Devil Canyon (East Fork)

A fun full-day canyon with several rappels, many downclimbs, and a short but interesting narrow sequence in the middle of the technical portion. There may be a trickle of water on many of the rappels in spring or immediately following rainfall. Descending this canyon shortly after rainfall also makes for more pleasant walking conditions in the approach/exit wash section, as the sand is packed down. All anchors are natural and may not be present as described following rockfall or flash flooding. Comfort with inspection and construction of natural/marginal anchors is mandatory. The canyon shares its exit hike with Guadalupe Creek.

Park at the Guadalupe Creek trailhead and hike up the prominent wash for approximately one mile. Keep right at the fork (the left fork here is Guadalupe). The 25’ dry fall a few hundred feet later is the (optional) final rappel of Devil Canyon. Look for a use trail to your left and follow it out of the wash. The trail becomes increasingly faint, but can be followed to about 33.59360, -116.31886 before abandoning it to bear right up the obvious ridge via path of least resistance. Travel cross-country to the East Fork drop-in at approximately 33.59473, -116.32893.

(All rappel lengths are approximate.) At approximately 33.60139, -116.32060, the east fork joins the main Devil Canyon drainage.

Walk back down the Guadalupe Creek wash to the parking area.