2 miles
Distance
361 ft
Climb
-1,628 ft
Descent
00:23:55
Avg time
Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Middle Sam Merrill Trail
USFSLand Manager
Middle Sam Merrill Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaAngeles National Forest
Altadena, California -
Difficulty Rating
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM
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Trail UsageMulti-use
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular direction shown
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Physical RatingHard
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SeasonAll Year
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Ride in RainYes
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Global Ranking#1016 in Mountain Biking
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Local Popularity95 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 90 in Trail Running
- 100 in Hiking
Middle Sam Merrill starts from the Mt Lowe Fire Road at the intersection to Inspiration Point. The single track trail is narrow, exposed and loose. It begins on the shady side of the mountain and wraps around to the sunny side where it gets increasingly loose and dry. This is an advanced trail with exposure, rock drops, etc.
Be aware this is a multi use trail and hikers are commonly found coming up from the Echo Mtn ruins below. Bell use is highly recommended and appreciated by other trail users. This trail commonly causes flats so be prepared with extra tubes, pump, etc. Also a good idea to check your brakes before riding this trail as you will be using them and using them heavily.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportdonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
More Stats for Middle Sam Merrill mountain bike trail
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Altitude change-1,266 ft
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Altitude min3,215 ft
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Altitude max4,502 ft
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Altitude start4,481 ft
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Altitude end3,215 ft
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Grade-9.984%
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Grade max-49.356%
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Grade min43.825%
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Distance climb2,789 ft
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Distance down2 miles
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Distance flat164 ft
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Avg time00:23:55
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Avg reverse time01:06:23
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Ridden Direction
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
Trail Last Ridden
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
ContributeDetails
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
Max Vehicle Width
inches
LEGEND
Trail Difficulties
Trail Report Status
- Access Road/Trail
- White
- Green
- Blue
- Black
- Double Black Diamond
Trail Report Status
- Clear / Green
- Minor Issue / Yellow
- Significant Issue / Amber
- Closed
- Land Owner Overlay
- Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
- BLM (public)
- USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
- State land
- Indigenous
- Military
Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
- Map Markers
Trail Head
Photo
Directory Listing
Riding Area
TTF
Parking
Viewpoint
Information
Warning
Directions
Sight
Restrooms
eBike Charging Point
Water Fountain/Source
Gate
Trail Sign
Table or Bench
Ladder
Stairs
Bridge
Camping
Cabin
Lodge
Bear Cache
Dock
Ranger Station
Summit
Other
Directions to middle-sam-merrill trailhead
(34.224180, -118.110261)
update trails status or condition
Middle Sam Merrill Trail Reports
view all reports »
Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 88 rides
- 16 miles avg distance
All
- 1,270 rides
Photos
more »
Routes with this trail
more »
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+ 1
Bmoore200
(Oct 11, 2018 at 15:23)
This section is awesome. Nice amount of technical but can be ridden fast and flowy once you get the feel for it. Some tight rocky steep sections, small drops. Gets even better with some rain.
[Reply]
Videos
more »
19:05 |
95 |
Jan 15, 2020 , Altadena
8:53 |
89 |
Sep 5, 2019 , Altadena
429 |
May 21, 2017 , Altadena
youtuber
![XC Ride: Middle Sam Merrill, Mt Wilson, California]()
479 |
Jun 27, 2016 , Altadena
Nearby Trails
- Old Mt Lowe Railroad (to Sadle) 72 ft
- Chutes 2,733 ft
- Pentew 1 miles
- Lower Merrill 2 miles
- Sunset Ridge 2 miles
Angeles National Forest
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