I’d been waiting for cooler weather to see the geological oddity known as The Devil’s Punchbowl. I’ve seen this otherworldly looking spectacle many times from high up in the mountains, but this was the first time we got down in it to explore. This hike was super fun! We first trekked out to the Devil’s Chair on a beautiful trail that takes you through the transition zone from desert to subalpine. You’re surrounded by manzanita, pinon pines, mountain mahogany and basin sagebrush. The final descent to the chair leads you out on a rocky ledge that overlooks the punchbowl. It’s fenced in so you don’t have to worry about falling off which is a definite plus. After enjoying the views from the chair, we hiked back to do the punchbowl loop which dips you down right into it so you can explore all the weird rock formations. It was a 9.2 mile day and perfect weather. Afterwards, we stopped at the Nature Center and checked out some of the snakes, insects, and got to see a scorpion glow in the dark. They even have two resident owls, Squint and Ruth. After the hike, we stopped for BBQ and funnel cake at Charlie Brown Farms, a unique roadside attraction and gift shop where you can get anything from Deep Fried Snickers Bars to mouth-watering BBQ (I had the pulled pork with cowboy beans) and all kinds of vintage candy, toys, knick knacks, etc. Definitely worth checking out if you’re ever up in Pearblossom. We had a blast! It was a terrific day!
My first look at the punchbowl from just before the trailhead.
Taking the Burkhart Trail to the Devil's Chair Trail.
Sun starting to show up on the mountain.
Sign at the beginning of the trail.
Very beautiful to see all the trees and plants in this transition zone.
Views.
Sun coming up over Pleasant View Ridge.
Manzanita in the morning light.
Now leaving the Burkhart trail and heading onto the Devil's Chair Trail, aka High Desert National Recreation Trail.
Great views of the punchbowl.
Go left to the final descent to the Devil's Chair.
The last part of the descent is fenced in so you don't fall off the steep, rocky ledge.
Looking down at the Devil's Chair.
Amazing.
Views on our way back from the chair.
Beautiful pine forest.
From here we headed to the Devil's Punchbowl loop which took us down into these amazing rock formations.
This rock reminds me of a macaroon.
Amazing geology here!
Climbing back up out of the punchbowl. It's a climb, but a short one.
At the nature center we met these two beautiful owls, Squint and...
This is Ruth. What a fun day!
