Funicular to echo mountain resort aka white city in altadena, ca from this photo, it looks as if once they get to a certain point on mount lowe they transfered to this rather daunting incline railway. Thaddeus lowes resort, known as the white city, was perched at an elevation of 3,200 feet, overlooking the city of pasadena and a grand stretch of southern california. Talks about growing up in altadena in the 1930s and 1940s, summer movie nights at farnsworth park, life in altadena during wwii, his work on the mt. Hiking echo mountain in altadena, ca took more than 2 hours round trip. Mckinney is the author of hiking books and a regular contributor to the times. Altadena home for sale 1401 rubio street, altadena ca drone tour duration. Altadena trails information about hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails in the altadena foothills. Thaddeus lowes 70room echo mountain house, completed in late november, 1894, was painted bright white. A massive metal dome crowned the structure, and, as on all other buildings that the. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. Set in maine, just after the depression, in 1934, the story follows ellie and her family who have moved to echo mountain after a massive change in finances. After wolf hollow and beyond the bright sea, her third book is just as beautiful.
The hotel featured two twostory wings adjoined by a grand lobby, and a dining. Ive written about it here before when i explored the history and ruins of mt. Echo mountain via sam merrill trail california alltrails. We gather, preserve, and share the history of the people, places, and events that shaped the altadena community.
July 4, 1993 centennial one hundred year dedication at echo mountain. Amid our own dislocations with the coronavirus, this is a book that will soothe readers like a healing balm. The incline cars took over 160,000 patrons to echo mountain in 1921, their busiest year. Ahs, a nonprofit organization, was founded to gather, preserve, and make available information about the people, places and events that have shaped our community in the past. The authoritative volume to hiking in the san gabriel mountains.
The ultimate in mountain pleasures was the mount lowe railway, which climbed from altadena to echo mountain and on up to famous ye alpine tavern. Echo mountain is a mountain promontory of the san gabriel mountains, in the angeles national forest. This exceptionally large page will need to be scrolled from far left to far right. For over a year, we have been working to create a park for folks to come up and enjoy.
The trail is well trod, well maintained because of that, easy to find at the top of lake avenue in altadena. The railway, originally incorporated by professor thaddeus s. Local explorers of the mountains altadena historical society. Altadena historical society, 730 e altadena drive, altadena, ca 91001 626 7978016 seims, charles, mount lowe the railway in the clouds, san marino, golden west books, a division of pacific railroad publications, inc.
White city ruins echo mountain dope hikesdope hikes. John mckinney, mckinney is the author of hiking books and a regular. An excellent overview of altadena history from the early 1800s to the early 1900s written by a longtime altadena resident. Lewis swift and moved his entire rochester new york observatory to mount echo. Echo mountain by lauren wolk meet your next favorite book. In the background is the san gabriel valley and the city of altadena. Youll start up the sam merrill trail and on to the old mt. The mount lowe railway was the third in a series of scenic mountain railroads in america. When retired lumber magnate charles cobb built an estate in the foothills north of pasadena in 1918, the only indication that the haunted woods behind his house had any ghosts was the name.
Water and power associates san gabriel mountains, san. The hike route used to be the right of way for the lowe mountain railway. This trail begins at echo mountain incline and is the start of a selfguided interpretive tour of the. One of the greatest historical hikes in the angeles national forest. A pictorial history of the early community by robert h. Great incline on opening day july 4, 1893 webmaster collection message of mount lowe by james g. Organizations involved were pasadena historical society, altadena historical. Echo mountain, located in the foothills above altadena, california, is a relatively easy hike that takes about 3 12 hours to complete.
Lowe historic site interpretive plan usda forest service. Our collection includes fascinating firstperson written accounts of altadena life, including those of richard bale, author growing up in altadena in the 1940s and mary agnes crank, who told of ranch life here in the 1870s. The mount lowe railway and, even more, the mount wilson observatory, one of the early 20th centurys great scientific ventures, brought worldwide fame to the san gabriels. One of the most popular attractions on echo mountain was the observatory.
