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 Reporter |
Summary: Fire-ravaged Devil Canyon with it's spectacular rock formations created 80 million years ago in a marine environment makes for a haunting yet beautiful and easy hike. The trail begins off a dirt parking area past an open gate on the north end of Topanga Canyon Blvd. The trail descends into the canyon below and after some water hopping the scenery improves. Live Oak and Willow trees fill the canyon and sandstone geology of the wildest kind begins to unfold. There are caves to be discovered in the tributaries along the way (Falls Creek) if you don't mind some bushwacking. At about 2.3 miles you will come to a locked gate haulting all progress. Feeling adventurous? Jump the gate and hike up the creek for awhile and you will find a neat looking old concrete dam. Be careful climbing around on it, it's a long way down from the top of the dam into the bottom of Devil Canyon. Trailhead: From the 118 Freeway exit at Topanga Canyon Blvd. Drive up the little road at the north end of Topanga past an open gate into a dirt parking area. The trailhead starts on the east side of the parking area and heads northeast down into the canyon. (Lat:34.27829 Lon:-118.60372) Trail Guides for Devil Canyon: Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (805) 370-2301 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Eric Altizer, who has posted 13 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 6 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by V.M. on 3/30/2012 Since we just had rain, I'm guessing this is why I had a horrible time. The trail is hard to find, and without the previous review and a passerby's help, I was lost for 20min. When I found that the concrete stairs into the stream or canyon ended in brush, I still didnt give up. [i like bush-whacking]. The STEEP descend into the stream is one of those, slip-and-you-die descends. Well, if you like blazing your own trail, this one a doozy. I had to constantly rock hop, slip from mud into water, and check my way every 5 steps to see if I could pass. I was basically tramping through a stream. After some way through, I decided to head back since I didnt want to go back the steeo climb exhausted. FML! 
Reviewed by LH on 2/29/2012 Easy to find if you know you have to park outside the condos on the hill. Park near the third driveway on Poema, on the right, walk up that driveway to the first street on the right, you will see the gate and stairs ahead of you. Easy trail if there is not much water in the stream. Lots of shade.
Reviewed by Melinda on 7/23/2011 it was difficult to find at first. While heading north on topanga cyn go straight past the freeway and turn left at poima st (the dead end at the top of topanga cyn) and once you find the map for the condos park along the street and walk through the condominium parking lot until you arrive at a long stretch of cement stairs, head down these stairs and hang a left to follow the wide trail to a river (or at the time that I went a dried up river bed) there are a couple of neat areas to hike up and go back down the same way but nothing more. This trail is not maintained at all & I would not recommend bringing any animals (I.e. dogs) & deffiently wear long clothing as there's lots of ticks, and bring a machete if you would like to go further 
Reviewed by LGW on 5/1/2011 We were not experienced hikers...so we chickened out half-way in because we were not always sure which path to take! So I'm really just doing this review to help with finding the entrance to the canyon. A lot of people complain about finding the entrance, which was actually the easy part. At the north end of Topanga Canyon you can only go left or right...go left which is Poima St. There will be condos on this street. At one of the entrances on the right you will see the board with the map of the condos, that is the entrance you will take to the "concrete" stairs you've been reading about. So park on the street and walk straight to the back to the concrete stairs, at the end of the stairs veer left to path... 
Reviewed by Dean on 9/6/2010 This should be a favorite hike for anyone living in the Valley. Over a year ago city went in and did a cleanup (see my 4/2009 review). I hated it. But its been interesting watching it grow back in a new way. I'm going back in a few days with my hiking group. Join us at http://www.theweekdayhikers.com 
Reviewed by Stu on 7/6/2010 There are two ways to access the trail - one way is via driveway to Vista Condos at bottom of Poema hill (look for equestrian trail with railings above you, the other thru the condo complex east of the guard gate on Peoma to cement stairs leading down. Beware: I would take exception to the "easy" and "well-maintained" description - you will be bush-whacking thru a mosquito and wasp-infested creek bed - not good if you have kiddies like I do. I'd say as of 2010, it is "Not maintained."
Reviewed by C.L. on 4/24/2010 Went with a group of 6 people with varying levels of hiking experience. After getting lost in the car for about 20 minutes, we managed to find our way to the trailhead. A note of advise for those of you that would like to try this out for the first time... If you are exiting the 118 off Topanga, make a right (northbound) and you will hit a dead end. To the left is Poema, to the right it's called by another street name. Go up Poema and park your car there, then walk down towards the 'Vista' condominium drive path. If you keep following the path it will become a dirt road and the beginning of a mesh of many different trails you can take.
Reviewed by SRV on 2/18/2010 Where Rocky Peak/Las Llajas meets Devils Canyon we had lost all sun light and barely found the entrance to Devils Canyon. We walked all the way back with a flash light. Other than lots of toads the hike was about 50% walking through about 6"-12" of water. Don't go if you don't want your feet to get wet! http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e336/Curb71/devilscanyonsat-1.jpg http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e336/Curb71/devilscanyon.jpg Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
