Los Angeles Cemetery Tour: Mountain View Cemetery Altadena Graves and Foothills

Mountain View Cemetery, located at 2400 N Fair Oaks Ave in Altadena, opens its outdoor cemetery gates and grounds daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, offering a peaceful historical walking experience set against the dramatic backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. Established in 1882 on fifty-five scenic foothill acres, this historic fifty-five-acre burial ground preserves the final resting places of prominent citrus ranchers, civic leaders, educators, and scientists. General admission to tour the outdoor cemetery grounds is free of charge ($0.00). Visitors wishing to view the interior of the historic Mountain View Mausoleum (located at 2300 N Marengo Ave) must note that interior access is currently restricted and requires scheduling a prior appointment with the office in advance.

The physical setting of Mountain View Cemetery offers one of the most dramatic natural vistas in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Towering Monterey pines, century-old deodar cedars, California pepper trees, and aromatic eucalyptus groves shade gently sloping hillside knolls. Looking directly north across the granite headstones, the rugged purple chaparral ridges of Mount Lowe and Mount Wilson rise abruptly into the clear mountain sky, providing an awe-inspiring alpine horizon that feels removed from Southern California's urban bustle.

The architectural centerpiece of the property is the Mountain View Mausoleum at 2300 N Marengo Ave, designed and completed in the 1920s by master architect Cecil E. Bryan. Influenced by Spanish Renaissance and Mediterranean traditions, the building features vaulted ceilings decorated with colorful frescoes, hand-carved marble corridors, and intricate stained-glass windows produced by Southern California's historic Judson Studios. Because general interior access remains restricted, viewings of these historic stained-glass galleries require prior appointment.

A structured walking tour across the outdoor sections reveals pivotal chapters in Southern California's agricultural and frontier development. Pioneer plots honor early valley families such as the Woodburys and fellow citrus ranchers, who built the irrigation systems, schools, and civic infrastructure of Altadena and Pasadena. The cemetery is also the final resting place of eighteenth California Governor Henry Markham, whose family monument overlooks the foothills.

Mountain View serves as the resting place for groundbreaking historical figures spanning entertainment, science, and public service. Theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman rests in an understated lawn plot beside his wife Gweneth, attracting science enthusiasts from across the globe who leave small pebbles and mathematical notes in homage to his contributions to quantum mechanics. Television actor George Reeves, celebrated as the original 1950s Superman, is interred within the main mausoleum complex, viewable strictly by scheduled appointment.

The surrounding foothill community and cemetery grounds endured a major natural trial during the Eaton Fire of January 2025, when a ferocious foothill brush fire swept through parts of Altadena along Fair Oaks Avenue. While commercial buildings in the surrounding neighborhood suffered severe damage, Mountain View Cemetery's historic outdoor grounds, landmark headstones, and mature deodar cedars remained intact. The survival of the cemetery's century-old tree canopy stands as a testament to the dedicated stewardship preserving this foothill sanctuary.

The prime window for visiting Mountain View Cemetery is between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM on clear weekday mornings when the San Gabriel Mountains are bathed in crisp morning sunlight. Early arrival allows visitors to view the sunrise reflections illuminating the exterior stonework and guarantees quiet solitude along the hillside paths. During winter and early spring months, morning visitors are frequently treated to the breathtaking contrast of snow-capped mountain peaks rising directly above blooming Victorian camellias and rose gardens.

Visitors exploring Mountain View are reminded that the property remains a sacred, operational cemetery serving local grieving families. Guests must keep automobiles on paved driveways and speak in hushed, respectful tones throughout their walk. Maintaining reverent quiet and giving wide berth to private family services ensures that the historic memorial grounds remain a peaceful haven for all.

Skip walking the far southwestern flat-marker sections if your walking time is limited, as these modern lawn areas lack the historical monuments and towering shade trees found in the historic northern and eastern quadrants. Instead, dedicate the bulk of your visit to the 1920s Cecil Bryan Mausoleum exterior and the surrounding Victorian pioneer family circle plots. Be prepared for uneven ground and exposed tree roots when walking among the nineteenth-century headstones, making sturdy closed-toe walking shoes essential.

Following your cemetery walk, the foothill community of Altadena offers delicious local dining options right around the corner. Head one block west to Fair Oaks Burger at 2560 N Fair Oaks Ave, a beloved local roadside diner operating immediately adjacent to the cemetery grounds. Guests can order a freshly made breakfast burrito with eggs and hash browns for $9.99, a classic breakfast sandwich for $8.99, or a hearty bacon cheeseburger for $8.99. The friendly neighborhood counter service and hearty portions make it a satisfying stop following a morning walk.

The cemetery grounds and main administration office at 2400 N Fair Oaks Ave are open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to assist visitors with site inquiries and historical records. Restrooms are accessible in the administration facility during regular operating hours. Visitors wishing to inquire about mausoleum access or historical graves should contact staff during daytime hours, and ensure vehicles depart before gates close at 5:00 PM.

If interior access to the mausoleum is unavailable on your visit date, your best nearby Plan B is driving fifteen minutes southwest to Forest Lawn Glendale to tour its scenic memorial grounds and Great Mausoleum artwork. Alternatively, visit the historic civic center of Pasadena to explore Mediterranean Revival architecture around Centennial Square, or wander the botanical gardens of the nearby Huntington Library in San Marino.