Late to the party, but I hiked this trail last week. Your directions were really helpful. If you hike about 6:30 am or so, most of the mountain is shaded. It doesn’t get in full sun until later in the morning. Also, our winter rains haven’t been kind to this trail- it’s a little rough towards the top. There’s loose gravel on some of the stairs and steeper switchbacks, a couple of small places have been washed out, and are REALLY narrow, and you can see where parts of the trail are starting to be undercut. Just watch your step going down. Also, my partner, who does not hike, has been following where I hike on your channel. He tells me “make sure to go the way the hiking guy says to go”.
This is one of those hikes I absolutely hate doing in the summertime because there's literally no shade and I'm not a "get up at 5am on a Saturday morning" type of guy, but you're right about it being a sort of "right of passage". I personally like heading up to Inspiration Point via upper SM and not Castle Canyon because it's steep as 🤬, but that's just me. Another destination besides Inspiration P that I've done a few times from Cobb Estate is Mt. Lowe...an all day'r for sure but well worth the effort.* A video I'd love to see you do (because I know your followers would love it) is the 5 Peaks hike (Lowe, Markham, San Gabriel, Disappoinment, Deception) currently my favorite hike in the San Gabriel's 👍. Happy trails Chris
Thanks thanks, and yea, Sam M can be brutal when it's really hot out for sure. I'm planning on some more guides in the area / front peaks this fall (delayed now of course) including the ones you mentioned. Doing some research on the Mt Lowe railway for a historic route / hike as well. Hadn't been in these front peaks since before lockdown, I forgot how fun they were.
I did the loop to Echo Mountain clockwise and its super sketchy steep. Very scary. Would not recommend. I shouldve just did this route instead but its pretty cool up top.
I would recommend a hike to Inspiration Point via the loop Castle Canyon and Upper Sam Merrill in Dec-Feb after a couple days of rain, if we're lucky to get any. There is lots of snow up there and it is beautiful.
@@Hikingguy awesome would love to hike one of your trails one day. I would definitely hike your trail if you were involved in creating one one day. I’m sure if you gave a link to your channel to whoever is responsible in creating trails they would be willing to work with you. Just make sure it has some shade and maybe a creek and under 12 miles my dog can’t handle more than that lol
Late to the party, but I hiked this trail last week. Your directions were really helpful. If you hike about 6:30 am or so, most of the mountain is shaded. It doesn’t get in full sun until later in the morning. Also, our winter rains haven’t been kind to this trail- it’s a little rough towards the top. There’s loose gravel on some of the stairs and steeper switchbacks, a couple of small places have been washed out, and are REALLY narrow, and you can see where parts of the trail are starting to be undercut. Just watch your step going down.
Also, my partner, who does not hike, has been following where I hike on your channel. He tells me “make sure to go the way the hiking guy says to go”.
Thank you for posting! Nice tips! I plan on going this fall to hike my great uncle's mountain. ❤
This is one of those hikes I absolutely hate doing in the summertime because there's literally no shade and I'm not a "get up at 5am on a Saturday morning" type of guy, but you're right about it being a sort of "right of passage". I personally like heading up to Inspiration Point via upper SM and not Castle Canyon because it's steep as 🤬, but that's just me. Another destination besides Inspiration P that I've done a few times from Cobb Estate is Mt. Lowe...an all day'r for sure but well worth the effort.* A video I'd love to see you do (because I know your followers would love it) is the 5 Peaks hike (Lowe, Markham, San Gabriel, Disappoinment, Deception) currently my favorite hike in the San Gabriel's 👍. Happy trails Chris
Thanks thanks, and yea, Sam M can be brutal when it's really hot out for sure. I'm planning on some more guides in the area / front peaks this fall (delayed now of course) including the ones you mentioned. Doing some research on the Mt Lowe railway for a historic route / hike as well. Hadn't been in these front peaks since before lockdown, I forgot how fun they were.
I did the loop to Echo Mountain clockwise and its super sketchy steep. Very scary. Would not recommend. I shouldve just did this route instead but its pretty cool up top.
I would recommend a hike to Inspiration Point via the loop Castle Canyon and Upper Sam Merrill in Dec-Feb after a couple days of rain, if we're lucky to get any. There is lots of snow up there and it is beautiful.
Yup, that's a great hike too. I have the directions for it in my guide on the website. Stay tuned for a guide to another route to Inspiration Point! 👍
Great video! This is the most comprehensive guide to this hike!
Very Helpful and informative to every hikers
Thanks again chris.would love to do this hike when i get down there.wildfire here in the norcal.air quality sucks!!
Uh, yea, we occasionally get the haze down here too, but probably not nearly as bad. Family canceled a trip up to Tahoe because of everything. So sad.
Nice hike
“Bueller!!!” 📣😆
Great video! Also, why didn't you add San Gabriel Peak and Mt Lowe to this guide?
This is a good spot. Classic to also yell the Grinch’s “I’m an idiot” here.
I love it
Have you ever thought about building/designing your own trail? Would be great! Although I don’t know what is involved in trail creation.
I would love that - guessing I don't have the engineering skills but always learning more and more about trail building.
@@Hikingguy awesome would love to hike one of your trails one day. I would definitely hike your trail if you were involved in creating one one day. I’m sure if you gave a link to your channel to whoever is responsible in creating trails they would be willing to work with you. Just make sure it has some shade and maybe a creek and under 12 miles my dog can’t handle more than that lol
@@kermit1 Ha well thank you again. I'd probaby also add a brewery at the summit and maybe some ice cream for the kids....
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What is your fav big hike in So Cal that you have done before?
South Fork to San Gorgonio is really pretty, as is Deer Springs to San Jacinto and back on Wellman Divide
Ya entendí porque se llama Eco trail 😂👏👏👍