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 Reporter |
Summary: The Devil's Punchbowl is a point where 2 earthquake faults collide, creating upwards jutting vertical walls as high as 300 feet. It is a spectacular setting, with the high desert spreading out on one side, and the pine covered Angeles National forest on the other. The hike takes you along the mostly shaded rim of the Punchbowl, to the dramatic Devil's Chair, a breathtaking overlook with 360 degree views of the geologic formations. A rainbow of rock surrounds the Devils Chair with pink streaked chalk white cliffs, undulating tan crags, chocolate brown slabs, and green-gray ledges. This, combined with the green of the mountains and the blue sky, makes for a memorable image. Hikers with extra energy, may want to also take the 1 mile loop trail, which drops down into the punchbowl amongst the stunning rock formations. Summer hikers should bring lots of water as it can get seriously hot in this area! Trailhead: Exit the Antelope Valley Freeway (14) at Pearblossom highway (138), and follow it to the town of Pearblossom where you will turn right (south) on Longview Road (County N6). Follow the signs to the park 7 miles ahead. Note that facing the nature center, the Burkhart trailhead is on the right side of the parking lot. (Lat:34.41381 Lon:-117.85858) Trail Guides for Devils Punchbowl - Devils Chair: 101 Hikes in Southern California by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) California Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Ann Marie Brown (Foghorn Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring User Groups: Hikers, Dogs Ranger Contact: Devil's Punchbowl Nature Area (661) 944-2743 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 8 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by zero on 8/26/2008 Amazed by rock formations, this is a perfect hike for me. The drive to get here was unfortunate (standing still on the fifteen freeway) but worth it. I went in the late afternoon, so the heat wasn't too extreme but it was extremely dry. I saw lots of quails and tiny jumping lizards, and beware of german wasps. Around dusk, the wind starts whistling through the little caverns in a coolly eerie way.
Reviewed by Solar Man on 7/3/2008 Our 1st hike in Southern California. Based on a recommendation and well worth the trip. Hiked in mid-May, caught an amazing array of flowers and came home with ~ 200 photos. No 4-legged creatures but a great encounter with a large California King snake! The trail is in good condition for the most part considering the bulk of it was initially shored in the 30's with some areas showing erosion.
Reviewed by jen b on 6/17/2008 Annual hikethrough from Punchbowl to Big Rock Creek with the Reed, Hogue, McQueen, Brickner families was a no-go due to inclement weather on Memorial Day 2008. Alternate plan was the Devil's Chair, which turned out to be awesome. Cool and cloudy...50's to 60's (for May!?)..made for perfect hiking weather. The youngsters hiked out fast and furious, the seasoned folks bringing up the rear. No wildlife sightings with 20+ hikers, but the view and nature presented an awe inspiring backdrop for the 3+ hour hike. Kids loved the rock formation out at the chair. I'm always taken by the view of the Valley Floor to the North, surrounded by Mountains on the South. After 30+ years, its still takes my breath away ... jb
Reviewed by Ron on 6/3/2008 Hiked this yesterday on 2 June 08. Started about 0810 and was back by 1145. Took a nice slow pace to enjoy the beautiful day. Had a grey fox cross my path which was neat. No snakes but alot of lizards out and about. Spent awhile at the chair taking in the views. Another great day to be in the mountains and NOT be at work.
Reviewed by JimZ on 5/5/2008 It was a perfect day for this hike, about 70 degrees, clear, with a few white clouds in the sky. We pushed pretty hard and did the round trip to the chair and back in a little over 2.5 hours. The trail was in pretty good shape, with just a few short sections being somewhat eroded. The view from the Devils Chair was lovely. 
Reviewed by Ron on 4/9/2008 The wife and I did this today (4-9-08), Started at 0810 and finished at 1130. It was a nice cool day with a breeze. A lot of wild flowers were out and she got lots of pictures. They have done some trail maint. since our last hike in Dec. They have placed mile markers and have cleared the blown done trees. A really great hike and it is one of our favorites. Its close to home, beautiful with all different types of geology, a good mix of forested and open trail and the trail rolls along without much steepness for a round trip of 7 miles. Do it now before the summer gets here! That is when we head to the high mountains.
Reviewed by JB on 3/12/2008 Beautiful hike and stunning view from the Chair. Our Boy Scout troop did this last weekend and only had a little snow on the trail but weather was great. I highly recommend it and going on to South Fork 
Reviewed by Ron on 12/1/2007 The wife and I did this today. It rained the entire trip and most of it was in heavy fog with the mountains and trees completely covered. It was a great day to try out my new REI Ultra light jacket. It did great keeping out the rain. We saw a couple of deer on the way up and on the way back most of the trail had little rivers running down it. A bit muddy at times but its better than working !!! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||