Haven’t been there for long time. The happiest thing is to see some snow. It’s my first time to see snow here. Here is a pavilion with some great view if the air is clear. You can see more by summit the peak nearby. It’s very close.

SMT all the way up..then a 1.4 mile trek to Panoramic Point with a stop at Inspiration on the way back before heading down the Castle Canyon trail. 12 miles altogether today. Weather couldnt have been better, but R.I.P to my legs and energy level tomorrow

One of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. It was a little hazy/smoggy, but the view around sunset is spectacular. I’ve been to 24 countries and this is top 3 views.Challenging hike (2.5 hours on the way up), but doable with an ample amount of water, nutrition, and iterative resting.

Great hike and super fun to check out all the LA places through the telescopes. Not sure why Google labels it as “Good For Kids,” as it is a steady incline.

The views are beautiful. The hike is an easy one

Nice place to take a break. On a clear day you can look through the tubes to see landmarks (everything was in clouds today). I hiked .4 miles further to Muir Peak to the south/east. Epic 360 views. No people on this lightly traveled route. All my pictures are from here.

The site is a hub of multiple trails, among which Castle Canyon trail and Sam Merrell trail (via Rock of Relief) are both popular trials and both connect to Echo Mountain (white ruins).A very nice lookout and provides different scenes in different seasons. Good hiking shoes are highly recommended.

Great place to hike to, just a bit over 4 & 1/2 miles to get here, but definitely worth the time and effort. Spectacular views from here.

We parked on the street a block away from the echo mountain entrance. On the weekend it can get pretty crowded. If you plan to hike on a day that is even a bit sunny wear and bring sunscreen because this isnt a shady hike. Bring plenty of water. I brought my hydroflask thats 40oz and filled it half with ice and rest with water and two more 16oz.If you plan to only hike to echo mountain trail then expect to spend 3-5 hours. If you plan to hike to inspiration point expect to spend 6-8 hours. Any other added trails expect to start early and spend 10+ hrs.The trail isnt too hard, but it can get you worked. We took a few short breaks to drink water and adjust of backpacks and what not. We spent some time at the top of echo and inspiration to take in our views and to eat our snack and lunch. The total round trip was 12 miles because we included the panoramic view trail after we got to inspiration point- be careful of panoramic view trail because we noticed possible fresh mountain lion poop. This trail seems less maintained and hikers probably dont walk this trail much, but watch your surroundings. Also, make sure you have sturdy shoes too.

The hike was killer, a few times I wanted to turn back or stop but my friend kept pushing me on. Along the way, I fell because of loose gravel and uneven terrain, even scraped my shin. Then I finally got to the top and the hours of hiking, being covered in dirt, and a bloody shin was all worth it standing there looking down on what was the summit at inspiration point and thinking not that many people are willing to hike up here. Sure you can get to the Cobb estate, its an easy hike. My grandmother can get there with her walker but can you get up to inspiration point with a walker? No.

Great views of the San Gabriel valley, and downtown LA. On a clear day you can see the water and even Catalina. You can also see Mt Wilson. There are benches and picnic tables.

Definitely, a 5 start trail. Bring some snacks and water if you have never done a 10 mile trail before. Dogs are allowed on this trail

This was such a dope spot for a day hike! While I was personally disappointed there was no break in the cloud cover, the serenity of the spot made it all the more worthwhile. I like that this is also a Junction of several other trails in the area, and as such you can venture off to more hiking, or meet other hikers and swap stories and make friends. The hike to get up here, however, was pretty grueling though not impossible. The reward (on a clear day) is a stunning view of most of the LA basin from San Gabriel to Santa Monica Beach.Be sure to bring a lot of water as there arent any large bodies of water to refill from and the hike itself takes a while to do. Be sure to pack food too, Inspiration point has tables that you use to have a great snack at the top of the world!

Start hiking up early on the summer. The same with parking, arrive early no adventure pass required. Get plenty of rest and sleep the day before if your a beginner. Enjoy thee Breath taking views from sam merril trail, echo mountain, castle canyon and point of destination.

This was a nice hike. It was a Monday and it was quiet and lonely. Not many people, from echo mountain to Inspiration point, it was only me. Alone. It was a beautiful peaceful hike. Go for it, and make this happen.

Really great spot to hike to see the landscape. You can see from the Palisades to Palos Verdes and beyond. You can hike down from Mt Lowe or up from Alta Dena

Beautiful views can be seen from here. Nice place to stop while hiking in from Eaton Saddle.

Great hike with a rewarding view. Bring some snacks and plenty of water to enjoy at the top!

Always a great hike. Love nature!

Great hike. Great views. Bring snacks.

Was one of the best experience I had

Cloudy when we visited but still a nice place to rest

It was an amazing hike from Lake Ave. Weather was great!

Excellent views of literally everywhere. There are spyholes directing you to different pockets of L.A. and on a clear day you get to see all of it. Bring a camera!

