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    Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail

    4.4 (458 reviews)

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    Starting the new year 2022. #HikingAdventure #TheWeekend0101
    Carl N.

    What a better way to start the new year (2022) by hiking mother nature. So without further ado let's begin this hiking trail review. Sam Merrill Trail is a major trail in Altadena which leads to Echo Mountain. It's a well-engineered and well maintained. There are few points where the trail has been shored up with boards, creating a steep drop if you were to step off the trail. Keep your eyes on the trail and you'll be fine. Hikers will enter through Cobb Estate gate on Lake Avenue to get into the trail and it's strictly street parking only. The degree of difficulty is moderate to hard because the trail ascends at a steady aggressive grade, but never gets too steep over the 1,400-foot climb. Sam Merrill Trail is a rewarding experience, rich with history. After a 1 1/2 hours (7,271 steps) of hiking I reached the White City, a ruined resort complex, where I explored and spent most of my time. It was a pretty ruin and the view was amazing albeit mostly covered by clouds. My hiking distance was 5.8 miles and it took me 3 hours (out and back) at 3,200 feet of elevation. I descended down the trail during sunset. And it was glorious! I like how the sun hits the sedimentary rocks which gave a glowing gold (see photo) color. Overall, I enjoyed this well kept trail and it's rich history. I highly recommend Sam Merrill Trail.

    View
    Travis P.

    This is such a great trail with a moderate difficulty. About 3 miles up with a winding incline route. It's not super scenic until you get to the top which you are greeted with historical objects and other cool things. They have an echo phone at the top which creates an insane echo that can be heard after two seconds. Will take my other friends!

    Tony L.

    If you're looking for a challenging hike or like pain look no further! This is NOT a beginner hike and not even intermediate. Yes you have been warned! If you're not in shape, have any walking issues do not even attempt this hike. First off parking is street only along the neighbor hood on Lake Ave or Loma Alta Dr. No adventure pass is required and free. The entrance to the trailhead is through the metal gates with the sign Cobb Estate Trailhead. You'll walk up a sidewalk about 500ft till you reach the actual trailhead. It's marked by this concrete water fountain thing. No there are no written signs. You need to go on the right side path to go on the echo mountain trail. If you go left it will be a completely different trail! Note this trail is very heavily trafficked with very narrow paths along the cliffside. If you have trekking poles you may wanna use them here! This particular trail is 5.4mi round trip. The first leg is 2.5mi all uphill with 8% grade up to final 3200ft elevation. You'll absolutely feel the burn in your legs! If you go early, around 8am your first mile will at least be in the shade side of the mountain too. Again the path is very narrow so be careful of slipping off! Share the path with people coming down too. There are a few benches along the trail to sit and catch your breath or just to enjoy the views. You can clearly see the entire SGV all the way to DTLA in the horizon. At the first peak you'll reach a crossroad. You either can go right to the Mount Lowe Railway viewpoint or continue left for to inspirational loop point. Note inspirational loop is another 4 mi to that summit. The Mount Lowe Railway viewpoint is where majority of people go if you made it this far. It's the site of the historical Echo Mountain House and Mount Lowe Railway. You again get a beautiful view of the valley from here. This would probably a great spot for July 4th fireworks if you get up here! Note there are no bathrooms or water anywhere on this trail so prepare your own supplies! Just remember its all downhill on the way down so if you got knee issues wear your knee braces!

    Gumby Rock (You've made it)!
    Antoine W.

    This by far one of my favorite local hiking trails. It will definitely test your resolve with unrelenting inclines that will have you gasping for air. Once I conquered the ascent, I was rewarded with jaw-dropping views that made the struggle worth it. Pro tip: go early, like 6am to avoid the crowds, bring extra water, a sense of adventure, and a reminder that you're doing this because you are in California and this what Californians do. IYKYK!! Five stars for the scenery, and fresh air. Oh yeah when you see Gumby your almost there.

    View of DTLA & Catalina Island off in the far distance
    Hannah S.

