I ventured out to Devil’s Punchbowl for a hike to Devil’s Chair. I’ve done this one before, but in late Spring. Once again, I find the seasons subtly alter the beauty of my surroundings. The manzanita is one of my favorite winter flora; its deep claret bark, twisting and writhing with greying, aged wood, contrasts marvelously against its bright green leaves and the winter sky. Yet, in the summer months, I hardly take notice of this evergreen shrub.
The first mile of the Devil’s Chair hike is uphill via dirt road and is generally warm, with little shade and typical high desert vegetation. As the trail rounds to the north facing ridgeline, evergreens emerge. It had snowed three days prior to my arrival, and the subsequent days had been unseasonably warm, leaving trail conditions less than desirable, with slushy snow to icy mud to deep, slippery mud. If I had not had two dogs in tow, I would have definitely used trekking poles for stability.
I find sixty degrees to be rather warm, especially when hiking, so I was already rolling up my sleeves and hydrating frequently. The patchy snow-covered areas brought lower local temperatures, which both the dogs and I enjoyed. The trail continues up and down, only moderately, along the ridgeline for about two miles. Squirrels were busy taunting my dogs, but not much else in the way of fauna. (Note, I did see a deer on my drive up to the punchbowl, so I am sure they were around.) There are several opportunities to capture glorious views of the punchbowl, the desert beyond, and the snowcapped San Gabriel’s to the south.
Once the three mile marker is reached, the trail continues on a significant descent, which was difficult to manage in slick mud. Thankfully, my trusty companions know the command of “easy”, slowing to allow their owner to negotiate the slimy decline. At the 3.7 mile point, there is a resting log, a magnificent view, and a split in the trail. From here it is about .3 miles to the actual “Devil’s Chair” – back along the ridgeline and across the rock, complete with stairs and railings. Once I returned to the resting point, the dogs and I had our snacks and water.
The trail ends up being *about eight miles round trip, if one decides to trek out to the chair. The first and last miles are moderately difficult, with the center 2 miles being fairly easy. In researching the trail, some described it as “treacherous”… And while there are thinner parts of the trail, with no railing, and potential for sliding due to mud and/or snow/ice, this trail is by no means “treacherous”. I’d describe it as “sketchy” at times, with trekking poles recommended if that type of thing worries you. Definitely bring lots of water (as always) and be prepared for the conditions that the season and weather dictate.
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