Mt. Lowe
Campground
Campground · 0.1 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Acton
Merrill (Upper)
Photo: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 3.4 mi
- round trip
- 908 ft
- climb
- 5,417 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jan–Dec
- best months
Is Merrill (Upper) open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Angeles National Forest.
Rincon-Redbox Road (2N24) Closure
Agency alert covering Angeles National Forest · Order 05-01-26-13 · USFS · Angeles National Forest
Fire Danger Level Elevated to "Very High"
Agency alert covering Angeles National Forest · USFS · Angeles National Forest
San Gabriel Canyon OHV Area Prohibitions
Agency alert covering Angeles National Forest · Order 05-01-26-09 · USFS · Angeles National Forest
San Dimas Experimental Forest Closure
Agency alert covering Angeles National Forest · USFS · Angeles National Forest
Eaton Fire Area Closure
Agency alert covering Angeles National Forest · Order 05-01-26-04 · USFS · Angeles National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Angeles National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Merrill (Upper) is a moderate hike of about 3.4 miles in the Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District of Angeles National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 908 feet, starting at roughly 4,514 feet and reaching about 5,417 feet at the high point. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Wilson show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average in the mid-80s. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail, and the route sits right next to Mt. Lowe campground and the Idlehour Trail, both about 0.1 mile away. Idlehour campground is about 1.9 miles off, and the Roadside Boulder climbing area is about 3.2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsBoothsift, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Boothsift, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in Acton- Idlehour TrailHikingPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
- Mt. LoweCamping0.1 mi
Mt Lowe (West)HikingPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi- IdlehourCamping1.9 mi
- Roadside BoulderRock climbing3.2 mi
- Canyon Crest Road BoulderRock climbing3.3 mi
Big Tujunga CreekCanoeingPhoto: MajaTrochimczyk, CC BY 3.0 us (via Wikimedia Commons)7.7 mi
West Fork San Gabriel RiverCanoeingPhoto: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)8.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Mt Lowe (West)Hiking · Next doorPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Tom SloaneHiking · Next doorPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Sunset Ridge TrailHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Perfect Zero, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Idlehour TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Jim Spencer trailHiking · Next doorPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- One Man & Mule TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Altadena Crest TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: USMARINE0311 from California, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Rincon Red Box Truck TrailHiking · ~5 min drive
Echo MtnHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Dawn Mine TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Also worth it near here
- Mt. LoweCamping · Next door
Mount LoweSummit · Next doorPhoto: The original uploader was Magi Media at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Mount Lowe MotorwayMountain biking · Next doorPhoto: Crishazzard, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Roadside BoulderRock climbing · ~5 min drive
Best time to visit Merrill (Upper)
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
56° / 38°
7 wet
Feb
55° / 37°
8 wet
Mar
59° / 39°
7 wet
Apr
63° / 42°
4 wet
May
70° / 48°
3 wet
Jun
79° / 58°
1 wet
Jul
84° / 64°
1 wet
Aug
85° / 64°
1 wet
Sep
81° / 59°
1 wet
Oct
72° / 51°
3 wet
Nov
63° / 43°
4 wet
Dec
55° / 37°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Wilson Cbs, CA, 2.2 mi away at 5,710 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Route details
- Distance
- 3.4 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 908 ft
- Summit
- 5,602 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Season
Season: Year-round.
Other routes up Mount Lowe
Questions about this route
How long is the Merrill (Upper) on Mount Lowe?
About 3.4 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Merrill (Upper)?
About 908 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Merrill (Upper)?
It is rated moderate.
When is the best time for the Merrill (Upper)?
Year-round.
How many routes go up Mount Lowe?
2: Mt Lowe (West) and Merrill (Upper).
Conditions and forecast on Mount Lowe
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
