Middle Sam Merrill Trail 12W14.2

The Middle Sam Merrill Trail starts on the Echo Mountain Trail 12W14.A a few hundred feet south of the junction with the Lower Sam Merrill Trail 12W14.1. It climbs past the observatory ruins in mostly shadeless chaparral of scrub oak, ceanothus and laurel sumac reaching a saddle in 1.7 miles where there are good views of the Los Angeles Basin. It then turns east and stays mostly level through a welcomed shady area of bigcone spruce and live oaks. The trail ends at a saddle with the Mt. Lowe Road #2N50 and Muir Peak Road #2N50.A which leads to Inspiration Point. The Idlehour Trail 12W16 starts here and heads east into Eaton Canyon. The Mt. Lowe Campground is 0.2 miles down on the Mt. Lowe Road #2N50 (left turn). The Upper Sam Merrill Trail 12W14.3 and Mt. Lowe East Trail 12W14.3A are 0.1 miles north on the road.