Mount Lowe from Red Box

This 6.1 mile out-and-back travels over one ridge of the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains to get to Mount Lowe, part of old, sprawling land of the nearby Echo Mountain Resort. Mount Lowe was planned as the site of a grand alpine tavern and aerial tramway for the resort, but geography and money woes kept it from being fully developed – although there are still remnants of the resort on the summit, including some viewing tubes that can help identify nearby peaks. This trail’s multiple ascents and descents in both directions make it a decent workout trail but the mostly moderate grade, history, and views make it an attractive option for just about anyone. And if you’re feeling extra feisty, there are plenty of nearby peaks to add to the journey!

The collection of mountains near San Gabriel Peak is one of my favorites in the San Gabriels – it’s close enough to the city to accomplish as a day-hike, approachable enough for moderately experienced hikers to enjoy, and far enough away from the crowds of nearby Mount Wilson and Echo Mountain to almost guarantee long stretches of hiking solitude. There’s turn-of-the-century history, Cold War history, and several nearby peaks to add to the hike should you feel some extra energy on the return trip.

The trailhead for the Bill Reilly Trail begins at a small turn-off off the Mount Wilson-Red Box Road (called Mount Disappointment Road on Google Maps). Park your car just off Mount Disappointment Road or off the Mount Wilson Road if there isn’t any room. Be sure to display your Adventure Pass.

The Trail begins on a slightly-eroded hillside and makes a steep, switchbacking ascent up some loose talus. There are a few very small patches of poison oak near this part of the trail, so just keep your eyes open for it.

After a few switchbacks in the first 0.2 miles, the trail makes its way into the spotty shade of the pines and manzanita shade on the ridge’s north slope. For the next 1.1 miles, the trail winds its way through this partially shaded region. You’ll occasionally get some very beautiful breaks in the tree cover, revealing long views of Strawberry Peak and Mount Lawlor to the north, Mount Baldy and the high San Gabriels to the east, and the more immediately San Gabriel Peak just to your southeast.

At the 1.1 mile mark, the trail ends and joins Mount Disappointment Road (Forest Road 12W24) and continues south until about the 1.3 mile mark.

From here, there’s a short ridge along the saddle between Mount Disappointment to your west and San Gabriel Peak to your east. If you feel like taking the hike up to Mount Disappointment, it’s a very short trip up to the peak’s collection of radio and military communications towers. There’s not much to see up there, but if you’re in the mood for peakbagging, this is an easy one to snag.

The mountain’s unusual name has an interesting history – when the San Gabriels were first being mapped by the USGS in 1894, surveyors viewing the ridge from the San Fernando Valley believed Disappointment to be the highest peak in the region. When they actually reached the peak, however, they found it to be 167 feet shorter than San Gabriel Peak, so they named it Mount Disappointment.

More interestingly, if you turn to the left at this ridge (heading east), you will pass the foundations of some buildings. This is the site of one of the 17 locations of L.A.’s Cold War-era Nike-Ajax Missile Defense System. Not much remains of this site, but it’s a cool part of the region’s history that many people don’t know much about.

Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak 029

Near the eastern edge of the old driveway to the Nike-Ajax site, there’s a small trail that drops down to a thin ridge saddle between Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak. It’s marked by a small wooden stake.

Hike on this trail for a very short distance until you see a turn-off on the right hand side (continuing straight will take you up to San Gabriel Peak). This trail makes a quick descent south and heads toward the flat-looking ridge summit of Mount Markham and Mount Lowe (center in the picture below). The flat fire road visible on the mountain is the old Mount Lowe Motorway, a fire access road built in 1963.

This region of the San Gabriels was badly burned in the 2009 Station Fire, and although it’s making a nice comeback the trail could benefit from a little bit of love in a few places. Early post-fire colonizers have swarmed over the area taking advantage of the new lack of tree cover, and the trail is a bit eroded in a few spots. Nothing to be terribly concerned with, safety-wise, but you may need to watch your step in a few spots.

Even with the fire damage, the views are still very nice and it’s a fun trail to hike on as it drops just under 400 feet in 0.6 miles.

At about the 2 mile mark, the trail meets up with the Mount Lowe Motorway. Cross the dirt road and look for a smaller single-track trail that rises parallel to the Motorway, marked by an old metal sign.

This section of trail stays fairly level for about 0.5 miles as the Motorway descends below and the steep, rocky slope of Mount Markham rises to your left.

At about the 2.5 mile mark, the trail makes a small climb up to the saddle between Mounts Lowe and Markham. From here, you can make a sharp turn to the left to make an attempt at Mount Marhkam along an unmaintained ridge trail. This trail is significantly more challenging than what you’ve been on so far – there are some stretches where the ridge is only a few feet across and some moderately rough class 2 bouldering – but it’s a fun add-on for more experienced hikers.

For now, though, continue on the established trail as it starts to climb up the slope of Mount Lowe.

At about the 2.8 mile mark, the trail splits at a three-way junction. There’s a metal sign that will point you in the direction of Mount Lowe or, if you went back the way you came, to Mount Wilson. There are some good views of the latter mountain from this vantage point – so soak them in, then keep climbing upward.

This trail loops around the north slope of Mount Lowe for the next tenth of a mile, providing some truly outstanding views of the front range as you climb. As you’re gazing out at all the mountains, though, be sure to keep an eye out for some interesting stuff on the ground in front of you, too …

Look for a trail junction near the 2.9 mile mark, and make a sharp left for a short final ascent up to the summit of Mount Lowe.

In his original plans for the San Gabriels, Professor Lowe planned to extend the Mount Lowe Railway from nearby Echo Mountain all the way to the summit of this peak, where he planned to build another large hotel and an aerial tramway to San Gabriel Peak … where he also planned to build an observatory and research institute (can’t say the guy wasn’t ambitious!). Unfortunately, he was plagued by money woes and the railway only made it to the Alpine Tavern, about 1100 feet below and 2 and a half miles away.

From the Tavern (now gone), visitors could hike or take a horseback ride up to Mount Lowe, where a large flag flew and viewing tubes allowed people to easily spot and identify other local peaks. When the railroad closed in 1937, they left the tubes, flagpole, and a hitching post for horses on the summit – which are all still there today.

The views from the summit are still awe-inspiring, especially on clear winter days or after a rain. But even through some summer haze, I love coming up here to gaze at the Great Sprawl of Los Angeles – its millions each chasing their own dreams just like Professor Lowe did more than a hundred years ago.

Tags: altadena, dog-friendly, echo mountain, Hiking, Los Angeles, Mount Disappointment, Mount Lowe, Mount Markham, Pasadena, professor thaddeus lowe, San Gabriel Peak, white city

Mount Lowe from Red Box

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Casey Schreiner

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