Devils Punch Bowl Ride Report

[MTBMaven]

Dustin and I left Pasadena about 8:00 AM on Saturday morning heading to Devils Punch Bowl, henceforth known as DPB in this report, with plans to meet Scott (STJunkie on MTBR) whom I met and rode with last weekend on Strawberry. The plan was to meet at the end of Cruthers Creek Road at 9:00AM. According to Yahoo and Local Live, Cruther Creek Road was a public road. Upon arriving at CCR at 9:30AM we realize CCR is a private road and trail access is past a No Trespassing sign; plus no sign of Scott. Dustin and I decided to drive the main parking lot of DPB. Luckily Scott was there waiting for us. Sorry for the misinformation and tardiness Scott!

We hit the trail at about 9:45AM from DBP Visitor Center. The ride started out as a slightly inclined, rocky, singletrack, which gave way to a gravel dirt road to the actual trailhead. The climb was a nice warm up for our ride.

The singletrack from the parking lot to just before the junction for Devils Chair is a really nice, rolling, buff, singletrack that snakes its way in and out of little ravines; many of which has small streams flowing due to the snow and recent rains. Just before the junction the trail begins a steep decent with very large ruts in trail. Luckily the deepest ones were sandy and pretty easy to get out of.

We rode half of the short distance to Chair and stashed our bikes about half way as the last half is unridable. Back on the main trail heading towards South Fork Campground, we finished descending into Holcomb Canyon. This section of trail is quite technical, loose, eroded, full of switchbacks, and fun!

The climb out of Holcomb Canyon was pretty easy up several switchbacks with very steep turns. The upper portion had several washouts that required portage. From the top of the ridge it was a short fun drop into South Fork Campground. We chilled by the stream for quite some time enjoying the sun, the sounds of the stream, and shooting the $hit. Good times!

The ride back was quite difficult climbing out of Holcomb Canyon.

DPB was a 13.5ish mile ride that felt more like a 20 mile ride to me due to the climbing out of Holcomb. I highly recommend this ride, but not in the summer. It can get quite hot out there. Right now conditions are perfect. The trail is very tacky and the loose sandy sections have plenty of grip that will not be there when the area dries up in the next month.

Oh and by the way, it is time to start wearing sunscreen again. I got out of the habit due to the rainy weather lately and got fried yesterday. Luckily my red neck with fit in here in Nashville this week. (I can say that sense I'm from the South originally.)



Enjoy the photos! Generally displayed in order taken. Also, notice the waterfall in the background of the photo with my bike in it. It is not too far above my handlebar.

Edit: Sorry about the small photos. Not sure why that happened, I'm new.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

nice report and pix!!

[Krunk]

wish i had weekends off ...i would have loved to check it out.

[Pain Freak]

Aww, so that's where Scotty rode. Coldwater was a fun ride too.