11 picturesque places in L.A. to have a summer picnic
These days the Echo Mountain hike through the Sam Merrill Path is 5.5-mile round-trip expertise (with about 1,400 ft of altitude achieve) on a extremely popular, often slender path. Alongside the best way you discover many historic markers, however solely scattered bits of basis and metallic gear to remind you of the sprawling operation that after was right here.
There’s a picnic desk, however you may additionally eat whereas sitting on the steps of the previous lodge. And earlier than you descend you would possibly need to attempt to use the Echo Telephone, additionally on the mountaintop. Mountaineering knowledgeable Mary Forgione describes it as “a black metallic megaphone mounted on a pole that factors towards Fortress Canyon. Yep, earlier than there have been cellphones and selfies, that is how folks amused themselves. Be at liberty to step up and provides your greatest scream (no touching essential) — and pay attention for the reverb. It’s a gorgeous place to cease and look into the center of the mountains.”
The trailhead is on the finish of Lake Avenue in Altadena. The path will get sizzling on sunny days, so it’s clever to begin early within the morning, when the route is shaded and there’s much less foot visitors.
