The Ghosts of Gravity Hill: Altadena’s Most Terrifying Incline

Dim the lights, check your mirrors, and whatever you do… Don’t put the car in park just yet.

Tonight, we’re heading into the winding, shadowed foothills of San Gabriel Mountains.  While Los Angeles is known for its bright lights and silver screens, the outskirts hold a darker secret:  The urban legend of Gravity Hill.

The Legend:  A Tragedy in the Mist

If you grew up in the San Fernando Valley or the hills of Altadena, you’ve heard the story.  Decades ago, the date varied depending on who’s telling it… a school bus filled with children stalled out on a lonely, uphill stretch of road.

As the driver struggled to restart the engine, a freak accident occurred.  A speeding vehicle or a mechanical failure sent the bus rolling backward into the path of an oncoming train or off a steep embankment.  There were no survivors.

Now, they say the children never left the hill.  They stay there to ensure no one else suffers their same fate.

Gravity Hill, California

The Ritual:  Put it in Neutral

The “test” is simple, though not for the faint of heart.  Here is how the local legend goes:

1. Find the Spot:  Most locals point to a specific stretch on Loma Alta Drive in Altadena or tucked away in the canyons of Sylmar.

2. The Preparation:  Enthusiasts often dust their rear bumper with talcum powder or flour before arriving.

3. The Act:  Stop your car at the bottom of the incline, shift into neutral, and take your foot off the brake.

4. The Result:  Despite the road clearly sloping upward, your car will begin to roll.  You’ll pick up speed, defying the laws of physics, as you are “pushed” uphill to safety.

Physics vs. The Paranormal

Is it a haunting, or just a heavy dose of mountain air induced vertigo?

Skeptics will tell you that Gravity Hill is a gravity hill optical illusion.  Due to the surrounding horizon line and the tilt of the canyon walls, your brain perceives a slight downhill grade as an uphill climb.  It’s a trick of perspective.  The layout of the land makes gravity feel like it’s pulling you the wrong way.

But tell that to the people who swear they’ve heard the muffled sound of children’s laughter echoing off the canyon walls at 2:00 AM.  Or the drivers who find those small, hand shaped smudges on their trunk when they get home.

The Illusion of Gravity Hill

Visit at Your Own Risk

If you decide to seek out Gravity Hill, remember: these are narrow, residential mountain roads.  The real danger isn’t necessarily the ghosts.  It’s the hairpin turns and the very real possibility of a literal midnight collision.

The Evil Hour wants to know: have you felt the “Push?”  Or is this just another campfire story meant to keep us out of the woods?

Until next time, keep your eyes on the road and your soul in the light.