Mount Lowe, Mount Markham, San Gabriel Peak via Sam Merrill Trail in Angeles National Forest, CA

Hike Mount Lowe, Mount Markham, San Gabriel Peak via Sam Merrill Trail Angeles National Forest, CA

Class 1 18.2 miles 5500 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Nov 28, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Lowe, Mount Markham, San Gabriel Peak via Sam Merrill Trail GPX Track

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This hike starts at the Sam Merrill Trailhead, which leads up a popular trail to Echo Mountain, where you can find plaques and remains of old railroad supplies, the Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Marker. Continue up the Castle Canyon Trail to Inspiration Point, and then follow the Mt. Lowe Road for a short time until the Mt. Lowe East Trail materializes on the right. Hit the Mt. Lowe summit (a short side trip) before continuing to Mt. Markham, and then backtracking and heading to the summit of San Gabriel Peak.

In order to make this a sort-of-loop, I followed the Mt. Lowe Road back to where I left it on the way up, and despite being a dirt road rather than a trail, it gave some awesome views. After a few miles, it met up with the Sam Merrill Trail, a really nice hillside trail that lead back to Echo Mountain, and back down the way I came.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Echo Mountain
3207 ft
n/a rise
2
Mount Lowe
5603 ft
243 rise
3
Mount Markham
5742 ft
422 rise
4
San Gabriel Peak
6161 ft
1561 rise

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Starting along the Sam Merrill Trail.
Starting along the Sam Merrill Trail.
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Approaching Echo Mountain summit (sort of a summit).
Approaching Echo Mountain summit (sort of a summit).
Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Marker
Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Marker
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Continuing up Castle Canyon Trail.
Continuing up Castle Canyon Trail.
Looking back along the Castle Canyon Trail.
Looking back along the Castle Canyon Trail.
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Looking back down the Castle Canyon Trail. Lush San Gabriel Hills.
Looking back down the Castle Canyon Trail. Lush San Gabriel Hills.
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Approaching Inspiration Point.
Approaching Inspiration Point.
A nice view from Inspiration Point back down the Castle Canyon Trail.
A nice view from Inspiration Point back down the Castle Canyon Trail.
Inspiration Point, Mt. Lowe somewhere behind and to the right.
Inspiration Point, Mt. Lowe somewhere behind and to the right.
Mt. Lowe ahead.
Mt. Lowe ahead.
Looking back along Mt. Lowe East Trail.
Looking back along Mt. Lowe East Trail.
Close-up of the Inspiration Point shelter.
Close-up of the Inspiration Point shelter.
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Looking back on the way up to Mt. Lowe, Mt. Wilson on the left.
Looking back on the way up to Mt. Lowe, Mt. Wilson on the left.
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On the side trail to summit Mt. Lowe, Mt. Markham (center) and San Gabriel Peak (left) visible.
On the side trail to summit Mt. Lowe, Mt. Markham (center) and San Gabriel Peak (left) visible.
Mt. Lowe summit.
Mt. Lowe summit.
Little viewfinders of the different mountains on the summit of Mt. Lowe.
Little viewfinders of the different mountains on the summit of Mt. Lowe.
Mt. Lowe summit view looking south.
Mt. Lowe summit view looking south.
Back on the trail to Mt. Markham. There is a trail that parallels the Mt. Wilson Road, a hundred feet below to the left. I'll be coming back on Mt. Wilson Road later.
Back on the trail to Mt. Markham. There is a trail that parallels the Mt. Wilson Road, a hundred feet below to the left. I'll be coming back on Mt. Wilson Road later.
Mt. Markham ahead.
Mt. Markham ahead.
Looking back toward Mt. Lowe on the way up to Mt. Markham.
Looking back toward Mt. Lowe on the way up to Mt. Markham.
Mt. Markham summit.
Mt. Markham summit.
Mt. Markham summit looking toward San Gabriel Peak.
Mt. Markham summit looking toward San Gabriel Peak.
Back on the trail to San Gabriel Peak.
Back on the trail to San Gabriel Peak.
Heading up to San Gabriel Peak.
Heading up to San Gabriel Peak.
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San Gabriel Peak ahead.
San Gabriel Peak ahead.
San Gabriel Peak summit, looking south.
San Gabriel Peak summit, looking south.
San Gabriel Peak summit, looking  toward Mt. Wilson, Mt. Baldy behind and to the left.
San Gabriel Peak summit, looking toward Mt. Wilson, Mt. Baldy behind and to the left.
On the way down, a close-up of trail that parallels Mt. Wilson Road.
On the way down, a close-up of trail that parallels Mt. Wilson Road.
Along Mt. Wilson Road.
Along Mt. Wilson Road.
Mt. Wilson Road looking back toward Mt. Markham (center) and San Gabriel Peak (center left). Disappointment Peak far left.
Mt. Wilson Road looking back toward Mt. Markham (center) and San Gabriel Peak (center left). Disappointment Peak far left.
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Joined up with the Sam Merrill Trail again.
Joined up with the Sam Merrill Trail again.
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Sam Merrill Trail leads back to the Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Marker, which leads down to the trailhead.
Sam Merrill Trail leads back to the Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Marker, which leads down to the trailhead.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!