    Fantastic hike - heck of a workout for sure! Sadly we didn't make it all the way up to Inspiration Point bc we got confused and didn't realize how much further up it is from this particular trail...and it's not mentioned in AllTrails info - it's listed as a separate hike! All told - from our car and back and bc we explored extra bc we got a little lost - we hiked just over 6.5 miles, 1700+ elevation gain and did just over 22,400 steps - took us about 4 hours. This particular trail is about 2 3/4 miles up one way (so 5.4 miles out and back) - you start at the trailhead at the old Cobb Estates area at the top of Lake Ave. It's a steady incline all the way up with lots of switchbacks and was manageable- I'd call this hike moderate to lower level advanced - definitely not a beginners hike. We gained 1700+ feet in elevation and the trail is very very narrow and can be very rocky in places with tall steps. We got there right around 8-810am on a weekday and it was pretty crowded - and also had some mountain bikers which makes for a very interesting situation passing each other on the narrow trails lol! But it makes for a fantastically exhilarating adventure! You're treated with absolutely gorgeous views of the LA Basin and downtown and we were even able to see all the way out to Catalina island! There were a couple of small benches and one large one on the way. And at the top there are fascinating ruins of the Echo Mountain House (an old Victorian lodge) and the Mt Lowe Railway - there are hug cogs and wheels left and some tracks that go right off the mountain! There are also lots of information plaques telling of the interesting history. I loved it! I realized too late that we totally missed the echo phone in the upper part where some picnic tables are - but I'll be going back once I work up to being able to get to Inspiration Point. Turns out, Inspiration Point is up another trail once you get to the ruins - and it's about another 2 miles up (4 miles total loop) - so if you do the whole hike, you're looking at just over 10 miles. We got just a tad lost trying to find it bc the signs aren't obvious- but if we had planned better it wouldn't have been an issue. Lesson learned - part of exploration and adventuring!! Parking is all street parking at the end of Lake Ave and is a residential area. We didn't have any issues finding a spot. But be sure to read the parking signs for any restrictions since this is LA. There are no bathrooms or facilities so be prepared. Bring plenty of water! We needed our packs, snacks, water, hiking shoes and poles for this one!

    Ed T.

    This was a surprising hike because of the history at the end of the trail. There were some remnants of a railway and a huge cog at the top. Total round trip was about ~5.5 miles that took a little over 2.5 hours. I went on a Monday afternoon so it wasn't too packed. The trail was a steady incline on a narrow dirt path. You will be expected to stop to let others pass. The weather was gloomy these days and it was foggy at higher elevation. Therefore, you won't get any views at the top which was okay. Parking was free and on the side of the streets. It was kind of eerie up there but still a fun hike. lol

    Hiking back down in the evening
    Natalie S.

    Ready to sweat and give your legs a workout after Zooming all week?!? Get yourself to this Altadena trail! Street parking is relatively easy and free ~ it does get busy though so come either really early or later in the afternoon. I prefer to catch the sunset at the top of Echo Mountain. The views of LA and occasionally, on a clear day, even ocean views all the way to Catalina, are breathtakingly beautiful! The trail itself gets very narrow at times which makes it a bit of a pain if there are lots of people, but overall you can hike and remain socially distant. Thankfully, most people on this trail wear face masks so you can feel safe. It is also a sun exposed trail which is why I think that either an early morning hike or late afternoon hike is preferable. I find this trail to be a fun, moderately challenging hike to the summit and once you get to the top you are rewarded with a very cool historical site (the ruins of the burned Echo Mountain hotel - built in the late 1800's by Thaddeus Lowe. There were no roads to this hotel -- you reached it via an incline railway that climbed over 1,000 feet!). It takes me about an two and a half hours to complete the full 5.8 miles and it is SO worth it! One of my favorite SoCal hikes!

    Lexi K.

    First of all.. the All Trails app says this trail is 5.4 miles round trip. So in my mind I was thinking "ehh... shouldn't be too bad since it's 2.7 miles in and 2.7 miles out." The entrance is located at the Cobb Estate gates. I remember coming here before at night time when I looked up "Enchanted Forest" or "Haunted Forest" hike. At night time, it's actually scary AF when you can't see anything and every moving bush will scare tf out of you! I never finished the night hike but I'm glad I returned to complete the hike in the day time. Mind you, 2.7 miles doesn't seem like a lot until you have lots of inclines to endure. Over this COVID period, I have not been physically active so my stamina has dropped drastically. Not even half way up, I was already dreading to complete the hike. Very often I thought I had reached the top but when you get to the towers, you're probably 1/2 way there. I was eager to know how much longer I had to get up there and I kept asking everyone who was coming down, "how far or how much longer is it to get to the top?" Most people would tell me 30 more minutes and it made the experience even more dreadful. I am not one to quit so I took every opportunity I had to chill under the shade. Definitely go early in the AM to avoid the heat. I was also dehydrated as well so that does not justify how "out of shape" I am. LOL I brought my two dogs with me and trust me... you may need to carry them all the way down as they get exhausted from all that incline walking up hill. Make sure to bring lots of water for yourself and your companions as well. Once you get to the top, you'll find historical pieces that were left from the old railway. Definitely worth the hike up with an amazing view of the city and you'll also see the ocean from up there too! (Only if the sky is clear enough) - Go after the rain! BEST TIME! TRUSTTTTT!!!

