Now that Spring is here and Summer is on its way, we love being outside and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Altadena. Especially the great hiking trails all around our local area. To begin preparing for your next hiking adventure, there are many incredible online resources to be found. For instance, we found the website www.altadenatrails.org to be very useful.
Cobb Estate—Sam Merrill Trail Start
In the Altadena Trails Org site, we found everything from scheduled events, where to hike, trail conditions, advocacy, information about local wildlife and editorials. They even have information about local hunting laws.
We especially found their information about hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails in the San Gabriel range most informative. They talk about previous hikes and up-coming hikes on their site. They have highlighted hikes such as Mt Lowe, Arroyo Seco, Millard Falls, Rubio Canyon Waterfalls and the waterfalls found on several of the hikes. If you have not already done so, check out Echo Mountain and the Mount Lowe Railway trails.
Mt. Lowe—Sam Merrill Trail Map
And while you are out on the trails, be sure to keep your eyes open for the incredible array of bird species we have in our area. The Pasadena Audubon Society offers a website Where to Bird in and around Pasadena that will give you an idea of what types of birds can be seen.
It is a very informative site for all outdoor enthusiasts and we recommend you check it out before the next time you head out to the trails! But please be aware of ticks, as incidents of Lyme Disease have been reported in the San Gabriel Mountains. Protect yourself by inspecting for ticks after hiking and by wearing protective clothing. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly. Poison Oak is another nuisance to be aware of as well.
And as you head up Lake Avenue to the trails, stop by Oh Happy Days store and cafe to stock up on snacks and fluids, so you have plenty of energy for the hike or for biking up the mountain. Do not get caught without fuel for your body!
For additional hiking information in Altadena, also check out the Trail Finder on www.trails.com.
Sam Merrill Trail
Looking to hike the Sam Merrill Trail? Check out the trail guide on localhikes.com, Dan Simpson's Hiking Pages or Ron Bigelow's hiking section of his photography site.
If you would like to know more about Echo Mountain and Mt. Lowe Railway, check out the site by the Scenic Mount Lowe Railway Historical Committee or the Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California websites. Also, be sure to check out the history of Professor Thaddeus Lowe, at http://www.thaddeuslowe.name, as well as a their extensive historic photo collection of Mount Lowe Railway.
For information about the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, visit their website at www.mountlowe.org. Or visit the Wikipedia site on Mount Lowe.
Additional Inspiration Point, Muir Peak, Panorama Point, and the One Man & Mule Railway trail information can also be read at tchester.org.
For photos of the Mount Lowe trails, check out Wildbell's Flickr Photo site of a day's hike on April, 23, 2006. (Wildbell also has other great photos of other hikes and adventures.) And check out Davidmoe's site on photosite.com.
Another site we recommend is www.hikingforums.net which has information about hiking trails all over the world and provides a forum for hiking enthusiasts. They cover topics that range from general discussions about hiking to discussions about food, clothing and any other gear for hiking. Take a look at their site and their recommendation of trails at various locations. Maybe someone will be inspired to start a thread about our fabulous Altadena trails!
