Distance: About 9 miles
Elevation gain: 2100 feet
Trailhead Directions: Take Hwy 2 past Red Box to mileage paddle 50.50 and park by the side of the road. This is about 2 miles beyond Charlton Flat and the south Chilao entrance, but before the main Chilao entrance and visitor center. There is a rest room at the parking area, and a sign for Devil’s canyon.
The hike: The trail goes consistently downhill; the first 1.5 miles are switchbacks until we join a tributary of the main stream. At about 2.6 miles we reach the main stream, and continue on down until the trail becomes impassable. Shortly before the end of our descent, a small cascade joins the stream from the east. Return by the same trail. Most of the trail is in a deep canyon, so is somewhat shaded.
There is no specific alternate hike for those wanting to do a shorter hike. People wanting to do a shorter walk will simply need to choose when to turn around, remembering that the return is all uphill. A good place to turn around might be at about 2.6 miles where the tributary stream joins the main one. This would give a hike of 5.2 miles.
Refreshments in the parking area.