Wonderful hike, and it doesn't take much exploring to find even more awesome climbs and scrambles. Stay out of the lemon-squeezers in the late afternoon/evening...all the creepy crawlies come out!
Monument founder John Otto originally named this place "King Apple's Castle" (something like that). Many starry-eyed white settlers spread the idea that the "Garden of Eden was awaiting discovery out west. This western-Eden notion combined with Otto's nearby "Serpent's Trail" (once called the Crookedest road in the world) led to some clever hikers to call the red-ring of towers the Devil's Kitchen... the name stuck. I prefer the original name. I don't feel spooky at this sheltered place... On it's upper towers, I have been scarred for sure.
There is excellent-superb-amazing-stellar scrambling next to, under, on-top-of the kitchen, and especially on the layered cliffs and cracks (lemon-squeezers!) above.
Makes for a great experience....the short distance and relatively easy path make for a great destination for those who might otherwise not enjoy the long hauls involved with hiking.
Kessler - Mar 18, 2015 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2015
Devils Kitchen3-14-2015
Shaylee - Mar 18, 2015 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2015
Devils Kitchen3-14-2015
Scott - Nov 11, 2014 10:42 am
Devils KitchenSeveral times, especially between May 2001 and October 2004 when we lived in Fruita.
adunn101 - Apr 22, 2012 1:15 am
Explore!Wonderful hike, and it doesn't take much exploring to find even more awesome climbs and scrambles. Stay out of the lemon-squeezers in the late afternoon/evening...all the creepy crawlies come out!
Rockclimber77 - Oct 10, 2011 11:29 pm
climbinga fun place to climb
seth@LOKI - Aug 15, 2010 11:20 am
Original Name Not-So Evil:Monument founder John Otto originally named this place "King Apple's Castle" (something like that). Many starry-eyed white settlers spread the idea that the "Garden of Eden was awaiting discovery out west. This western-Eden notion combined with Otto's nearby "Serpent's Trail" (once called the Crookedest road in the world) led to some clever hikers to call the red-ring of towers the Devil's Kitchen... the name stuck. I prefer the original name. I don't feel spooky at this sheltered place... On it's upper towers, I have been scarred for sure.
There is excellent-superb-amazing-stellar scrambling next to, under, on-top-of the kitchen, and especially on the layered cliffs and cracks (lemon-squeezers!) above.
rasgoat - Mar 27, 2010 11:17 am
Fun PlaceAnother gorgeous gem on the monument
dakotaconcrete - Nov 25, 2009 8:42 pm
Nice destinationMakes for a great experience....the short distance and relatively easy path make for a great destination for those who might otherwise not enjoy the long hauls involved with hiking.