot only traffic. 
Reviewed by jay on 12/5/2007 I hiked the middle Sam Merrill trail today and came across a digital camera, that a mountain biker dropped (there only two photos on the camera both of a biker). I have no way of finding the rightful owner so if anyone either lost their camera today 12/5 or knows someone who did, post here. 
Reviewed by AW on 11/25/2007 The trail is reopened again. Remember to bring a lot of water for pets and you. There are some bike runners sharing the same narrow trail as you. So, watch out for them. They may show up all of a sudden. There are not much shades after the 2 mile pole. However, after that point, you are very close to the top. The view is great at the top. I am not a regular hiker but I really like this trail. To me, it is a challenge. I rest at all the shady areas that I can see. :) Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||