Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Granite Gate

Mount Lowe Railway

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Granite Gate Marker

Inscription.
In this area it was necessary to blast a path for the railway out of the hard granite. The cutting of the Granite Gate itself took 8 months with the walls being left intact on Professor Lowes' orders. This "Gate" provided a picturesque frame for photos of the trolley cars & tourists. Part of the rock was removed in the 1960's to widen Granite Gate.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 34° 13.644′ N, 118° 7.474′ W. Marker is in Angeles National Forest, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Mt Lowe Railroad Trail. It’s a strenuous five mile hike from the Cobb Estate trailhead with an altitude gain of 3,000 feet. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Altadena CA 91001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

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in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cape of Good Hope / Circular Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dawn Station (approx. half a mile away); Circular Bridge (approx. half a mile away); On The Rail Again (approx. 0.6 miles away); High Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sentinel Rock (approx. 0.6 miles away); Longest Straight Stretch of Track (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ye Alpine Tavern (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Angeles National Forest.

Regarding Granite Gate. During the early 1900’s, tourists could take the Pacific Electric trolley from Los Angeles to Rubio Canyon, then take the Incline Railway to the top of Echo Mountain, and then take another electric trolly to the Alpine Tavern hotel, all for one dollar. The hotel burned down in 1936, and was not rebuilt due to the Great Depression.

Granite Gate was widened in the 1960s to allow use of the trail as a fire road.
On January 6, 1993, the Mount

Granite Gate and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Granite Gate and Marker

An overhead wire support still hangs from the rocks.

Lowe Railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the boundary was increased in 2015.

Granite Gate image. Click for full size.

3. Granite Gate

This postcard is featured on the marker.

Photographed by Craig Baker

4. Granite Gate

Mount Lowe Railway Map image. Click for full size.

from Wikimedia Commons

5. Mount Lowe Railway Map

Mt Lowe Advertisement image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

6. Mt Lowe Advertisement

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 639 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 29, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on April 17, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.