The unique geology on the Devil's Chair hike make it one of the most beautiful hikes in the area. The hike is in Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, which is a transition zone between the Mojave Desert and San Gabriel Mountains. It's also on the San Andreas and Punchbowl Faults And this easy/moderate hike ends on a dramatic rock perch called the Devil's Chair, offering spectacular views of the colorful geology and fauna around you.
There's an optional 1 mile loop trail at the end which brings you through some geological highlights of the park.
Where is the Devil's Chair?
The Devil's Chair hike is within the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, which is located on the eastern side of Angeles National Forest. The drive out there takes you along the Mojave and is pretty remote (and beautiful).
Leave early to beat the crowds. The Devil's Chair is featured in some non-hiker attraction lists and it can get busy.
The Visitor's Center area has bathrooms and water. There are also a bunch of picnic tables around in case you want to have lunch after your hike.
Gear for the Hike
I recommend regular hiking gear for this hike, although you can get away with fitness gear in a pinch too. The conditions are varied: in the winter there can be snow and ice, in the summer temperatures in the 100s. If it's cold, bring micro-spikes and trekking poles. If it's hot, bring 3L of water.
Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.
Garmin InReach Mini 2Hit SOS or just tell loved ones that you're running late where your cell phone has no service. Review here.
Topo MTN RacerAggressive and fun with a wide toe box (=no blisters). Get them wet, they dry quickly. Lots of cushion and comfort.
Osprey Hikelite 26Lightweight, carries all your gear, and your back doesn't get sweaty. Oh yea, it's also one of the most inexpensive packs you can get.
And as I mentioned earlier, Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area is just south of the San Andrea Fault, which is where the Pacific Plate and North American Plate collide. The specific area here is called the Punchbowl Fault.
The Punchbowl fault in the Devil's Punchbowl County Park, California, provides an unequaled view of the internal structure of a large-displacement fault of the San Andreas system.- Center for Tectonophysics, Texas A&M University
What that means on the hike is that you'll see layers of sandstone that have been pushed up, past the earth's surface, and then eroded. This wall of sandstone rock forms the wall of "the punchbowl" and has been eroded by the natural forces of the Mojave and San Gabriel Mountains.
The sandstone rocks that you see pushed up have lead to the discovery of fossils from 5-10 million years ago, which is also when those rock layers were formed.
If you want an "official fault line shot" there's a sign here. The geology that you see on the hike is a result of the land being pushed up when the plates collide.