Echo Mountain via Sam Merrill Trail

I wanted to hike the trail to the top of Echo Mountain. I found parking on the street as mentioned in most popular trail guides, however, due to the popularity of the location, I had to circle a couple times before I found a spot.Immediately just a minute or so into the hike from the marked trail head, I encountered a trail split. Someone had moved the trail sign that pointed where to go, so I went the wrong way, and climbed for a couple minutes before deciding I was on the wrong trail. I turned and went back, and found the correct trail and continued the hike.The trail up is fully exposed to the sun in many places. It is well known and well traveled, which makes for crowded conditions. Along with hikers, the trail is also frequented by trail runners. Everyone I passed or that passed me was friendly and courteous. There is not much in the way of views from the trail itself, mostly you are looking at the neighborhood below and if it's smoggy, you won't see much beyond that. The hike up may not be the most fun hike, at least I found it to be mediocre compared to some of the others I've done in the vicinity. I did enjoy meeting some non-human companions, mainly lizards of different types, but also a garter snake sitting on the trail side as I passed.The destination is what makes this hike worth doing. At the top of Echo Mountain are the remains of a resort that was popular at the turn of the 20th century, with an interesting history to go with it. The ruins are well marked and maintained, and when you return from your trip you will want to study further. A good place to start is the Wikipedia page for the Mt. Lowe Railroad, which includes information about the Echo Mountain history.This is a hike that is family friendly but avoid hot days for the best experience. There is also the option to continue hiking to other destinations from Echo Mountain should you desire to keep going before heading back down.