    Nice view
    Justin T.

    Great intermediate hike for anyone in the area. Good for dogs but require leashes. Parking is at the bottom of the hike and is on the street. The hike itself is about 4-5 miles in total. It's an uphill climb initially and the path itself is not that wide so you might have to wait to let other people pass and probably better to mask up as well since everyone isn't that spaced apart. It's a lot of hatchbacks up the mountainside. There is a fair amount of shade but I also went on a foggy morning so not sure if it was adequate would recommend sunscreen though. At the first destination there is a ruins of a hotel that used to be there and large gears that where left behind. There is a lot a picnic area if you want to bring up food. I am not a super experienced hiker but thought it was a good workout and jist brought a 1L bottle of water and a small snack and was good for the hike. The top of the hike has a nice overview of LA and there are a lot of great spots to take nice pictures. There are more trails further from this and I thin you can also go to inspiration point as well! I didn't bring walking sticks and I was fine! Will definitely be back!

    Mel C.

    Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail (Altadena, CA) Stats from AllTrails 5.4 miles RT 1,417 ft. Elevation Gain AllTrails describes this hike as a moderate and heavily trafficked out and back trail. No kidding! This hike is very popular, and my recommendation is to start early if want to avoid the crowds and find parking. Keep in mind that the hike from the trailhead to the top and back down is 5.4 miles. We parked a few blocks from the trailhead. So, our total distance from our car and back was a little over 6 miles. AllTrails has this hike listed as moderate, probably due to the total distance and elevation gain. In my opinion, the hike did not feel too long and the trail to the top was so gradual that I didn't even feel like I was climbing up a mountain. The trail is narrow so be careful. There are plenty of hikers on this trail and all walks of life. Just remember hiking etiquette...hikers going uphill have the right of way. The reward is at the top. The views of Los Angeles are sweet. But it's the history of Echo Mountain that makes this hike worth it. Ruins of "White City" remain at the top, including the foundation and some parts of the railway. There is plenty of room at the top to rest, grab a bite, hydrate, and social distance. The hike down is easy but should not be taken for granted due to the narrow trail. Remember, you are still on a mountain and gravity usually wins. Enjoy!!

    Terri C.

    We did this moderate hike last month on a lovely Sunday morning. This is a combination of two trails, the Lower Sam Merrill Trail and the Mount Lowe Railway Trail and will take you about 5.5 miles round trip. While hiking up the switchbacks through the Las Flores Canyon, not only will you get terrific views of Los Angeles, but you'll also encounter bits of history. Remnants of the Echo Mountain House and Mt. Lowe Railway are cool to see up close. I had never heard of the "White City in the Sky," a popular resort in the late 1890s and apparently was briefly the most visited honeymoon destination in the U.S. The sweeping views of the city and the history surrounding this hike make for a very nice trek.

    Magdalena T.

    Loved this trail! All the historical tidbits made it more enjoyable, interesting read, and the incline wasn't too bad with good and comfortable shoes. We encountered some lizards and a harmless baby snake along the way going up the bush, so definitely be careful, but overall it wasn't too bad at all. Pretty cool to shout in the echo phone to hear back and there's a loud echoing pipe that might be more fun to go with friends to sing at

    View of the San Gabriel valley from the top
    Regis K.

    One of the great trails for hiking in the San Gabriel Valley. This is the only hiking trail does not require reservation during the pandemic. It's a beautiful trial with easy to medium difficulty. Getting there is easy. Just get off on lake from 210 freeway and go all the way north to the end of lake Ave. There is a small entrance gate to the trail. The path to the top is right straight from the gate across the dried up stream to the starting point of the trail. The trail is about 2.5 miles to the top. On top, there is the inspiration point where you can see the whole of LA. On a clear day , you can even see Catalina island. While on the top of the trail, you can see the remains of the train gears where there used to be a train hauling passengers up to this top to a hotel here. Even though the hike is relatively easy, you do need a good shoe for hiking as the road is not even. Please do bring a mask to the hike. Parking is along the street and don't have a lot of spots. If you can, carpool with someone.

