Visiting the Devils Punchbowl and the Devil‘s Chair

The sandstone rock formations of the Devil’s Punchbowl are the result of an ancient lake that formed 60 million years ago and the effects of the San Andreas Fault which compressed, folded, broke, uplifted and eroded the sad stone causing it ti now stick-up 200 ft straight up into the desert sky. The rocks formations are within a 300-foot deep canyon.

In 1853, Lt R. S. Williamson went on a map-making expedition for the US government. He stumbled on this this wild dish-shaped depression in the San Gabriel Mountains and christened it, “the devils punchbowl.”

The Devil’s Chair is a large flat rock within the Punchbowl. The hike to the chair is approximately 7 miles out and back.

The park just recently opened and is still recovering from the 2020 bob cat fire. Be sure to bring lots of water and watch out for rattle snakes.