Trail Review: Dawn Mine
Trailhead: Mt. Lowe Trailhead, Altadena, CA
Parking: Depends on gate access but the closest parking is a tiny lot right in front of the trailhead. The next closest is a bigger lot at the Millard Trail Camp. Parking pass is required.
Distance: 6 miles out and back
Parking for the Dawn Mine Trail depends on a couple of factors. There is a gate on Chaney Trail that apparently has been closed at times during the pandemic. If that is the case, you'll need to park down on W. Loma Alta Drive and walk up Chaney Trail. If the gate is open, you'll be able to drive up to the trailhead (which has a few parking spaces) or to Millard Trail Camp. If you park at Millard Trail Camp, you'll need to walk back up to the trailhead which will add about 0.5 miles to the start of the hike. You can walk up the paved road that you just drove down or there is also the Sunset Ridge Trail that starts at Millard Trail Camp and will get you up to Mt. Lowe Road, just after the trailhead. Either way is fine. We did the paved road on the way up and the Sunset Ridge Trail on the way down.
Mt. Lowe Road is a paved fire road that starts you on your journey, and has some nice views of the surrounding area.
You won't be on Mt. Lowe Road for long. There is a turnoff for the Sunset Ridge Trail again about 0.4 miles in. You'll see some signage that'll point you down a dirt path. Take the dirt path! (Note: It is apparently possible to stay on and follow Mt. Lowe Road to get to the Dawn Mine from above or you can make it a loop and do the Mt. Lowe Road path as your way back to the trailhead. We didn't do this. We just did an out and back along the Dawn Mine trail.)
As you follow Sunset Ridge, you'll gradually descend into the canyon. You'll hit a fork in the road with a pretty obvious sign:
This is where things get more interesting. Not too far from the fork in the road is a cabin (It's cool to look at but it's private property so you can't go up to it). After that, you'll come upon the creek that you'll be following the rest of the way, and this is where the creek crossings start. The trail is surprisingly well-kept, with stone stairs and edging in a number of places (We even passed some workers who were repairing a portion of the trail). But the path does wind back and forth from either side of the water. Don't worry, though. The crossings are very shallow and there are plenty of rocks to hop along so you probably won't get wet (unless you are going in the Spring, in which case mountain runoff may make the crossings deeper).
I love trails that follow water. The sound of the natural running water is extremely calming. The farther you get into the canyon, the steeper the incline gets, so you'll get a couple little water falls, along with some rock scrambles. Be prepared for a few steeper spots, especially as you approach the mine. This is also where the trail starts to fade and you have to keep an eye on what looks like the path. But the faded trail is only a short section and soon you'll see the marker for the mine, which is an old mining engine up on a rocky ledge. Nearby, there is also an opening to a mining shaft hidden behind some rocks. The opening is closed off with some wooden fencing so there's no going in, but it's still cool to think miners used to crawl down in there!
Some people may find the mine underwhelming. A couple of hikers who crossed our paths near the mine voiced their disappointment. But I think it's a fun little relic to see on a hike.
After you're done at the mine, simply head back the way you came!
Bottom Line: A great, secluded hike along a stream with a little, abandoned mine at the end. Some may be underwhelmed by the mine but the hike is pleasant nonetheless.
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