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    Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail

    Make sure to eat something small at least before you go, I was struggling because I had nothing in my stomach.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

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    Farnsworth Park

    Farnsworth Park

    4.6(25 reviews)
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    Since this past May 2023, I have picked up the sport of pickleball. It all started with my eldest…read moredaughter high school leadership academy that organized a pickleball tourney to raise money for a couple families who were in need of some financial support. So grateful my daughter was part of a good high school that supported their students and communities. I have since found a few parks that have either dedicated pickleball courts and/or tennis courts that have pickleball court lines. I have even found one park where you need to bring your own net, but the pickleball lines are present. Anyway, Farnsworth Park has been my go-to park for outdoor pickleball play lately. It has 4 beautiful dedicated pickleball courts and one tennis court with pickleball lines (bring your own net). People here are nice and friendly. It's not too competitive. Everyone just want to play pickleball and have some fun. This park is huge and lovely. Tons of picnic area. Lots of trees with great shade. Baseball field, basketball courts, children playground area, amphitheater, and so much more. I love this park! I wish I live closer to this park so I can come here to play pickleball and enjoy the rest of the park more often. I'm only here on the weekends when I can make it. Maybe when I get a place of my own later on, I'll consider living nearby or as close as possible if I can afford it LOL. Anyhoo, this is a must visit park!

    Okay Altadena Park with amazing views, tons of green grass, hills, trees, playgrounds, fields,…read moretables, courts and an amphitheater + recreation center... I see you!! This little big park really surprised me, not just with its street and lot parking, but with its layout and abundance. I came here on a date night to see an outdoor performance of Cabaret (one of my top 5 favorite musicals), which was amazing!! We went to support our pal Avery who was in the show... Check out the Altadena Music Theatre for upcoming fun stuff including more Cabaret nights: https://www.altadenamusictheatre.com/events + sites like Eventbrite, Goldstar, and LA Weekly (to name a few). I was yesterday's years old before I knew Farnsworth Park existed let alone was a park with an Amphitheater, plenty of seating for concerts, plays and productions which I'm told they've had a large assortment of in the past. The park overall is very clean, easy to navigate and has plenty of public restrooms though they seem to close them around 8ish/9 which is understandable though should have some flexibility in the late spring and summer months, especially for performances + school will be out which means kids, families and everyone will be out later. If you ever have a chance to drive up to this lush green hidden gem encompassing Mount Curve Avenue, Marengo Avenue, Lake Avenue and Concha Street with various addresses off each street (all going to the same place)... Then soak it all up.

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    Lacy Park - Park Hours

    Lacy Park

    4.3(345 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    he grassy open areas, shady tree-lined paths, and landscaped garden spaces make it feel peaceful…read moreand scenic--even on busier days. It's clean and family-friendly, with plenty of room for kids to run around and for dogs to stretch their legs (on leash). The walking loops are great for a casual stroll or a longer walk, and there's a nice mix of open lawn and shaded areas to relax. Be aware that it can get packed on weekends--especially midday--so if you're looking for a quieter visit, heading over earlier or on a weekday helps. Overall, it's exactly what you want from a neighborhood park: pleasant, clean, and easy to spend a couple of hours in.

    The city recently remodels the play structure! It's much bigger and the kids love it…read more Also, this place is ideal place to take photos (family, engagements, kids, etc.) It does get crowded at times, especially during the weekend. They also have open fields where you can play catch or have a picnic. They have some pave roads where kids can bike, scooter or rollerskate. They also have tennis courts on the side of the park and they also have lessons for those who were interested. Unfortunately, they recently implemented charging non residents during the weekends. I don't support this charge since public parks should be for everyone. Whether or not you are living in the city. Other than that come to visit during the weekdays when it's free!

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    Millard Canyon - A butterfly that landed on my car

    Millard Canyon

    4.2(141 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    It's the @light_skin_dragon blasting off to the wilderness where I belong. I am going through…read moresomething personally where I won't speak of. My co-worker/friend hit me up saying let's go hiking. I was like bet. That would take my mind away from what I'm thinking about. So I discovered this on my app that I pay for. And I told him about it so we meet up and we came. I had my eyes on this place for a while because I haven't seen a water fall since I went hiking in Alaska. So he thought we were gonna do a Griffith hike but no this one was more intense. We have to walk into the water to get to the other side and btw the trail itself is like a mile so it literally is like a hour so together if you go there and back. We met a nice man there as well he went with his wife and 8 kids and I mean the kids were you g with 2 older children. So that inspired me to come and bring my daughter. Btw parking you need a parking pass which cost 5 bucks but we didn't get one and it was okay but just letting you know there are two different parking spots as well we parked higher up where we had to walk down to the trail.