Click here for a complete history of the echo mountainmount lowe resort areas. Echo mountain via the sam merrill trail altadena, ca. The camera is mounted on his house near the head of lake avenue, offering realtime images of the mountains. Fascinating series of detailed articles with photos documenting the echo mountain history. Brian marcroft in 1972 hiking up the incline inspiration pt. Sadly, a fire took the house out in 1900, and the railway was abandoned in 1938 due to years of. The population was 42,777 at the 2010 census, up from 42,610 at the 2000 census. Echo mountain a digital history of mount lowe altadena. Mike simms is the curator of the echo mountain ruins above altadena. At this point you may want to take the oportunity to view a 1906 panorama of altadena and the southland from above the famous mt. Hiking echo mountain via the sam merrill trail is a rewarding experience, rich with history. Echo mountain hiking trails 17 tips from 1183 visitors. Crump, spencer, henry huntington and the pacific electric harrigan, john, mt. The above photo was taken on the castle canyon trail that goes from echo mt.
Like forgetting to mention the famous echo phone at the top of echo mountain that everyone. Follow the old route of mount lowe railway to the ruins on echo mountain to. Leaders of industry, governors and other notables all rode the chariots to echo mountain during its heyday, and the ride up the incline was heralded as the greatest spectacle in all of california. Back in the day circa 1883, the mount lowe railway carried tourists from altadena, ca up the side of this mountain where there used to be a victorian hotel called the echo house aka the white city. September 26 historical hike along the sam merrill trail to echo mountain mt lowe railway altadena area distance. Inspired to outdo the observatory on mount wilson, lowe hired the renowned astronomer, dr.
Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. A plaque placed by the altadena historical society dedicates the estate. Atop echo stood the magnificent 70room victorian hotel, the echo mountain house. Long ago, back in the 90s that is the 1890s, the resort built on echo mountain was one of the largest tourist draws in california. Once youre there, youll come across the remains of echo mountain resort, which is an interesting structure to see.
Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Camp, stacey, the archaeology of citizenship includes information on immigrant workers on mount lowe railway. First, echo mountain itself is the site of the ruins of the echo mountain house a hotel built in the late 1800s by thaddeus lowe. Novelist lauren wolk brings readers into one such stricken household in echo mountain, a lyrical and affecting story. Observatory with altadena in background, circa 1900. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Moderate, due to gain, this hike is not for beginners description.
Echo mountain altadena united states california afar. Echo mountain was shaped from an alluvial fan between rubio and las flores canyons. It is most visible as a short mountain extension whose ridge protrudes below the peak of inspiration point. Echo mountain hiking trails altadena 2020 all you need to. The echo mountain trail is actually a combination of two trails, the lower sam merrill trail and the mount lowe railway trail. Altadena drive altadena, ca 910012351 6267978016 email ahs open 9 a. Lowe power hassler, dorothy, altadena, yesterday and today ives, sarah noble, altadena altadenas first history. A quiet refuge from people and wild life forever, declares a sign at the entrance to the sam merrill trail. This historic hike visits the ruins of the white city on echo mountain.
Lowe pavilion restoration in 1962, finding relics at echo mountain, and directing traffic on christmas tree lane as a boy scout. Lowe appointed postmaster general for echo mountain 1893. Lowe railway, and i thought the land itself would make a pretty good subject. Any book written by lauren wolk, in my opinion, will be spectacular, and echo mountain is no exception. The history of altadena can be traced back to its original indigenous peoples. The echo chalet, echo mountain house, incline powerhouse, dormitories and car barn. There were no roads to this hotel you reached it by an incline.
The altadena historical society began collecting oral histories back in the days of audio tapes to record the personal recollections of longtime altadenans for future generations. Echo mountain hiking trails altadena 2020 all you need. It is geographically defined by castle canyon to its leeward side, rubio canyon at its foot, and las flores canyon on its windward side. Echo mountain, located in the foothills above altadena, california, is a. Echo mountain hiking trails is easy to follow, offers great views, and has an interesting history. Because of its extraordinary size 3000 x 460 pixels it may take an exended amount of time to downlaod. Echo mountain festival of lights hometown pasadena. You are looking southward down onto the echo mountain resort ruins. You can descend the old toll road to altadena see hike 27 or the old mount.
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