The Bros' Guide To Stoke: Mt. Echo and Inspiration Point: A Two For One Hike

This hike is located in the Angeles National Forest, directly north of the 210 at Altadena. There are two ways start this hike, the way we did it or the way everyone else recommends. We started off with some rough instruction to the trailhead and an extreme lack of direction. Our first mistake was taking direction from a disgruntled woman in her 60's. She directed us to Pleasantridge Drive and Rubio Vista Road, she said, "Oh there's a trailhead right between those houses!"

Trailhead Location:

Altadena,CA
Difficult Trailhead: Rubio Vista and Pleasantridge Drive
Easy Trailhead: E. Loma Alta Dr and Lake Ave

We were none the wiser and took it. It was a fairly simple beginning for the first 1/4 mile, slight incline, typical low-lying native chaparral. We ended up bushwhacking half way there and nearly lost the trail multiple times from this trailhead. There was some serious incline with some spots of exposure. However, an hour and a half later we reached Echo Mountain. We found some pretty cool relics of the old hotel that was once up there. There was a railway that took the work out of the mountain so anyone could go stay up there. Now we have to trek up there like suckers.
So from the top of the peak of Echo Mountain you can yell at nature through a megaphone. I suppose thats why they call it Echo Mountain. Well, it's also known as Mt. Lowe because someone had a lot of money and claimed their spot as king of the hill.
Once you get to the top of Mt. Lowe, you can go back the way you came. Which if you were us, we'd have to choose to go through the overgrown half trail that got us there. If you're smart, you'll choose to go back the way everyone else comes up. This is the trail that is much more maintained. It could probably fit a small truck in most parts. So if you take the more popular trail back down, you can meet up with the trail for Inspiration Point. A quick 2 mile hike from Mt. Lowe. It's worth it while you're up there. We went mid-January and there was still quite a bit of snow and ice in the covered part of this trail. I had on regular cross trainers and did just fine. Yea sure, I did slip and slide. But nothing too bad.
This is an out and back trail. So once you get back down the mountain, remember where you parked. We realized that where we left the trail was not where we began it. So we had to cross through a neighborhood or two and jump a fence to get out.