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 Reporter |
Summary: I really enjoyed this hike along the ruins of the Mt Lowe railway, Echo Mountain, and the Alpine Tavern. These locations were the most popular in Southern California in the late 1800's, before being destroyed by floods and fire. More than a dozen historical markers along the way tell the fascinating story of this railway. To top it off, the hike includes stunning views, pine forests, deep canyons, and lots of hiking. The first half of the hike, up to Alpine Tavern (now Mt Lowe Camp) and Inspiration Point, follows the Sunset Ridge Fire road to the top. The return leg is a bit more convoluted, but quite fun. A quarter mile down hill from Inspiration point, take the Sam Merrill Trail to Echo Mountain and visit the ruins of the former Inn at this location. Next head right on Echo Mountain Trail back to the Sunset Ridge Fire road. A hundred yards down the fire road on the right, take the unmarked trailhead for Sunset Ridge Trail, which parallels the fire road, and will get you home. Trailhead: From Loma Alta Drive in Altadena, drive up the Chaney Trail (past a locked gate that opens at 6am) to the top of sunset ridge, where there's parking by the roadside. The trail starts east on the gated paved sunset Ridge fire road. (Lat:34.2148 Lon:-118.1477) Trail Guides for Mt. Lowe Railway Loop: Day Hikers Guide to Southern California by John McKinney (Olympus Press) Afoot & Afield In Los Angeles by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) 101 Hikes in Southern California by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring User Groups: Hikers, bikers, Dogs Ranger Contact: US Forest Service, 818-790-1151 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 7 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Annette on 1/18/2010 I did the hike alone on Saturday. It was a beautiful day but I have to go up again on a clearer day to get good distance pictures.
Reviewed by Annika on 11/11/2009 Hi! The Chaney Trail entrance is closed due to the fires. Go to the end of Loma Alta & Lake. There will be a metal gate there and that is another entrance. I did this hike yesterday and I loved it!! I felt safe hiking it on my own because there were other people hiking there as well. The view from the top is out of this world!!!!! 
Reviewed by PA on 5/12/2009 There are so many different loop options from various starting points that its a little bewildering. I bet it gets hot in the summer, but this area is full of fun places to explore. The hikes can be as easy or as hard as you want to make them. The history and scenery make it well worth it too.
Reviewed by lexy on 3/15/2009 hiked this for the first time today and it was QUITE a hike. we started at the cobb estate and followed sam merril to echo mtn. from there castle canyon to inspiration pt and on to mt lowe summit. then back down the railroad trail. about 15 challenging miles and would have been worth it had it except the morning fog never cleared!! check weather report first next time! mt lowe preservation society website has a VERY good(and very necessary) map. definatly print and bring along!!!
Reviewed by JM on 12/14/2008 It was a wonderful hike with beautiful scenery all along the way.
Reviewed by Abel Duran on 10/22/2008 This is my favorite trail to hike. I've been in Pasadena all my life. I've recently injured my knee, but unfortunatley was still able to hike all the way to Mt.Lowe Tavern. The spectacular views on a clear day are breath taking and so is the peace and quite of everyday life. I highly suggest this trail to everyone who enjoys the wildlife as much as I do. The trail can be quite unpleasent to those who don't climb often, but none the less if you set your mind and whant to see a piece of history far into someones imagination, this certainly is the trail for you. also don't forget to stretch before and after the hike. I was quite sore when I came down the hill that day.
Reviewed by louis on 6/3/2008 Best hike i had this year started off early in the morning around 9 am was thinking of just doing the 2.7 mile hike uphill however the challenge looked inti sing so took the whole trail , still sore as we speak but well worth it .
Reviewed by Jeepergeo on 5/31/2008 This trail was our third choice for the Memorial Day weekend. We planned to hike in the San Bernardino Mountains, starting in Angeles Oaks on Friday: six inches of snow on that trail caused us to re-evaluate the trip. Saturday morning, we regrouped and checked out two other trailheads and found them closed. The Mt. Lowe trailhead was our last option, and it was open. The trail up to Mt. Lowe Camp was in excellent condition, but was loaded with day hikers. Apart from the crowd, the hike up to Mt. Lowe camp was great. We elected to hike the rail bed from the half way point on, for a one way trip of 6.1 miles and elevation gain of 2625'. Mt. Lowe camp was nice, and the stream provided water. Overall, this trek turned out quite nice! 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||