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MOUNT LOWE HIKE
   
     DISTANCE:  3.2 Miles Roundtrip

     ELEVATION:  5,603'
     ELEVATION GAIN:  383'

     TYPE: Out and Back
     HIKING TIME: 1.5 Hours
     RATING:  Easy with a Moderate push at the end
     FEATURES: 
 Views of the San Gabriel Mountains, San
                            Gabriel Valley, Downtown Los Angeles
                            and the Pacific Ocean, relics from the
                            Echo Mountain House Resort

TRAIL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Mount Lowe TrailheadMt. Lowe Road at Trailhead
The hike to Mount Lowe on the Sam Merrill Trail is daunting to say the least with a 4,000' climb to the summit spread out over 6.5 miles. Given the southern California heat and a trail with little to no shade, it's an intimidating prospect to say the least. If only there was another option to reach this historic summit with its grand vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Los Angeles Basin. Well, as luck would have it, there is such a route.

Beginning at Eaton Saddle to the east of Mount Lowe you can attain the summit on a mile-and-a-half hike with just under 400' in elevation gain! And to kick things off, you are rewarded with not one, but two great views from the trailhead. The first looks east across the interior of the San Gabriel Mountains to Mt. Baldy, and the second faces south with views of the San Gabriel Valley. From the trailhead, the path leisurely follows the Mount Lowe Road dirt fire road around the upper reaches of the gorgeous Eaton Canyon, with its vertigo inducing views, and along the soaring granite cliffs of San Gabriel Peak. At a quarter-mile, the road passes directly through the cliffs in the Mueller Tunnel, emerging on the opposite side in a shady grove of oak and pine trees passing the towering spire of Mt. Markham on its way to Markham Saddle and the first trail junction.

At Markham Saddle the mountains open up to the broad expanse of Bear Canyon extending to the west for your fourth major view in just a half-mile of hiking. From Markham Saddle, veer left onto the marked single-track Mount Lowe East Trail. The trail will begin a noticeable uphill climb, with the Mount Lowe Road falling away to your right, but remains an easy trek toward Mount Lowe. About 2/3 of the way on this section of the trail you will cross over a rocky ridge and get your first glimpse of the views to come. To the east and northeast are Mt. Markham, San Gabriel Peak and Mt. Disappointment with its array of telecommunications equipment while to the south and southeast are views of the San Gabriel Valley and Mt. Wilson. A short distance past the rocky ridge is the second trail junction where you will hairpin hard to your right and continue uphill on the Mount Lowe Summit Trail. As you close in on the summit, the trail will become a little rockier and you will have to pick your way carefully around some smaller boulders, but there are some grand views of Bear Canyon from a different perspective. Just before Trail Junction 3, the trail becomes markedly steeper, but it is such a short distance that you'll barely have to time to get your heart pumping.

Mount Lowe Trail EastMount Lowe Trail East at Markham Saddle
At the third junction you may turn left onto a short, but somewhat steep trail that ascends directly to the upper summit or continue straight through the junction on a much more level, but slightly longer trail that brings you out near the lower summit. Either way, you are only moments from some glorious panoramic views of Los Angeles, the Pacific Ocean and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Reaching the summit you are greeted with some of the best views in the Los Angeles area, stretching from Mt. Baldy in the east to the Santa Monica Mountains in the west and all the way to curve of the coastline along Redondo Beach and the city of Torrance in the south. Southern California is truly laid out at your feet in all directions. But the summit holds a few more surprises. Named for Professor Thaddeus Lowe, a Civil War balloonist believed to be the first man to set foot on the summit and plant an American flag, both the upper and lower summits contain historic relics dating back to the turn of the 20th Century when Lowe had grand plans for the area. In 1894, Lowe opened the Echo Mountain Hotel, known as the White City in the Sky for its gleaming white facade that could be seen from downtown Los Angeles.

Mount Lowe Viewing TubesViewing Tubes
To reach the hotel, Lowe built a funicular railway that would transport guests and visitors from Rubio Canyon in Alta Dena to the summit of Echo Mountain and his fabulous resort. From there guests could board another railway running even further into the mountains to the Ye Alpine Tavern, located on the site of the present day Mount Lowe Campground. It was Lowe's dream to further extend the railway all the way to summit of the mountain that bore his name and build an even grander hotel than the Echo Mountain Resort. From there, guests could take an aerial tramway across the canyons to the summit of San Gabriel Peak. Unfortunately, Professor Lowe's dreams were bigger than his pockets and the resort complex fell into receivership before any work could commence on Mount Lowe. In 1900, fire consumed the stately Echo Mountain Hotel leaving nothing but the foundations. On Mount Lowe, however, there are still several reminders of the past including two sets of hitching posts that once tethered the horses of resort guests after a 2.5 miles ride from Ye Alpine Tavern. Several viewing tubes also remain in place allowing visitors to identify mountains and other landmarks. An historical placard attached to one of the hitching posts details some of the history of the Echo Mountain Hotel. To learn more about Professor Lowe and his White City in the sky, read our blog post by clicking here. You can also visit the ruins of the once stately hotel on our Echo Mountain Hike.