    I have been here many times. Is a short hike with a beautiful waterfall…read more. Don't forget to bring your adventures pass or you will get ticketed... Is an easy hike family friendly you might get your feet wet, you will pass about 4 creeks . Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace.

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    Millard Canyon - Well marked trail but let's you decide how to tackle the switchbacks

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    McDonald Park

    McDonald Park

    4.5(26 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    Parking: Lots of street parking is available…read more Includes: Open field with trees surrounding the edges. There was a small area for some type of outdoor sports, punch ball boards, basketball court and playground and benches. This park was actively used by families, kids, people walking their dogs, and even a personal trainer. Despite the heavy usage, the park seemed to be large enough to accommodate everyone without feeling crowded. Would definitely come back to this park again. It is a great spot to people watch, do some dog training and even some ball time with my dog on a long line. The park is open to the streets and not fenced so would not recommend letting your dog offleash to run.

    My walk through scenic park when I visit my high desert bestie Art and his partner Josh, who have a…read moregreat home a few streets over. We go for great walks in the neighborhood, usually with a set destination or a touch of Pokemon Go adventuring. Loads of shade, benches, sidewalk pathways and places to picnic. It's very local as well as family friendly, pet friendly and jungle gym kid oriented. They have some great courts for a few sports - basketball, handball, volleyball, pickleball, and a small softball area. With nearly 5 acres of greenery in four directions you'll enjoy this hidden gem park (typically clean all over including restrooms - where you'll find drinking fountains closeby). Parking is easy in a mostly super mellow residential area, however there isn't a physical lot like you'd see at large parks. Take your pick of Mountain Street, Mar Vista Avenue, Wilson Avenue or Bell Street (the four that encompass it). One of the parks in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles you'll see with Community Composting (Hubs), tons of trash cans and continuous beautification.

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    McDonald Park - Reminiscing back to when I used to live in Bungalow Heaven. Hopefully again one day soon. I miss it.

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    Switzer Falls - USDA Forest Service

    Switzer Falls - USDA Forest Service

    4.4(293 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Perfect hike for a hot day…read more I love waterfall hikes and listening to the sound of calm, running water. The added challenge on these hikes is the multiple stream crossings. I brought some hiking poles which helped with balance and probing for loose rocks and logs. If you want to get parking in the lower lot, it's best to come before 8AM. We found parking in the second lot. An Adventure Pass or Day Pass is required. Parking is enforced. A car received a ticket for being in a No Parking zone. The start of the trail is nicely shaded. The second half is a hilly, narrow, sun exposed path which routes back into the canyon toward the Lower Switzer Falls. I'm glad they had fencing on some narrow and steep parts of the trail. We encountered an active rattlesnake which headed down the mountain, so be on the lookout. Overall, the hike takes about 3 hours for 5.5 miles. The additional hike back up to the parking lot was about 1/4 of a mile. Note: if you need to use the restroom, it's best to bring your own toilet paper and to go before you start your hike. It was kind of smelly, but if you gotta go... you gotta go.

    This place is great for fully appreciating nature! The trail is around 5-5.5 miles round trip,…read moredepending on where you park. What impressed me most about this trail is that it's almost fully covered by shade. We went in the late afternoon, and I'd say probably 80-85% of it is covered. Very impressive! Here are some useful tips: 1. There are three parking lots: two are next to the highway, and one is near the hiking entrance. I'd recommend getting a parking pass if possible. 2. There are only three restrooms at the beginning of the trail, so use them when you see them. 3. If you're aiming to go to the waterfall, make sure to look for the signs. Some signs aren't very clear, so we had to stop and ask other hikers frequently. Luckily, people there are super friendly and happy to help. Just pay attention to your surroundings. 4. The trail is dog-friendly, but dogs must be on a leash. 5. Waterproof hiking boots are recommended. All in all, it's a fun trail. It's a great place for a picnic and camping, and it's very close to the stream. Great for kids, families, and pets!

    Photos
    Switzer Falls - USDA Forest Service - Lower Switzer Fall

    Lower Switzer Fall

    Switzer Falls - USDA Forest Service - The grand prize, Switzer falls.

    The grand prize, Switzer falls.

    Switzer Falls - USDA Forest Service

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    Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail - parks - Updated May 2026

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