RR: Forgotten Gabes: Devil’s Punchbowl County Park

[GP_pilot]

Ok, I admit I’m not fond of going out of my way to visit county parks. Like most people, the word “park” often recalls visions of tranquil settings with large, deciduous shade trees, picnic tables, green grass fields, and lots of families enjoying their day out. When it’s located in the arid desert of Antelope Valley, I know the green grass and shade trees are deleted options. None the less, I’ve seen the road signs and decided to put this on my “to do” list after I checking it out on-line (www.devils-punchbowl.com). Although it’s managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, this is far from your average park. If the rocks were reddish in color and had a 14,000’ peak behind them, this would be SoCal’s version of Colorado’s Garden of the Gods. Instead, they’re light gray and only have a 9,400 peak behind them.

Devil’s Punchbowl is located just over 20 miles southeast of Palmdale at an elevation of 4,760’. It’s the geographical features that make this park.





A landscape of massive, up tilted slabs of conglomerate sandstone.





If you ever liked climbing on rocks when you were a kid, the feelings all come flooding back as soon as you step on to the rock.



If you’re visiting during the summer, you definitely want to get out at sunrise as the heat cranks up quickly or come in the evening. The one mile Loop Trail drops you into the Punchbowl Canyon 300’ below the visitor’s center.



This trail is closed to bikes due to the terrain and not just hikers.















Even if you could pilot a freeride bike to the lower canyon, you’d have to hike it back up mostly on your shoulder.



For those that like rock scrambling and backcountry adventure, the park also contains a dozen natural arches to be found.



The park’s most prominent landmark, Devil’s Chair, is also found here but will be featured in a future review. Nearly all of the park’s terrain is open to exploring. Although several trails emanating off the Loop and Pinyon nature trails look blocked, there are no signs stating to keep on the trail. Once you’re off the main trails, there’s a network of paths leading around the rock formations. I did a short bit of rock scrambling just north of the visitor’s center.





The sandstone rock has the consistency of concrete and looks just like it.



Sure, but is terrain rideable? Well there are no other signs forbidding bikes other than the Loop trail in the lower canyon. The difficulty lays in the nearly 45 degree angled slabs.



I’m pretty sure this sandstone has much more grip than Moab, but it’s not nearly as blended.



Only experts would attempt it, but I think with some patience you could session on a few areas away from the visitor center to the north. Unfortunately this was a weekend trip with my wife and I had no protective gear beyond a helmet. So this terrain will have to wait until another time when I’ve got some friends along.




Status: Known
Distance: 1.0 mi (loop hike)
Total Descent: 319’
Total Ascent: 342’

Ride reports in the Forgotten Gabes series:
Blue Ridge Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Blue Ridge Trail
Acorn Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Acorn Trail
Pinecone Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Pinecone Trail
Table Mountain Ridge – Forgotten Gabes: Table Mountain Ridge
Jackson Loop – Forgotten Gabes: Jackson Loop
Table Mountain Campground – Forgotten Gabes: Table Mountain Campground
Ball Flat – Forgotten Gabes: Ball Flat
South Fork Trail – Forgotten Gabes: South Fork Trail