Due to its relatively easy trail, the Mount Lowe Hike also makes for a good sunset hike. As the sun dips behind the Santa Monica Mountains, the entire Los Angeles Basin comes to life in a glittering spectacle of glowing streetlights. There may not be a better nighttime view of the entire Greater Los Angeles area. Should you opt for a sunset hike, flashlights are required for the return trip. All-in-all, a hike to Mount Lowe provides an easy, enjoyable hike with plenty of stunning vistas and a glimpse into the history of southern California.

Downtown Los Angeles at Twilight
Downtown Los Angeles at Twilight
Nighttime East Pasadena
East Pasadena at night from the Mount Lowe Road

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

Directions to Trailhead

Eaton Saddle
Mt. Wilson Red Box Road
Angeles National Forest
Los Angeles, CA

Take CA-2 East for 13.9 miles from the 210 north of Pasadena. You will pass the Clear Creek Information Center and the Switzer Campground. Turn right on to Mt. Wilson Red Box Road and continue for another 2.3 miles to Eaton Saddle. Park on either side of the road. The trailhead is located at the gate on the western side of the road. There is also a great view of the interior San Gabriel Mountains on the eastern side of the road to kick your hike off with.

Mount Lowe Hike Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf map and trail guide.

Picture
  Parking

          Park on either side of Mt. Wilson Red Box Road. There is a great
          view point for photos of the San Gabriels on the east side of the
          road.

Picture
Trailhead

          The trailhead is located on the bottom corner of the parking area on
          west side of Mt. Wilson Red Box Road. Pass around the gate and 
          proceed approximately .25 mile on the Mt. Lowe Road fire road to 
          the Mueller Tunnel. The first half mile of this trail to Trail Junction 1
          is relatively easy with a nice view down Eaton Canyon to the San
          Gabriel Valley.

Picture
  Mueller Tunnel (.27 mile)

        Constructed in 1942 the Mueller Tunnel passes through a short
        portion of the souther flank of San Gabriel Peak. Pass through the 
        tunnel for approximately 66 yards and continue on the Mount Lowe 
        Road for another .25 to Trail Junction 1.        

Picture
 Trail Junction 1 (.52 mile)

        Passing a perforated pipe you will reach a small plateau with several 
        trail options. For this hike, veer left and begin climbing uphill on the  

        Mount Lowe Trail East, which is marked with a sign. As you begin to 
        ascend, the Mount Lowe Road should drop away on your right. From 
        here the trail becomes a rocky, narrow single-track and is moderately 
        steeper, but is still pretty easy hiking. Continue for .75 mile to Trail     
       Junction 2. 

Picture
Trail Junction 2 (1.26 miles)

         Crossing over a rocky ridge with some nice views, you will begin to 
         ascend the eastern flank of Mount Lowe just below the second trail 
         junction. When you reach the trail junction, marked with a metal 
         sign, hairpin hard to your right and continue uphill for .2 mile to the 
         next trail junction. 

Picture
Trail Junction 3 (1.46 miles)

        Mount Lowe Trail West rises up on your right to connect with the
        Mount Lowe Trail East at Trail Junction 3. You can turn right and 
        climb a short, moderately steep trail directly to the summit or   
        continue straight through the trail junction on a slightly longer, but 
        much easier grade circling around to the south side of the summit.

Picture
  Mount Lowe, 5,603' (1.6 miles)

        Congratulations! You've reached the summit of Mount Lowe at 5,603'.
        From here are great views of Mt. Disappointment, San Gabriel Peak,
        Mt. Markham, Mount Wilson, the San Gabriel Valley, Downtown Los 
        Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. The summit also holds several relics 
        from the giddy days of the Echo Mountain Resort and the Mount
        Lowe Alpine Railway. These are the hitching posts for horses tourists 
        would  ride up from Ye Alpine Tavern some 2.5 miles away, now the
        location of the Mount Lowe Campground, and the viewing tubes that
        help visitors to identify various peaks and landmarks. A placard with 
        historical information on Professor Thadeus Lowe and the Echo
        Mountain Resort is located near the hitching posts on the upper 
        summit. A bench near the viewing tubes on the lower summit 
        provides a resting place before making your return journey to the 
        parking area.

Click any photo below for a larger lightbox image.
Eaton Saddle
Trailhead at Eaton Saddle
Mueller Tunnel
Mueller Tunnel
Mount Lowe Road
Trail Junction 1
Mount Lowe Trail East
Trail Junction 2
Mount Lowe Trail East
Trail Junction 3

Mount Lowe Hike Image Gallery
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