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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Sam Merrill Trail Switchbacks

Hike

Sam Merrill (Middle)

Near Echo Mountain
Inside Angeles National Forest
1,757 ft of climbing

5.0 mi out & back · 1,757 ft gain · 4,559 ft high point · Hard

In Angeles National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Sam Merrill (Middle) in Angeles National Forest is 5.0 miles out and back, gaining 1,757 feet near Echo Mountain and Inspiration Point.

Elevation

1,757 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

1.4 mi from the trailhead
Millard Campground
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

8 mi from you
Vetter Mountain Trail
- Summits Vetter Mountain
- Inside Angeles National Forest
- 2,867 ft of climbing
8.7 mi out & back · 2,867 ft gain · Hard
Angeles National Forest · Camp 3 mi away

Out: 1,440 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Echo MountainNearby · 0.0 mi in
Grand Chasm FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Suspended Boulder FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Roaring Rift FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Thalehaha FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Moss Grotto FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Ribbon Rocks FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
Leontine FallsNearby · 0.0 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.0 mi in
Inspiration PointNearby · 2.5 mi in
Mount LoweNearby · 2.5 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 2.5 mi in

Nearby reading

Sam Merrill Trail
Mount Lowe Railway
Echo Mountain
Mount Lowe (California)

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 5.0 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 1,757 ft round trip
High point: 4,559 ft
Low point: 3,211 ft
Difficulty: HardFrom 5.0 mi and 1,757 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 6
Trailhead: 34.2124° N · 118.1217° W

Get directions Open the map

9.7 mi from the trailhead

Coulter Group Campground

Campground

9.7 mi from the trailhead

Meadow Group Campground

Campground · California

19 mi from you

Mt. Islip Trail

Summits Mount Islip
Inside Angeles National Forest
2,042 ft of climbing

6.7 mi out & back · 2,042 ft gain · Hard

Angeles National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Sturtevant

Passes Mount Wilson
Inside Angeles National Forest
6,391 ft of climbing

15.4 mi out & back · 6,391 ft gain · Very hard

Angeles National Forest · Camp 5 mi away

San Gabriel Peak

Summits Mount Markham
Inside Angeles National Forest
1,604 ft of climbing

4.3 mi out & back · 1,604 ft gain · Moderate

Angeles National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

Stone Canyon Trail

Summits Mount Lukens
Inside Angeles National Forest
3,336 ft of climbing

7.2 mi out & back · 3,336 ft gain · Hard

Angeles National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

MT Lowe (East)

Passes Mount Lowe
Inside Angeles National Forest
2,204 ft of climbing

6.4 mi out & back · 2,204 ft gain · Hard

Angeles National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Sam Merrill Trail (Lower)
- Summits Echo Mountain
- Inside Angeles National Forest
- 1,000 ft of climbing
2.4 mi out & back · 1,000 ft gain · Moderate
Angeles National Forest · Camp 1 mi away
Merrill (Upper)
- Passes Mount Lowe
- Inside Angeles National Forest
- 2,894 ft of climbing
7.7 mi out & back · 2,894 ft gain · Hard
Angeles National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
MT Lowe (West)
- Passes Mount Lowe
- Inside Angeles National Forest
- 3,273 ft of climbing
8.8 mi out & back · 3,273 ft gain · Very hard
Angeles National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
MT Lowe (East)
- Passes Mount Lowe
- Inside Angeles National Forest
- 2,204 ft of climbing
6.4 mi out & back · 2,204 ft gain · Hard
Angeles National Forest · Camp 4 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Sat58°51°Light Rain
Sun57°49°Light Rain Likely
Mon64°53°Mostly Sunny
Tue64°51°Sunny
Wed63°53°Sunny
Thu63°51°Mostly Sunny
Fri63°Sunny

Sat: Light Rain · wind 5 to 10 mph SE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Good
AT&TNo signal
T-Mobile5G · Good

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain