Sign Up  /  Login

Railway To The Clouds LbNA #7059 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Feb 4, 2004
Location:
City:Altadena
County:Los Angeles
State:California
Boxes:1
Planted by:Lakolya
Found by: Q
Last found:Aug 22, 2004
Status:F
Last edited:Feb 4, 2004
Railway To The Clouds Letterbox
CURRENTLY MISSING

Here is a spot that I love, and I hope you will too! I planted the box on my 40th birthday, to prove I am NOT old.

From 1894-1900 there was a beautiful resort on Echo Mountain above Pasadena/Altadena. It was called the Echo Mountain House, but was known as the White City because that’s what it looked like all lit up. There Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's Mountain Railway and resort was Southern California's must-visit attraction, drawing more than three million visitors from1896 to 1936. Echo Mountain (3207') was the heart of the resort with its elegant Echo Mountain House hotel, chalet, observatory, and small zoo. Unfortunately, a defective kitchen flue started a fire in the early hours of February 5, 1900, and the echo mountain house burned to the ground.

This cool hike takes you to the ruins of this historic landmark, and on to several others if you have the time. The hike to Echo Mountain is a gradual incline with easy switchbacks for 2.5 miles. I would say it was easy if you are in good shape, moderately easy otherwise. The trail is busy on weekends, and any time the view is clear. Bring water!


From the I-210 Foothill Freeway in Pasadena, exit at Lake Avenue. Drive north for 3.4 miles to the end of Lake Avenue (where it intersects with the terminus of Loma Alta Drive running east and west). Park along the street.

From the stone gateway at the north end of Lake Avenue, walk east on the trail running next to an old paved driveway. In about .2 miles you will find the marked beginning of the Sam Merrill Trail. After a short decent into the creek bed, the trail climbs steadily up the east slope of Los Flores Canyon. In 2.5 miles you will reach the old rail bed of the Mount Lowe Railway. Turn right (south) and follow the rail route about 100 yards to the Echo Mountain House site. You’ll pass an old train bed and the big wheel that pulled the incline railway up. Farther ahead is an interpretive sign with four sides. From that sign, ascend the double staircase (80).

(Look down the stairs to the right, and you will see the loading platform of the incline railway. This was an amazing ride straight up Rubio Canyon from Altadena below. Scary, huh? )

At the top of the stairs you will see the foundation of the old hotel. Walk to the Echo Mountain House interpretive sign. Then follow the trail to the right (80). At the end of that trail is an interpretive sign for The Chalet. Read it, and then walk along the path to the fountain it discusses (70). From the fountain look at your compass and turn toward 190. Walk to the edge and peer down to see remains of the love seat (it is now blue). Find your way down to the love seat and sit. Now, look down to the left of your feet. See a pile of rocks? The letterbox is under the rocks, in the dirt.

If you are so “inclined”, the hike up to the sight of the Alpine Tavern (about 3 mi) is very interesting. There are historical markers all along the way. Follow the railroad bed past the top of the Lower Sam Merrill trail (the way you came up) and continue up the Mt Lowe Road toward the “Cape of Good Hope” and Mt Lowe Campground. You can also take the middle Sam Merrill Trail, or the Castle Canyon Trail, both of which are harder, steeper climbs. Castle Canyon leads to Inspiration Point, a destination that is well worth the extra time and effort.

Enjoy, you young whippersnappers!