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Print Friendly MapThe path of an old tourist railway rolls through dizzying heights in the mountains near Pasadena in Southern California. Visitors are rewarded with inspiring views of rugged mountains, canyons, and the urban landscape below and can inspect ruins of mountaintop resorts and the remains of the railway.
Unlike the mostly smooth, straight routes followed by typical rail-trails, the Mt. Lowe Railway Trail clings to canyon sides as it meanders through the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest. Carry plenty of food and water, as neither is available on this trail.
Scientist and inventor Thaddeus S.C. Lowe created the railway as a tourist destination in the 1890s. It made a 2,200-foot ascent up Rubio Canyon from Altadena on a 62% grade achieved by using gears and counterbalanced passenger cars powered by electricity—the only such trolley in the country. Present-day visitors are spared that climb up the Great Incline (which was demolished after the railway ceased operating in 1938) by starting their explorations from a trailhead on a roadway named Chaney Trail about a mile north of Altadena. Still, the route climbs about 1,400 feet to the ruins on Echo Mountain and 2,400 feet to Mt. Lowe Trail Camp.
Passing through the gate, you’ll take Mt. Lowe Road, a fire road, 2.4 miles to reach the junction with the Mt. Lowe Railway Trail. Take the right fork onto the dirt trail, which leads to the ruins of the White City resort in 0.8 mile.
The resort included a 70-room, Victorian-style hotel, as well as an observatory, a casino, a dance hall, a zoo, and more. After Lowe went bankrupt, the Pacific Electric Railway acquired the operation. Along with a historical marker and artifacts from the railway, such as cars, wheels, and giant gears, you’ll find foundations remaining for many buildings that were claimed by fire, landslides, and neglect over the years. Facing south, you’ll have views of the Los Angeles Basin. (From here, the Sam Merrill Trail heads downhill to the Cobb Estate trailhead in Altadena and serves as an alternative way to reach the White City ruins.)
Returning to the trail junction, head right (north) onto Mount Lowe Road, which overlaps the Mt. Lowe Railway Trail and Echo Mountain Trail routes, to follow the old railway corridor’s Alpine Division, which ran between White City and a tavern near Mount Lowe. Soon you’ll negotiate the longest straight section of the railway route, spanning just 225 feet. This leads to two tight switchbacks, the first called Horseshoe Curve and the second, Circular Bridge, the site of a wooden trestle suspended over the canyon below.
The trail continues along a mountainside overlooking Millard and Grand Canyons for nearly 3 miles to Mt. Lowe Trail Camp, the former site of Ye Alpine Tavern, a Swiss chalet–style hotel that served guests from 1895 to 1936. Guests could walk 0.4 mile south to Inspiration Point, which still exists, for views of the Catalina Islands. At 4,400 feet elevation, the tavern marked the terminus of the railway’s Alpine Division.
There is no easy way to get to the Mount Lowe railway Trail. The easiest is to follow the paved access road up to the rail-trail near its Echo Mountain end point.
To reach the access road and trailhead from Interstate 210 in Pasadena, take the Lake Avenue exit. Head north on Lake Avenue for 3.7 miles to Loma Alta Drive, which is at the base of the steep massif. Turn left (west) on Loma Alta Drive and go for 1.1 miles to Chaney Trail; a flashing yellow light marks the road. Turn right (north) on Chaney Trail and follow this for 1.4 miles, passing a display about the Forest Adventure Pass, to a gate. If the gate is open, you can proceed for another 1.1 miles to a saddle where you will find another gate and the beginning of the paved access road. There is limited roadside parking.
Visit the TrailLink map for parking options and detailed directions.
It's a tough hike but not crazy. At the summit you're rewarded with ruins to explore. Continue on to Inspiration Point for more great views and exploring opportunities.
I have a full Echo Mountain hike turn-by-turn guide on my blog here:
https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/echo-mountain-hike/
"I walked Mt. Lowe Rail Trail from the first gate up to the old Alpine lodge, where the track bed ends. The walk is steep and grand. The views of Pasadena and the surrounding area were super. I planned while at home in Matyland to devote a day to this, while visiting the LA area. I'm glad I did."
"The easiest way is to drive up to Mt. Wilson, park at the Eton Saddle trailhead and ride down. You need a car shuttle or face a long ride uphill. This ride has side trips to Inspiration Point and the Mt. Lowe Trail Camp."
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