The GeekHiker

In its day, the Mt. Lowe railway was one of the must-see attractions in Southern California.  No vacation was complete with out it.

Starting from a trolley line in Altadena, passengers took an incline railway to lofty Echo Mountain, where they could stay at The Chalet or the Echo Mountain House.  From Echo Mountain, they could board the electric Mt. Lowe Railway for the scenic trip up the mountain.

From Echo Mountain, the railway climbed another 1,300 feet in about three and a half miles, passing viewpoints with evocative names like the Cape of Good Hope and the Granite Gate.  At the end passengers were delivered to Ye Alpine Tavern (later the Mt. Lowe Tavern), nestled in the forest on the slopes of Mt. Lowe, for respite a world away from the city.

Funded by balloonist Thaddeus S. C. Lowe starting in 1892, he would eventually be bankrupted by the venture.  For most of its history the railway was run by the Pacific Electric Railway until, in 1936, the burning of the Tavern hastened the end of the operation.

Today, the old railbed between Echo Mountain and the Tavern location has been converted into a hiking trail.  The Scenic Mt. Lowe Historical Committee has cleaned up the trail, added historical markers and information, and even rebuilt the scenic ramada at Inspiration Point, located a half mile east of the location of the old Tavern (which itself has been converted by the Forest Service in to a trail camp).

The trail described here will take you to Echo Mountain, then up the old rail route to the Tavern site and Inspiration point; a shorter trail returns to Inspiration Point and the route down.  Much of the trail is exposed, and best avoided during the sweltering summer months.

* * *

From the trailhead, walk past the old stone gate and up the remnants of the road at the long-gone Cobb Estate.  After about 150 yards, just as the road bends to the left, continue straight, taking the marked Sam Merrill trail.  The trail briefly drops to the bottom of Las Flores Canyon, crosses the bottom across the top of a debris dam, and starts switchbacking up the east canyon wall.  (Be sure not to take the Altadena Crest equestrian trail, which continues going down canyon.)

The entrance gate at the Cobb Estate

Ascending the Sam Merrill Trail, downtown LA and the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the distance

Photo of the Sam Merrill switchbacks taken on the return down during the sunniest part of the day

The trail, shady in the morning but quite exposed in the afternoon, gains altitude quickly, revealing an ever-expanding view of the Los Angeles basin.  After 2.5 miles of continuous climbing you will arrive at the first trail junction.  For the moment pass this, continuing straight past two more trail junctions (for the Sam Merrill Trail and Castle Canyon Trail) to arrive at Echo Mountain.

At Echo Mountain you’ll find the remnants of the old station: foundations of buildings, old hardware, etc.  Behind you tower the mountains you’ll soon be climbing to Inspiration Point, before you stretches the broad LA Basin.  On a clear day, downtown, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Catalina and the Pacific are all clearly visible.

Panoramic view from Echo Mountain

Downtown LA from Echo Mountain

Remnants of the old buildings at Echo Mountain

Old hardware from the incline railway at Echo Mountain

After you’ve taken in the view, retrace your steps to the first trail junction, turning right.  You’re now walking on the old electric railway right-of-way, crossing again Las Flores Canyon.  The next three and a half miles continue ascending up the mountain, occasionally walking over ties still embedded in the soil.  Every so often an informational signpost, usually with a historic picture of the same location, describes what was here all those years ago.

Information sign at Sentinel Rock

The same section of trail today

.8 miles after leaving Echo Mountain, you’ll arrive at a paved road.  The trail (now a fire road) continues right, but be sure to take the brief detour around the large rock in front of you.  Known then as the Cape of Good Hope, the original railway ran in a 200 degree arc around this point, then continued on the longest straight stretch of track on the trip: a mere 225 feet.

Shortly after the Cape, the trail enters mixed pine forest.  Views of the city appear and disappear as the trail goes in and out behind mountain ridges.  3.5 miles after leaving Echo Mountain, you will arrive at Mt. Lowe Trail Camp, built on the remnants of the once-great Echo Mountain house.

Forested section of the old railway

The Granite Gate, where the railroad was blasted out of solid granite.  Note the original support for the overhead wire that powered the cars

After you’ve finished exploring the camp (and, if you’re anything like me, reading all of the informational plaques), continue southeast along the fire road, passing the junction with the Sam Merrill trail.  One-half mile after leaving the trail camp you will arrive at Inspiration Point.

Inspiration Point

The panoramic view from Inspiration Point

Sighting tubes at inspiration point (I tried, but I couldn’t find the Ostrich Farm, sadly)

Looking down at Echo Mountain from Inspiration Point (the reverse of the view of the ruins above)

Just east of Inspiration Point take the signed Castle Canyon trail.  The trail drops steeply down the wooded canyon for about two miles, returning you to Echo Mountain.

Looking up at the ramada at Inspiration Point from the Castle Canyon Trail

From there, retrace your steps down the Sam Merrill Trail to the Cobb Estate trailhead.

More photos here.