![Professor Lowe had a dream to make the beautiful Mountains overlooking the cities of Altadena / Pasadena accessible to average citizens. After much planning, many exploratory trips on horseback, he and Engineer Thomas McPherson located a series of routes that could be built upon with a series of rail cars to reach miles back into the forest and eventually all the way to the top of Mount Wilson. Financing the project himself, Professor Lowe proceeded to build his dream which eventually reached all the way to the base of Mount Lowe (named after Professor Lowe, previously known as Oak Mountain). At its peak, it was the top honeymoon destination in America. Beginning with the famous red car lines in California, Professor Lowe extended the line up through the rolling hills in Rubio Canyon where a small hotel was built at the base of new incline rail systems that would take a visitor up a mile along a ridge overlooking the LA Basin to the top of Echo Mountain.
The top of Echo Mountain became a little city of its own with places to eat, order picnic lunches, shop at stores, dormitories for employees, power generating station to power Echo Mountain facilities. There was also a trolley repair building and pit, observation decks at various spots, trails that could be taken by hikers both up and down the mountain and into the Alpine regions, tennis courts, stables and a now little known zoo. The entire assembly of buildings were painted white and because of the view from far below, became known as "The White City in the sky". The “opera box” great incline cars were also white and could be seen from afar ferrying up and down the hill. On a ridge behind the Echo Mountain ridge was an observatory building with a working 16 inch telescope housed in a round domed building. The foundations can still be found at the site as well as the cement stand which is what the telescope was mounted upon. It was Professor Lowe's intention to build the rail system all the way to the top of Mount Wilson along with additional hotels and facilities on the top of Mount Wilson. Later, much of the path of the large 100" telescope and observatory built on Mount Wilson was used to transport the delicate 100" mirror to the top of Mount Wilson.
[From Wikipedia]](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6058643/03e5e617-ede3-45ea-9817-79e95ae8eb81.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1200&h=500&q=medium)
Photo by CHH Hiker
Find hotels in Altadena, CA from ￥12,358
Change your mindBook hotels with free cancellation
Be pickySearch almost a million properties worldwide
Go beyond your typical stay in Altadena
Apart hotel
Check prices for these dates
Compare 7,082 hotels, room rates, hotel reviews and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.
2b2b APT Close to Rose Parade and Pasadena Oldtown
Altadena
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (1)
"Great choice for Rose Bowl "
Ronald
The price is ￥30,310
￥56,216 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 12 - Nov 13
Charming Elegant Retreat in the San Gabriel Valley
Altadena
The price is ￥30,310
￥56,216 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 11 - Nov 12
Newly Remodeled 2b2b APT Near Pasadena Old Town
Altadena
The price is ￥27,603
￥53,184 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 11 - Nov 12
Modern Family Getaway With Spacious Living Areas
Altadena
The price is ￥39,692
￥68,580 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 9 - Dec 10
Newly Remodeled 2b2b APT Near Pasadena Old Town
Altadena
The price is ￥23,094
￥49,990 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 11 - Nov 12
2b2b APT Close to Rose Parade and Pasadena Oldtown
Altadena
The price is ￥28,144
￥53,790 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 11 - Nov 12
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in
Stay near popular Altadena attractions
Learn more about Altadena
Nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains, Altadena offers spectacular hiking trails including the popular Echo Mountain and Eaton Canyon Falls. Explore Christmas Tree Lane's historic deodars or visit the Cobb Estate's haunted ruins before heading to nearby Pasadena's museums and gardens.
![Professor Lowe had a dream to make the beautiful Mountains overlooking the cities of Altadena / Pasadena accessible to average citizens. After much planning, many exploratory trips on horseback, he and Engineer Thomas McPherson located a series of routes that could be built upon with a series of rail cars to reach miles back into the forest and eventually all the way to the top of Mount Wilson. Financing the project himself, Professor Lowe proceeded to build his dream which eventually reached all the way to the base of Mount Lowe (named after Professor Lowe, previously known as Oak Mountain). At its peak, it was the top honeymoon destination in America. Beginning with the famous red car lines in California, Professor Lowe extended the line up through the rolling hills in Rubio Canyon where a small hotel was built at the base of new incline rail systems that would take a visitor up a mile along a ridge overlooking the LA Basin to the top of Echo Mountain.
