A versatile hike not far from the stretches of civilization, a little known trail called Devil Canyon leads into a wilderness that some have called “last of the wild west.”

Not to be confused with the more desolate Devil’s Canyon Trail of San Gabriel’s wilderness, the Devil Canyon trailhead lies about 25 minutes from the center of La Canada/Flintridge in the Santa Susana Mountains near Chatsworth and can be accessed from the Topanga Canyon Boulevard exit off the 118 Freeway.

To get there, head west on the 210 Freeway and merge onto the 118 Freeway heading west, then exit on Topanga Canyon Boulevard to reach the trail. Finding the trailhead has proven confusing for some but it can be reached via several points from this general area.

One way is to turn right on Mayan Drive and look for a dirt parking lot on the right. Once parked, one has to traverse a somewhat steep ascent on a dirt fire road heading west to reach the main trail.

The second, and my favorite, is to take a left on Poema Plaza and park on the street next to the leasing office of the first condominium one encounters. Afterwards, walk to the end of the condo parking lot and take a dirt path to a cement staircase that leads directly to the main trail.

Several steep steps descend into a valley that despite its winter greenery is typical chaparral country; a packed dirt trail garnished on each side by dried brush and the occasional sandstone boulder. A large piece of rusted machinery stands as manmade landmark reminding those who pass that this area, though visited by people, remains a defiantly wild place amid nearby civilization.

Perhaps mountainous topography along with recurrent floods and fires have worked to keep Devil Canyon uncivilized. When the area smoldered in the fires of ’08, so did many other relics of human history, including nearby old Nike missile silos and accumulations of junk, a kind of cleansing inciting new growth, a fact that becomes more apparent as one enters the creek after a short walk.

Upon delving into the waterway, a new world emerges. Decidedly more woodland than before, a lush diversity of plants can be found, from tall stalks of bamboo-like kudzu to vibrant blooms not often found in this area, such as the crimson-orange petals of the Treasure Flower unfolding in patches of super-green clovers. Occasional mighty oaks shield the burgeoning life, some with trunks still blackened from the fires four years prior.

Meandering forward, one encounters numerous but easy creek crossings. While the creek is running at this time of year, it’s stagnant in some areas, though bright green foliage and lack of bugs more than make up for low water levels. After a rainy a season, the crossings may require more skill to traverse as the water levels rise and increased growth makes recognizing the trail more difficult.

Short pillars of rocks stacked by human hands serve as trail markers to lead the way. However, at one point the trail splits, with a path to the left leading up and out of the canyon while the path to the right leads further into the creek bed system.  

The right also leads to large sandstone caves, a dam and Devil Canyon within a four-mile trek.  The juncture at Brown Canyon Road, which is the area close to the old Nike missile site, marks the end of the road. Being the Wild West, though, the way there requires some bushwhacking as human limbs compete with a lushness of flora.

For an easygoing 2-mile jaunt that will get your blood flowing and keep you out of the bushes, stick to the left to ascend out of the canyon and to a fenced cement staircase near condos suspiciously similar to the one marking the entrance to the hike. Here the trail connects with the Santa Susana Pass and continues going up.

Hike At a Glance:

Distance: 4 to 8 miles roundtrip.

Environment: Chaparral, Woodlands and sandstone canyon.

Usage: Hikers, Equestrians, and dogs okay on leash.