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2.4 miles
Distance
41 ft
Climb
-1,280 ft
Descent
00:23:37
Avg time
-1,239 ft
Altitude change
3,229 ft
Altitude min
4,475 ft
Altitude max
4,468 ft
Altitude start
3,228 ft
Altitude end
-9.8%
Grade
-52.3%
Grade max
11.4%
Grade min
1,135 ft
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
499 ft
Distance flat
00:23:37
Avg time
Middle Sam Merrill Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaAngeles National Forest
Pasadena, California -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyDouble Black Diamond (2 votes)
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Local Popularity70 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 5 in Trail Running
- 55 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular Direction Shown
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Physical RatingHard
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SeasonAll Year
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Ride in RainYes
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.
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USFSLand Manager
Local Trail Association
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Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 6 rides
- 17 miles avg distance
All
- 158 rides
- Last: Jun 6, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Middle Sam Merrill Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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Directions to middle-sam-merrill trailhead
(34.224180, -118.110260)
Photos
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Routes with this trail
★ 5.0 • 8 miles • 691 ft • 7 • Shuttled •
Shuttle run from top of Mt. Lowe East to the bottom of .
★ 5.0 • 13 miles • 1,514 ft • 12 • Shuttled •
This shuttle Route is one Variation of the so called Front side riding area in the Angeles National Forest.
★ 4.0 • 14 miles • 840 ft • 14 •
Mt.Wilson shuttle is one of Southern California's most challenging trails, so much fun!
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Nearby Trails
- Panorama Point Road 7 ft
- Old Mt Lowe Railroad (inspiration Point To Saddle) 72 ft
- Mount Lowe West Trail 1,991 ft
- Tom Sloan Trail 2,552 ft
- Chutes 2,730 ft
Angeles National Forest
- By betamax-bandit & contributors
- #20978 - 7,922 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Middle Sam Merrill
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Where is Middle Sam Merrill located?
Middle Sam Merrill is located in Angeles National Forest, Pasadena, California, United States. It is part of the Angeles National Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.22418, -118.11026.
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How hard is Middle Sam Merrill?
Middle Sam Merrill is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 9.8%.
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What is the elevation gain for Middle Sam Merrill?
Middle Sam Merrill has 41 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,280 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,229 ft to 4,475 ft.
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Is Middle Sam Merrill a point to point trail?
Middle Sam Merrill is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
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