10.5 mile hike took about 4.5 hours, I personally think the first 3.5 miles are the hardest once you get to a certain point in the hike you lose yourself and your body gets a great boost of energy, I highly recommend it its a beautiful hike

Lovely hiking spot. It gets super windy up here so if its cold, it is going to be hella colder. And if its hot, it is going to be hella cooking. Very popular and well traveled trail, so please pick up after yourself including your toilet papers, your dog poop and trash.

Pics speak for themselves

Amazing view of LA. The pavilion is a really good place to rest and eat after a tough hike.

Beautiful views, and a very nice hike to get up here. Coming from Echo Mountain, the last part of the hike is definitely the most strenuous, with numerous switchbacks and elevation. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time and take lots of water.

Very good trail

The best glute-working route up is via Lower Sam Merrill to Castle Canyon. Many people hike it alone; there are usually plenty of travelers on the trail. Lots of tree covering up the rugged path up from Echo Mtn to Inspiration Point. Leaving Inspiration Point, take a new route back down to Echo Mtn: you can link up with the Middle Sam Merrill Trail by heading northwest from the lookout point. About 0.5 miles down several signposts appear. Stay left. Youll be on the back side of the mountain for about 3/4 mile. Take a pic at Easter Rock (pic) on your way down and look out for mountain bikers on this trail. You will see the old observatory, the railway and mine trails below (pic), and eventually Echo Mtn. Its hard to get lost!

Beautiful 9 mile in-out hike in from Lake Ave trailhead. A great hike to burn calories and see all of LA.

I always enjoy the hike up to here on the Castle Canyon Trail.

Amazing hike with awesome views. could use some more signs (we hiked the wrong way for a bit).

The views from Inspiration Point are spectacular. You can hike up Castle Canyon to get there or The Echo Mountain Trail to the Sam Merrill Trail or take the Sunset Ridge Trail to the Mt. Lowe RR Historic Trail. Whichever trail you choose take 6 liters of water. This is a strenuous hike. The payoff are great views of the SGV and LA Basin.

Top of the world 2&half hour hike .reward second 2 non.

Whoa. What a great hike to recondition myself. I hadnt seriously hiked in about 2 years since this trail and boy did I feel it. Hiked this trail mid November. I started 7 a.m. at 2 m.p.h. on the trail leading up to echo mountain and had to shed nearly all my cold weather clothing. Start early and bring at least 2.5 liters of water. You will need the shade and hydration. Continued on castle canyon trail to reach inspiration. Castle canyon is the steeper trail but it is shorter and provides the most shade. Such a profound experience being in the middle of a mountain forest and being 10 feet away from a family of deer. The views from the top of the San Gabriel valley are all worth the sweat and effort.

What a hike! Bring lot and lots of water

Hike up from Lake Ave., past Cobb estate for nice views of the local cities below. Bring plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and nourished. Friendly groups of people on narrow paths that switchback up and down the mountainsides. Exposed

Hiking up to Inspiration Point was completely worth it. It was neat to see the locating scopes with all the various places you could see on a clear day. The day we hiked was regrettably sunny but smoggy. Even then Id completely recommend it. From the Cobb Estate up and back, I got in over 30,000 steps on my Fitbit (but that included some detours along the way). Bring water and protein bars or snacks! We were famished by the time we got back.

Bets place to hik

A very rewarding viewpoint for a hike.

Fatastic views but start early to avoid excess heat by noon time

Very good for relaxing and getting fresh ideas. Just make sure to have the proper shoes, enough water and good condition.

Nice view at the top to have a breezy picnic in the pagoda structure thing. Not many people come all the way up here. The loud casual hikers in the first few miles stop at Echo Mountain, so when you turn onto the discreet trail up to Inspiration Point, you have it mostly to yourself. I saw only 4 people while going up, then had the pagoda alone, and saw 4 or 5 while coming down. A bit creepy near the water part which was lower, darker, and cooler, but if you enjoy lone hiking, you would love it. There is one place where the trail stops at a turn, and you need to get up a big sloped rock to continue the trail. Not bad but a bit of a surprise. No cover on the last few miles up. Best to go up when the top is still covered in clouds, then wait for it to clear. Else it can get very hot.

A cool spot all the pipes were really cool

The trail up to inspiration point was too narrow for me and there were people speeding down the trail on their bikes, freaked me out because I didnt expect bicyclists to be riding down the trail at such high speeds on such narrow turns. Even though the view is beautiful, I would not do it again.

Wonderful place to enjoy a packed lunch and spectacular views!

Amazing views

Beautiful views of LA in a place not too close but seems hundreds of miles away from the city.

Fairly short easy hike. A lot of exposure so be careful on hot days. Take the trail in and fire road out.

Its not a peak, but you can see many cities there. The peak is right next to the shelter. Summit is not that difficult although it looks steep. Its better if you have hiking shoes and trekking pole. There are some strings during the hiking up. At the summit, you can have broader view to Mt Lowe, Mt Wilson and city, I really recommend everyone to summit.

