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Los Angeles, CA: Merrill - Sunset Ridge Loop
Catch canyon views while climbing steep fire roads and ridgeline singletrack along this 13-mile loop in Angeles National Forest.
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| Author: | Bicycling Magazine |
| Activity: | Mountain Biking |
| State: | California (CA) |
| Distance: | 14.01 mi |
| Difficulty: | 9 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
Linking a historic railway, foothill overlooks and a highly exposed ridgeline climb, this 14-mile ride in Angeles National Forest is a highlight reel for SoCal singletrack. Start with a switchback spin up loose rock on the Lower Merrill Trail then swing west on a stretch of high-wire singletrack across Las Flores Canyon. Don’t worry if you dab. You can clean it when you loop back on the second half of the ride. Turn up Mt. Lowe Fire Road and trace the 1890s-era ruins of the Lowe Railway to Inspiration Point for long views of neighboring peaks and LA suburbia. Zoom -- real fast -- down the Middle Merrill Trail to Lower Merrill. Now, repeat the 0.7 mile traverse across Las Flores Canyon and merge onto Sunset Ridge’s razor-thin singletrack. Your choice: Pick your way through loose granite switchbacks, or take hard lines over optional big air jumps. At mile 11.4, ride the pavement of Mount Lowe Fire Road to a quick left onto the Altadena Crest Trail, the hardpack highlight of this figure-eight loop. Close the final 1.8 miles on local roads (Chaney Trail and E Loma Alta).
-Mapped by Pat Lee
TO TRAILHEAD: From Altadena: Head west on East Altadena Drive. At 0.3 miles, turn right at Marengo Avenue. At 0.9 miles, turn right at East Loma Alta Drive. East Loma turns slight left and becomes Alta Drive; the trailhead will be on the left side of the road.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Sam Merrill to Sunset Ridge
| Distance: 14.01 mi | Points: 4234 |
Sam Merrill Trail and Mount Lowe Fire Road
Points of Interest
Entrance
Location: 34.204065, -118.130407Bear right at the entrance to Angeles National Forest. Parking is available at Farnsworth Park, a few blocks to the south.
Sam Merrill Trail
Location: 34.204527, -118.127918Reach the Sam Merrill Trailhead and begin climbing the Lower Merrill Trail.
Base of switchbacks
Location: 34.204349, -118.126545The Lower Merrill Trail switchbacks through a mixture of forest and shrubland and skirts a ridge to the left of a deep canyon en route to Echo Mountain.
Mount Lowe Fire Road
Location: 34.218155, -118.126502The first time you reach this junction, turn right to ride up the Mount Lowe Fire Road. This is a burly but non-technical climb. The second time you pass this point, merge onto the Sunset Ridge Trail.
Merrill Trail descent
Location: 34.225500, -118.122211Be prepared for a rocky, technical descent down the Sam Merrill Trail back Echo Mountain. Intermediate riders may need to walk their bikes along certain stretches here.
Sunset Ridge Trail
Location: 34.217640, -118.127060After one loop of the Mount Lowe Fire Road, head west on the Sunset Ridge Trail. Sunset Ridge is a winding singletrack with some difficult sections.
Paved road section
Location: 34.218137, -118.143776Head south on the access road for a short distance.
Altadena Crest Trail
Location: 34.214624, -118.145567Follow the ACT between two water reservoirs. It's a technical stretch over hard-packed, steep singletrack.
Chaney Trail Road
Location: 34.209806, -118.145825Take Chaney Trail Road south.
Loma Alta Drive
Location: 34.202752, -118.148668Chaney Trail Road deadends here. Turn left on Loma Alta Drive and take it back to the park entrance.
Sam Merrill Trailhead
Location: 34.204243, -118.127961©Pat Lee
Start the switchbacks
Location: 34.204881, -118.125987©Pat Lee
More Lower Merrill switchbacks
Location: 34.205982, -118.124700©Pat Lee
Upper Merrill
Location: 34.212760, -118.122296©Pat Lee
Sunset Ridge Trail
Location: 34.217516, -118.127918©Pat Lee
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