2 miles
Distance
361 ft
Climb
-1,628 ft
Descent
00:22:30
Avg time
Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Middle Sam Merrill Trail

Middle Sam Merrill Details

  • 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
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Ride in rain
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #960

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
More Stats for Middle Sam Merrill mountain bike 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
    00:22:30
  • Avg reverse time
    00:04:09
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 20, 2018
Very Dry
Avg: 5 (8 votes)

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Layers winter
Trail Style
  • ?
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Directions to middle-sam-merrill trailhead (34.224180, -118.110261)
update trails status or condition

Middle Sam Merrill Trail Reports

datedescription
Jan 20, 2018 @ 6:39am
Jan 20, 2018
Dec 22, 2017 @ 8:46am
Dec 22, 2017
Oct 8, 2017 @ 10:36am
Oct 8, 2017
Aug 26, 2017 @ 12:36pm
Aug 26, 2017
Aug 16, 2017 @ 5:01am
Aug 16, 2017
view all reports »

Photos

more »
14 |
May 24, 2018 @ 7:37pm
May 24, 2018
Middle Sam Merrill, San Luis Obispo
47 |
Aug 4, 2017 @ 4:25pm
Aug 4, 2017
Middle Sam Merrill, My City
96 |
Jun 6, 2017 @ 12:52am
Jun 6, 2017
Middle Sam Merrill, Altadena
219 |
Dec 31, 2015 @ 10:15pm
Dec 31, 2015
Middle Sam Merrill, Altadena

Routes with this trail

titleratingdistance
Mt Lowe, Sam Merril, sunset, EP
13 miles
Eaton Saddle Shuttle
8 miles

1 Review & Comments

  • + 1
flag 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]

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Videos

more »
Upper Sam Merrill Trail - Mount Lowe - Wilson...
208 | May 21, 2017 , Altadena
youtuber XC Ride: Middle Sam Merrill, Mt Wilson, California
296 | Jun 27, 2016 , Altadena
Tire got wedged btwn 2 rocks
0:35 | 474 | Jun 6, 2017 , Altadena
Mt Wilson Echo Chutes and Sam Merrill DH in...
11:08 | 100 | Feb 1, 2017 , Altadena

Nearby Trails

Angeles National Forest

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