Great hiking trail

This hiking trail to the Inspiration Point truly inspires me. A moderate trail to the top. We can see all the way to Catalina Island.

This was a fun little hike the only drawback is a minor one its uphill coming out from Inspiration Point but its a gradual incline and well worth the trip

Hike or bike up here. See the city, see long beach, see Catalina on a clear day. Bring adequate amounts of water and snacks. Its a desert and the heat can kill you. But its wicked beautiful.

Start in the city...and end up in the pines! You can take the extension of this trail all the way to Inspiration Point (RT: ~10 mi, EG: ~2,800 ft.) for some truly inspiring views! Great hill trainer with a few technical spots & some steep drops-but the views are simply rewarding! Youll even run into a few pine trees & maybe some singing Blue Jays:D Just be sure you *start* adequately hydrated & of course run with water as this is a mostly southern face, exposed trail.

Awesome place to visit. If youre hiking through the canyon from echo mountain expect ~3 hr hike going up if youre a beginner (includes a 30 min stop at echo mountain). Great views and awesome hiking!

The view is great! The hike is definitely worth it, although I probably wouldnt do it again with temperatures in the 90s. The view is absolutely stunning and you can even see ocean when the weather and smog conditions are good.

Perfect escape from the city smog, at the summit you will even see the smog below you! Just outside Pasadena make your escape into the wilderness. Watch your step along the trail, Rattlesnakes like to bask on the side, and there are more lizards than one can count. At the top take time to wander around the old resort, take photos with rustic train mechanics. Most of all be sure to yell at the valley, there is a make-shift megaphone that will let your voice travel for miles. If this isn’t enough fun for you, follow the trail to Inspiration Point for a full view from Pasadena to the Pacific.

Is my location

Do not underestimate the length of this hike (on a hot day) it was a lot longer then I thought but I love the hike and specially the view at the end!

Its an inspiration to go

Went for the first time and hiked up via Mt Lowe trail. Didnt know mountain bikers used that trail and we had a couple close encounters. For future reference wear bright colors, make noise, and be watchful. Other than that great view from Inspiration Point, totally worth the hike. Came down the wrong side through the Echo trail. Stopped by the old white house and made a wrong turn at the fork. Quite a few forks, many well marked, others not so much. Ran down the trial from there to save time ended up in a residential area at the base of Cobb Estate. Spent a total of 6 hours exploring everything. Bring water. Water water water. And something to snack on. Hope to go again on Sundays.

Moderate hike about 10 miles round trip. Great view at the I inspiration point..

Very rewarding trail

Great hike, nice views, pleasant breeze most of the time.

Hard hike but totally worth it.

Interesting and educational. Great view. A little confusing to navigate to park and leave, but worth it.

One of the best views of LA.Next time I plan on hiking up to see the sunset. That view would be even more inspiring.

Great views.

Moderate difficulty if temperature ~ 70s. From echo mountain went up Sam Merrell trail and down Castle Canyon trail. Nice view, trail condition is well maintained, and moderate traffic so its not too scary.

If you can manage to get here on a clear day the views are awesome, if you arent that fortunate it still makes for a fun hike and a decent challenge.

One of my favorite hikes (actually, a couple of routes) is this to Inspiration Point. The view is spectacular and never fails to remind me to appreciate this region where I grew up.

Ive been on several hikes and the view from the top is very good in my opinion. I would definitely recommend this hike.

Great views. The Castle trail is steep, but has good shade.

This hike was a great one and a test of endurance! You need to basically scale tp the top of the mountain and get on the otherside to continue the trail to the Inspiration Point. Once you get there, these great telescope pipes are awaiting you, each pointing at a respective city. On a clear day, so much is visible of Los Angeles County.

Finish the Echo Mountain hike to the old Hotel site by making the grueling climb to Inspiration Point. Great views of all of So. Cal on a clear day.

One of the best views of LA hands down! You can see Catalina Island and the ocean on a clear day.

Fantastic hike. It gets pretty tough, but muscle through it and the view is great.

This might be a dum question but where do you recommend to park ?? This is always my concern before I travel to hike somewhere far haha.

Hiking is life

It was an amazing place with an amazing vuew, but when I went it was freezing cold, my arms went numb heh.

Awesome hike

Awesome hike. Killer tho

HERMOSO BEAUTIFUL

Nicely restored bit of Pacific Electric Railway history. Well worth the hike.

Great hike, amazing view!

Awesome place to run and get a good hike

Awesome views!

Worth it!!

Wonderfully exhausting hike with a beautiful view at the top

Awesome views worth the extra 2 miles from Echo Mtn

Here all the time

Want to hike distance? You can do a 10 mile turn around if you start from echo mountain.

Great hiking trail.

Awesome views!

Love this place to run

Nice overlook

Stunning views of LA all the way to the coastline.