Hike LA: Devil's Punchbowl

by Owen Emerson

As I drive north on the 405 Freeway from UCLA, the Red Hot Chili Peppers sing to me through my radio. I pass Sherman Oaks, Panorama City and Mission Hills and keep driving. By San Fernando Valley, I continue on I-5 north and make my way onto the Antelope Valley Freeway, driving with the edge of the Angeles National Forest in my sight. I’m not in Los Angeles anymore. At least not conventional LA, where popular hikes lie minutes away from a Starbucks.

Owen Emerson / Daily Bruin
I have hiked in Griffith Park many times, seen the Eaton Canyon waterfall in summer and winter, walked the shady trails of Will Rogers State Historic Park and strolled through the flowers of Topanga. Frankly, I’m bored with the conventional, regular scenes of the city that I’m used to. I’m looking for a new area that’s definitely out of the way.

Located in the north side of the Angeles National Forest, southeast of Palmdale, Devil’s Punchbowl looks nothing like a punch bowl. Its name comes from the nearby Punchbowl Fault, which created the formation. The eerie silence of the scenery, the mysterious rock formations that jut out like glass shards and the rocks' red-orange hues give a devilish, dark feeling to the area.

Starting the hike from the parking area, the trailhead offers a few options. On the right lies a 1.1 mile loop trail heading down into the “bowl” and back up to the parking lot. The left side offers a scenic walkway and various hiker-made trails where you can create your own adventure, scrambling and exploring the sandstone rocks.

I stepped to the left to discover what those before me had found and made my way to the rocks. I scrambled around with my camera on the small peaks, taking pictures and taking in the environment.

It’s a wild scene that, because it offers a Mars-like landscape, gives you a moment of freedom and isolation from the busy city. I let my eyes and body run free, as I carefully navigated the slopes and walked through boulders. I allowed myself time to explore and take pictures, but the complete isolation and quietness became a double-edged sword, so I decided to turn back.

Owen Emerson / Daily Bruin

I then tried the trail to the right, starting on the 1.1 mile through the bowl. The actual “bowl” is a miniature canyon with a sandy trail and rocks all over. The landscape had much more vegetation, with a variety of trees and shrubs, compared to the barren rocks I was climbing earlier. I felt like I was passing through a shrunken national park, reminiscent of the Yosemite or Zion national parks. As I walked along the floor of the bowl, the giant sandstone rock slabs towered above me – a killer spot for rock climbing, with trees growing higher up on the slab. After a slow walk of photographing the sights and making friends with a mixed border collie and her owner, I headed out.

I emerged after a tiring summit and walked out to my car. I took another look back at the area. There was something mystifying and beautiful about this place that I’m not used to. It took me completely out of hectic Los Angeles and to somewhere peaceful.