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ECHO MOUNTAIN HIKE
   
     DISTANCE:  5.5 Miles Roundtrip

     ELEVATION:  3200'
     ELEVATION GAIN:  1400'

     TYPE: Out and Back
     HIKING TIME: 3 Hours
     RATING:  Strong Moderate
     FEATURES: 
 Ruins of the Echo Mountain House (White City)
                            Resort and Mt. Lowe Railway

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

PictureLower Sam Merrill Trail
The Echo Mountain Trail is actually a combination of two trails, the Lower Sam Merrill Trail and the Mount Lowe Railway Trail. The trail winds 2.75 miles one-way along a system of switchbacks through the Las Flores Canyon, with a brief crossover to Rubio Canyon and along an upper ridge to the Echo Mountain promontory above Altadena, CA.  The trail begins on the Lower Sam Merrill Trail at the iron gates of the Cobb Estate, once owned by lumber magnate Charles Cobb and later by the Marx Brothers, and follows the main drive for about .1 of a mile before veering off into Las Flores Canyon. For roughly the first one-third of a mile the trail is relatively level, but once it crosses the canyon it begins a moderately steep and aggressive climb along a series of sweeping switchbacks. As you gain elevation, majestic views of the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles begin to appear. Unfortunately, most of the hike is contained within the Las Flores Canyon and the views can be somewhat repetitive. The trail only ventures over the ridge into Rubio Canyon briefly before returning to Las Flores Canyon. At about 2.38 miles into the hike, the trail makes a turn to the south and begins to level out as it approaches the upper ridge. At 2.58 miles, the Sam Merrill merges with Mount Lowe Railway Trail providing a nice, easy, flat hike for the last quarter mile. 

PictureEcho Mountain House circa 1894
The trail ends at a concrete pad that once served as the depot for the Mount Lowe Incline Railway, a funicular rail system that brought tourists and locals from the bottom of Rubio Canyon to the high promontory known as Echo Mountain. It was on this point that Professor Thaddeus Lowe built a Victorian resort including a 40-room chalet, astronomical observatory, zoo, dance hall and the Echo Mountain House, a 70-room palatial hotel dedicated to Victorian extravagance. The entire complex of buildings was painted a gleaming white and could be seen shining from the crest of the San Gabriel Mountains in downtown Los Angeles, earning the resort the nickname "The White City in the Sky." The funicular incline railway and chalet opened in 1893 and the Echo Mountain House in 1894. For a brief time, the resort was the most visited honeymoon destination in the US. The end came all too soon for the White City, beginning when the properties fell into receivership and Lowe lost control in 1899. In 1900, the Echo Mountain House was destroyed by a kitchen fire and never rebuilt. The remaining buildings were also destroyed by fire in 1905, with the exception of the observatory, which was itself felled by a windstorm in 1928. A three-day thunderstorm in 1938 washed the railroad, which extended all the way to Mount Lowe, completely off the mountain.

PictureBuckwheat and Bluffs
All that remains today are some foundations of both the hotel and the funicular power house. The grip and guide wheels from the powerhouse lay trailside rusting in the California sun. The remnants of an engine from the rail line, complete with snow plow, was discovered on the lower slopes of the mountain and hauled back up, a wrecked reminder of the city that once was.

The property's once resplendent picnic grounds still serve that purpose, albeit in a considerably less cultivated state. There is plenty of shade and a few Forest Service picnic tables are available for those who make the climb. The views from the ruins of the hotel are spectacular, and on clear days it is possible to see all the way to Catalina Island, some 65 miles distant. At the back of the resort, a replica echophone has been installed for hikers to hear their voices reverberating across Castle Canyon as newlyweds and well-heeled tourists did over 100 years ago. For a chance to step back in history, a hike to the ruins of the White City is well worth the trek.

For additional information on Thaddeus Lowe, the Mount Lowe Railway and the White City in the Sky, read our blog by clicking here.


Click the full frame icon in the upper right corner for a larger map in a separate window.

Directions to Trailhead

3302 Lake Avenue
Altadena, CA 91001


From the 210 Freeway in Pasadena, take exit 26 and head north on Lake Ave. Drive 3.6 miles to where the road makes a hard left and becomes East Loma Alta Drive. The trailhead is on the right side of this junction through the iron gates of the former Cobb Estate. Street parking is available on either Lake Avenue or East Loma Alta Drive.

Echo Mountain Hike Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf map and trail guide.

Picture
Trailhead

          The trail begins at the junction of Lake Ave. and East Loma Alta
          Drive. Pass through the iron gates of the former Cobb Estate and
          continue on the paved road for .1 mile to Trail Junction 1. Look for
          the junction as the paved road begins to curve to the left. It is an
          easy junction to miss.

Picture
Trail Junction 1 (.10 mile)

        As the paved road makes a 90º turn to the left, continue straight on
       a small dirt trail marked with an easy to miss sign simply stating 'trail.'
       Click on the Trail Junction 1 picture for a larger image. The trail sign
       is in the center nearly swallowed by a plant. Follow this section for
       about 40 yards to Trail Junction 2.

Picture
Trail Junction 2 (.11 mile)

        Just past Trail Junction 1 is Trail Junction 2. Continue straight,
        keeping the water fountain and trail signage on your left, descending
        slightly into Las Flores Canyon and turn left onto the Lower Sam
        Merrill Trail. Do not take the trail to the left before the water fountain
       or you will loop back through the Cobb Estate. This is also the last
       spot for water on this trail. Make sure your bottles are full.

Picture
Switchbacks (.35 mile)

         At .35 mile you will cross to the east side of Las Flores Canyon and
         reach a series of short, steep switchbacks. The trail continues on a
         longer set of switchbacks for just under a mile crossing the ridge line
         to the western slopes of Rubio Canyon. At 1.23 miles you will reach
         a hairpin turn with fine views into Rubio Canyon.

Picture
Rubio Canyon Scenic View (1.23 miles)

        Scenic view into Rubio Canyon at the hair pin turn.

Picture
Power Lines (1.28 miles)

        Just past the hair pin turn at Rubio Canyon, you will pass under a
        power line tower and cross back into Las Flores Canyon.

Picture
Scenic View (2.38 miles)

        From the power lines, the trail continues north through a few 
        switchbacks. Just over a mile from the power lines, the trail makes a
        hairpin turn back to the south. At this turn are some nice views of Mt.
        Lowe and Las Flores Canyon.

Picture
Trail Junction 3 (2.58 miles)

        The Lower Sam Merrill Trail ends at a T-intersection with the Mt.
        Lowe Railway Trail. Veer to the right and continue on the Mt. Lowe
        Railway Trail for about .25 mile. About 200' past the junction, you
        will pass the trailhead for the Upper Sam Merrill Trail to the Mt. 
        Lowe Campground (former site of the Ye Alpine Tavern, an additional
        6 miles roundtrip. Shortly past the Upper Sam Merrill turnoff is
        another trailhead for Castle Canyon Trail leading to Inspiration
        Point (additional 4 miles roundtrip). Remain on the Mt. Lowe
        Railway Trail and continue past both these trail junctions to reach
        the site of the Echo Mountain House.

Picture
Echo Mountain House and the Mt. Lowe Incline Railway Ruins, 3200' (2.75 miles)

      

Picture
Resort Foundations
Click any photo below for a larger lightbox image.
Picture
Sam Merrill Trailhead to Echo Mountain
Picture
Trail Junction 1
Picture
Trail Junction 2
Picture
Trail Switchbacks
Picture
Trail Junction 3
Picture
Mt. Lowe Railway

Echo Mountain Trail Image Gallery
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