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Inspiration Point and Muir Peak (Lower Sam Merrill Trail and Castle Canyon Trail to Muir Peak)
Hiking Trail
Hard
10.56 mi
3,043 ft
Incredibly scenic uphill journey linking multiple overlooks in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Muir Peak, named for the famous conservationist John Muir, is a worthy summit and a challenging hike, though it’s not one of the major peaks of the San Gabriels. The view on top is just as far-reaching as from others, though. You can see over LA and surrounding cities to the ocean and Catalina Island. What makes Muir Peak special is the 360-degree panorama from its treeless summit, plus the solitude you’re likely to find on this lesser-visited peak. This hike is best on a cool but clear day, like in the winter when sun exposure is more welcome and the horizon less hazy. The journey to the summit includes plenty of additional highlights as well. First come the panoramic switchbacks on Sam Merrill Trail as you climb into the foothills from Cobb Estate. Then there are the White City Ruins on Echo Mountain—remains of a resort that stood more than a century ago. From there, the climb continues through Castle Canyon. It’s the most rugged trail on this hike, but also the shadiest. Oaks and sycamores grow thick in the steep drainage, providing welcome relief as the sun rises higher. Castle Canyon tops out and meets with a wide dirt trail next to Inspiration Point, which is a spot worth spending time at. It’s a commanding overlook of the valley below, with a shade structure and sighting tubes aimed at different landmarks and labeled accordingly. Look through them to see Hollywood and other cities of the valley, as well as distant mountains. From Inspiration Point, the trail leads gently uphill the rest of the way to Muir Peak, with a final steep section reaching the top. The summit is wide and relatively flat, vegetated only by shrubs that leave the grand view unobstructed. The route mapped here returns downhill the same way, but a slightly longer alternative is to make a lollipop loop by continuing westward past Inspiration Point, then taking Middle Sam Merrill Trail to link with Lower Sam Merrill Trail. Sources: Written by Jesse Weber
Muir Peak, named for the famous conservationist John Muir, is a worthy summit and a challenging hike, though it’s not one of the major peaks of the San Gabriels. The view on top is just as far-reaching as from others, though. You can see over LA and surrounding cities to the ocean and Catalina Island. What makes Muir Peak special is the 360-degree panorama from its treeless summit, plus the solitude you’re likely to find on this lesser-visited peak. This hike is best on a cool but clear day, like in the winter when sun exposure is more welcome and the horizon less hazy. The journey to the summit includes plenty of additional highlights as well. First come the panoramic switchbacks on Sam Merrill Trail as you climb into the foothills from Cobb Estate. Then there are the White City Ruins on Echo Mountain—remains of a resort that stood more than a century ago. From there, the climb continues through Castle Canyon. It’s the most rugged trail on this hike, but also the shadiest. Oaks and sycamores grow thick in the steep drainage, providing welcome relief as the sun rises higher. Castle Canyon tops out and meets with a wide dirt trail next to Inspiration Point, which is a spot worth spending time at. It’s a commanding overlook of the valley below, with a shade structure and sighting tubes aimed at different landmarks and labeled accordingly. Look through them to see Hollywood and other cities of the valley, as well as distant mountains. From Inspiration Point, the trail leads gently uphill the rest of the way to Muir Peak, with a final steep section reaching the top. The summit is wide and relatively flat, vegetated only by shrubs that leave the grand view unobstructed. The route mapped here returns downhill the same way, but a slightly longer alternative is to make a lollipop loop by continuing westward past Inspiration Point, then taking Middle Sam Merrill Trail to link with Lower Sam Merrill Trail. Sources: Written by Jesse Weber
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troop 355 Echo Hike (H20 to Sign) | 2.48 mi | 1,352 ft | 10.1% |
| Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail) Climb | 0.60 mi | 384 ft | 12.0% |
| Loma Alta Trialhead to Inspiration Point | 4.51 mi | 2,612 ft | 11.0% |
| Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail) Climb | 0.20 mi | 289 ft | 26.2% |
| Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail) Climb | 0.32 mi | 410 ft | 24.3% |
| Castle Canyon to Inspiration point | 2.05 mi | 1,289 ft | 11.9% |
| Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail) Climb | 0.41 mi | 138 ft | 6.3% |
| Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail) Climb | 1.23 mi | 1,247 ft | 19.2% |
| Muir Peak Rd Climb | 0.22 mi | 157 ft | 13.4% |
| Muir Peak ascent | 0.18 mi | 171 ft | 17.8% |