3 min
Overview
A moderate trek around one of the most breathtaking natural landmarks in the region. A hike to Devil’s Chair gives you panoramic views of what happens to the ground near one of the most active seismic zones in the world. With the right gear, this is a beautiful winter trek – especially after the Punchbowl and San Gabriels get a dusting of snow. The Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area is one of my favorite parks in the San Gabriels. Hidden on the northeastern range of the San Gabriels – far away from us city slickers – the otherwise flat high desert is slowly being ripped and bent into odd angles by the tearing of the San Andreas and Punchbowl Faults, with the resulting canyons further eroded by the wind and water from the 8000+ft peaks right to its south. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and every time I catch the first glimpse of the formation from the road, I’m still awestruck. On this particular day, I came after a weekend of on-and-off precipitation, which at this elevation was snow. The Punchbowl was lightly dusted, which served to highlight the jutting slabs of sandstone. There is an easy, mile-long loop trail that leaves the excellent Nature Center and dives right into the Punchbowl Canyon, but my destination was the Devil’s Chair – a rocky promontory overlooking the eastern Punchbowl. So I took off from the southeastern corner of the parking lot and hitched onto the beginning of the Burkhart Trail. Here, there was about an inch, maybe an inch-and-a-half of snow. The sound under my boots was soothing, and the cold air filling my lungs was better than any cup of coffee I’ve ever had. The first mile or so of this trail is where you’ll be doing most of your ascent, along a relentless but gently graded fire road. You will have a few opportunities to peer over the edge of the Punchbowl, as well as look out over the immense flatness of the Antelope Valley to your north. After that first mile, you’ll reach a clearly marked trail junction, where the paths split to Burkhart Saddle and Buckhorn Camp or the Devi
Trail Stats
12.1 km
181 m
1635 m
1446 m
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