The top of Echo Mountain became a little city of its own with places to eat, order picnic lunches, shop at stores, dormitories for employees, power generating station to power Echo Mountain facilities. There was also a trolley repair building and pit, observation decks at various spots, trails that could be taken by hikers both up and down the mountain and into the Alpine regions, tennis courts, stables and a now little known zoo. The entire assembly of buildings were painted white and because of the view from far below, became known as "The White City in the sky". The “opera box” great incline cars were also white and could be seen from afar ferrying up and down the hill. On a ridge behind the Echo Mountain ridge was an observatory building with a working 16 inch telescope housed in a round domed building. The foundations can still be found at the site as well as the cement stand which is what the telescope was mounted upon. It was Professor Lowe's intention to build the rail system all the way to the top of Mount Wilson along with additional hotels and facilities on the top of Mount Wilson. Later, much of the path of the large 100" telescope and observatory built on Mount Wilson was used to transport the delicate 100" mirror to the top of Mount Wilson.
[From Wikipedia]](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6058643/03e5e617-ede3-45ea-9817-79e95ae8eb81.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=598&p=1&q=high)
Photo by CHH Hiker
Open Photo by CHH Hiker
Top Altadena Hotel Reviews
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles
10/10 Excellent
More cheap stays in Altadena
Glendale Hotel
1510 E Colorado Street, Glendale, CA
The price is ￥11,034 per night from Nov 22 to Nov 23
￥11,034
￥12,358 total
Nov 22 - Nov 23
includes taxes & fees
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,860 reviews)
Frequently asked questions
Explore a world of travel with Expedia
Hotels in Altadena Neighborhoods
Stay near popular Altadena attractions
- Hotels near Universal Studios Hollywood
- Hotels near Dodger Stadium
- Hotels near Crypto.com Arena
- Hotels near University of Southern California
- Hotels near SoFi Stadium
- Hotels near Los Angeles Convention Center
- Hotels near Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Hotels near Hollywood Boulevard
- Hotels near Kia Forum
- Hotels near L.A. Live
- Hotels near Hollywood Bowl
- Hotels near University of California
- Hotels near Rodeo Drive
- Hotels near The Grove
- Hotels near Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Hotels near BMO Stadium
- Hotels near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Hotels near Rose Bowl Stadium
- Hotels near Melrose Avenue
- Hotels near Sunset Strip
More Accommodation Types in Altadena
Hotels near Altadena Airports
- Los Angeles Intl. Airport Hotels
- Hollywood Burbank Airport Hotels
- Commerce Business Plaza Heliport Airport Hotels
- Van Nuys Airport Hotels
- Brackett Field Airport Hotels
- Santa Monica Municipal Airport Hotels
- Compton - Woodley Airport Hotels
- Long Beach Municipal Airport Hotels
- Fullerton Municipal Airport Hotels
- Cable Airport Hotels
Other Hotels near Altadena, Los Angeles
- West Hollywood Hotels
- Burbank Hotels
- Beverly Hills Hotels
- Pasadena Hotels
- Inglewood Hotels
- Glendale Hotels
- Culver City Hotels
- Universal City Hotels
- North Hollywood Hotels
- Montebello Hotels
- Santa Clarita Hotels
- Downey Hotels
- Norwalk Hotels
- Van Nuys Hotels
- Palmdale Hotels
- Pomona Hotels
- Studio City Hotels
- Whittier Hotels
- Arcadia Hotels
- West Covina Hotels
Explore more hotels
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown
- Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza
- STILE Downtown Los Angeles by Kasa
- DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles - Commerce
- The Delphi Hotel
- The Hollywood Roosevelt
- E-Central Downtown Los Angeles Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia - Pasadena Area
- Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City
- Hampton Inn & Suites Los Angeles/Hollywood
- The Commerce Casino & Hotel
- AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, a Marriott Hotel
More ways to book
Expedia's Latest Trends
Activities
General
- Visit Daly City
- Visit Inglewood
- Visit Santa Monica
- Visit Reseda
- Visit Berkeley
- Visit Redondo Beach
- Visit San Pedro
- Visit Burbank
- Visit West Hollywood
- Visit Pacific Palisades
- Visit Compton
- Visit Long Beach
- Visit Calabasas
- Visit Monrovia
- Visit Agoura Hills
- Visit Beverly Hills
- Visit Studio City
- Visit Diamond Bar
- Visit Encino
- Visit Torrance
- Visit Malibu
- Visit Rancho Palos Verdes
- Visit Topanga
- Visit Manhattan Beach
