MT Lowe Trail - Trail, Altadena, California
MT Lowe Trail - Trail, Altadena, California
Latitude | 34.214925173882726 |
Longitude | -118.14783096313477 |
City | Altadena |
State | California |
Zip/Postal Code | |
Country | United States |
Phone | |
Trail Length | 11 - 12 miles |
Trail Level | Advanced |
Trail Type | Singletrack & Fire Roads |
[Nov 16, 1999]
Anonymous
Glad to see you guys enjoyed this one. These trails are really a blast, but not everyone's cup of tea. Here's one I did a while back: MT. LOWE-SAM MERRIL COMBO Ride the Mt. Lowe Railway to Markham Saddle, then down the Mt. Lowe trail. Ride the Mt. Lowe road down past the Alpine Tavern (stop in and say hi to the ghosts) and on to the Sam Merril trail, at the Inspiration Point spur road. Ride the Sam Merril trail down to the Echo Mtn. Railway, then back the Echo Mtn. trail to the Mt. Lowe road. From here, drop down the road, or take the Sunset trail, back to Cheney. WARNING! The Sam Merril trail is dangerous! It is the MTBing equivalent of a Class V river rapid. Enjoy! Customer Service Mt. Lowe-Sam Merril Combo |
[Jan 07, 2000]
Anonymous
BIKERS KEEP OFf! Customer Service BIKERS keep off Sam Merrill Trail. You are extremely dangerous to hikers and are not welcome. Your bikes are a major cause of trail damage and erosion Similar Products Used: Fire roads only. |
[Jan 10, 2000]
Anonymous
Awesome Loop, Park at the gate up Chainey trails and climb up the paved part for 2.7 miles, then another2.5 miles to Inspiration point, at this point turn around and come back to the saddle, 4 choices from here. Happy trails. Customer Service Same as above Similar Products Used: El Prieto via Brown Mountain, La Tuna Canyon fire road and down single track, Iddle hour trail from Insiparation point (very, very technical), Mt. Wilson Toll road to Henniger Flats and beyond to Mt. Wilson. |
[Feb 07, 2000]
Anonymous
Many of the Mt. Wilson area singletrack trails are signed as "multi-user" trails - that means that everyone yields to horses, hikers yield to horses but not bikes, and bikes yield to EVERYONE. This does not mean that bikes should STAY OFF these trails. Some of the trails are indeed closed to bikes; specifically the section of trail from Loma Alta to the Echo Mountain Railway is closed. If you descend the Sam Merril Trail, take the Echo Mountain cut-off back to the Mt. Lowe road. If you feel the need to hike somewhere without encountering other types of trail users, please visit the nearby San Gabriel Wilderness, or any of the other fine trails on which bicycling IS prohibited. I feel this same need often, and I know where to go to avoid bikes, horses, and motorcycles. It's not that difficult. Customer Service Mt. Wilson area singletrack |
[Feb 21, 2000]
Anonymous
Great trail! Good workout climb, and fun single track.The only bad part is all the people on weekends ride mid-week if possible. |
[Mar 10, 2000]
Anonymous
It's fun. Customer Service *** Correction to Tom Kenneys review *** Similar Products Used: So many, |
[Mar 12, 2000]
Anonymous
Sam Merrill is in peak condition!! Not as loose as normal and really fun. Lower Sam Merrill is nice and so are all the hikers. I don't think I've said hello to so many people in 10 minutes before. Fun switchbacks! Customer Service Down! Similar Products Used: Sunset trail, Mt. Wilson Toll rd., El Prieto, Gabrieleno, yada yada... |
[Apr 05, 2000]
Anonymous
I rode entire San Merrill Trail on Monday, April 3 and while it is normally an excellent run, please make sure that you have the proper tires and brake setup. Upper Merrill is in good shape, lower Merrill is in great shape, but the middle Merrill (from Inspiration Point to Echo Mountain is REAL loose. I went over the edge twice, and pinch flatted once. I went back over the crash sites to determine what happened, and the trail is just reall loose and rocky. You should probably use a downhill specific tire on this trail. Conditions would only get worse, since this is near the end of the rainy season and we thought that the trail would be in great shape. It is still a lot of fun, just be prepared. I have run my fire XC pros on this trail all winter, no prob. I guess it's time to break out the Tioga DH's/Nokian's! Enjoy, but be sure to have good tires and breaks, and wear your protective gear! Customer Service Start at your house, go to top of Lake Street in Altadena, turn right at Cobb Estate, go up single track to Echo Mountain. Take break at ruins of old hotel, eat powerbar (or whatever). The take trail over to Chaney. Ride up the fire inspiration point. Take another break. Look thru sighting tubes, see if you can find your house. Back track to fireroad, ride up to top of trail head to upper San Merrill road, go down Upper, Middle, then cut back over same trail to Chaney, go down about 100', then down the Sunset trail until it loops back to Chaney. Ride this for about 1000' or until you see the reservoir, turn right here onto lower Sunset. Exits at Mallard Canyon. Take the Brown Mountain Truck Trail until you hit EP, then descend that, then go down fire road, make left 20' past the stream crossing (another 300' of single track), ride the road to JPL, and motor on home. . . . Similar Products Used: None, since these trails are already overriden, and trail work is only done by a few (Thanks MWBA!) |
[Jul 08, 2000]
Anonymous
This route is probably more than 90% single track and is a scream. Sam Merrill is very smooth and almost all non-technical, making for a good uphill climb. (I don't go down it because there is considerable exposure in places and one major slip-up, well, there could be serious trouble espeically if riding by yourself). Besides, the Sunset Ridge Trail going down has great techincal stuff. When its finishes, you pick up an isolated portion of the Altadena Trail which has some great bumpies albiet its a bit wider than singletrack. The remaining portion is on the road (although you could turn left off of Loma Alta and ride more of the Altadena Trail back to Lake Ave.) Takes me probably a little less than an hour and a half to do this route. If you don't like technical stuff, avoid it. You can always take the road down in lieu of Sunset Ridge Trail. Customer Service Park at the top of Lake Ave. Traverse the fense line of the old estate -- don't head up quite yet (this goes to the Altadena Trail which is a good beginners singletrack). You'll run into the Sam Merrill trailhead. Up lower Sam Merrill, turn left at top to cross railroad bed to Mt. Lowe fire road, turn left, take Sunset Ridge singletrack all the way down to its end, get on road, then turn left on road near the trailhead registry, this turn into the Altadena Trail and ends up on Chaney, take Chaney to Loma Alta, and turn left and ride on street back to car Similar Products Used: Cherry Creek Canyon behind Descanso -- something here for everybody; Mt. Hilyer |
[Jul 25, 2000]
Anonymous
For the most part this trail is in good shape...or it was the last time I had ridden it. Watch your speed on the downhill simply out of courtesy for other users, whoever they may be...! A beginner will have a time of it, however it's rideable, just walk what you're not sure of. Being intermediate I would say I enjoyed the workout and the terrain is terrific. Good ride. In response to the anonymous entry (re.all bikers stay off)...it is for ALL to utilize and respect. [You didn't have enough gumption to leave you name though, did you.] Customer Service Follow directions given above. Similar Products Used: Gabriellino Trail |