2.4 miles
Distance
361 ft
Climb
-1,628 ft
Descent
00:23:44
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Middle Sam Merrill Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Middle Sam Merrill Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Angeles National Forest
    Altadena, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Trail Usage
    Multi-use
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular direction shown
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Season
    All Year
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #1016 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 85 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
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Middle Sam Merrill mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,266 ft
  • Altitude min
    3,215 ft
  • Altitude max
    4,502 ft
  • Altitude start
    4,481 ft
  • Altitude end
    3,215 ft
  • Grade
    -9.984%
  • Grade max
    -49.356%
  • Grade min
    43.825%
  • Distance climb
    2,789 ft
  • Distance down
    2 miles
  • Distance flat
    164 ft
  • Avg time
    00:23:44
  • Avg reverse time
    00:45:51
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jun 12, 2021
Dry
Avg: 4.85 (15 votes)

view (1,534)
close
  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
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.
  • > 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
Contribute Details
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

Radar Time
      Directions to middle-sam-merrill trailhead (34.224180, -118.110260)
      update trails status or condition

      Middle Sam Merrill Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jun 12, 2021 @ 12:11am
      Jun 12, 2021
      Jan 2, 2021 @ 11:39am
      Jan 2, 2021
      		 running really well after the rains
      Nov 15, 2020 @ 8:25am
      Nov 15, 2020
      Mar 24, 2020 @ 12:18am
      Mar 24, 2020
      		 top and bottom parts are amazing! thank you guys for great job
      Mar 3, 2020 @ 2:49pm
      Mar 3, 2020
      		 reporter
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 3 rides
      • 17 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 197 rides
      • 17 miles avg distance
      All
      • 1,178 rides
      •  

      Photos

      more »
      56 |
      Feb 3, 2021 @ 10:53pm
      Feb 3, 2021
      137 |
      Jan 2, 2020 @ 3:53am
      Jan 2, 2020
      64 |
      Dec 15, 2019 @ 7:17am
      Dec 15, 2019
      136 |
      May 24, 2018 @ 7:37pm
      May 24, 2018

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titleratingdistance
      Mt. Wilson shuttle
      		14 miles
      Mt Lowe, Sam Merril, sunset, EP
      		13 miles
      Eaton Saddle Shuttle
      		8 miles
      MIDDLE SAM MERRILL TO SUNSET RIDGE
      		15 miles

      1 Review & Comments

      • + 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]

      Post a Comment



      Videos

      more »
      Mt Wilson on E-Bikes (Will-E) - Part 1 Middle...
      10:10 | 23 | Apr 19, 2021 , Altadena
      MIDDLE SAM MERRRIL : MTB
      16:24 | 83 | Dec 25, 2020 , Altadena
      Sam Merrill 01/10
      19:05 | 166 | Jan 15, 2020 , Altadena
      Wilson Frontside RAW Downhill singletrack
      8:53 | 133 | Sep 5, 2019 , Altadena

      Nearby Trails

      Angeles National Forest

      • subscribe
      • flag
      • login to download gpx or kml files.