Make a backpacking trip out of this one and was glad I did. The bushwhack on the west side of the lake was less dense a little higher up near the cliffs. Went lower on the way down and that was a mistake! The talus chute was steep and loose but not too bad. I took an early turn to the ridge and ended up in the wrong chute and on some solid class 4 rock, IMO, which is just outside my comfort zone. Found an easier way down on the more westerly chute amongst the trees. Great peak and a fund trip with my son.
Don't let the first few miles fool you, after the steep uphill to Devils Punchbowl the going gets tough. We went to the right of the lake, tried to avoid brush but not too effectively. The talus slope at the far right was very loose, kicked down a lot of heavy rocks. So 2 hours to the Punchbowl and 3 hours from there to the summit. Total 9+ hours on the day. Fantastic views from summit! TR is HERE.
Camped overnight at Doe Flat. Stopped on the way in Cave Junction and picked up a large pizza and some local beer which we enjoyed at the trailhead.
Standard route to Devil's Punchbowl, then around the right side of the lake, staying high near the cliff where the brush was a bit less dense. Then a tedious slog up the talus and scree slope, staying right where possible, topping out just under point 6411. Then left along a use trail near the rim, when we could find it, though it kept appearing and then disappearing.
There was a new summit register placed by Andrew K. only three days earlier.
Puppi Burma and I tagged the summit of Bear mountain or Bear peak as we refer to it on july 4th. I scouted the climb from the far side of the punchbowl and opted to hike straight up from the campsite area along the northwest side of the punchbowl to a line that steadily climbs beneath the cliff faces to the upper section of the talus chute in the southwest corner of the mountain face. Some exposure but relatively safe. The talus chute would have been an easier and safer climb, but my opinion is this western line we hiked was more fun and rewarding. The view was incredible.
mnpalerm - Jul 3, 2012 3:49 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Western Chute
Went up the western most chute. Still a little snow but mostly avoidable. Very cloudy, obscured views but incredible climb! Staying close to lake as well as close to the cliff on the ridge avoid most of the shrubs and are not bad at all. Still no register on top.
mrchad9 - Jun 13, 2010 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2007
Great remote summit
Great hike to Devil's Punchbowl and up the easiest, westernmost chute from there. Over to Salmon the next day.
Diggler - Oct 13, 2009 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2009
Great highpoint!
Made a backpacking trip out of this one. Faith & I took 3 hours to get to the lake from the TH. From there we decided to stash our stuff at the campsite & continue. Bucking the book description, we headed off SW (ca. 17.20), taking a loose class 4ish gully system to gain the ridge to the N of the prominent SW subpeak. Nice to see some views of Shasta & the ocean before darkness overtook us.
Much bushwhacking through impressive fields of manzanita got us to the 'standard' 'trail.' Working our way around (when possible) & through (when necessary) the brush, coupled with occasional enjoyable scrambling, we finally summited at 20.00. Great weather, some good snacks & bubbly made for an enjoyable summit time. View of Crescent City lights was cool too.
On the way down (took off at 20.32) it took 3 tries before we finally found the correct descent gully (that we hadn't gone up)- other alternatives cliffed out/got too nasty. Finally back at camp at 0.18. Tasty Bites, wine, & sleeping bags were never so good! Descent next day from the Punchbowl actually took longer than the previous day up (a first?)!
3:10 From parking area. Nice trail. The brush around Devil's Punchbowl was pretty nasty. I took the west ridge route using the gully. It wasn't that loose, and aside from the bushwhack, it was a nice climb.
keema - Jul 18, 2009 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2009
Via Devil's Punchbowl
A fun, but long day for me. There is a plastic bottle nested in the red can with a few slips of paper but no writing implement. I didn't have one.
Looks like some good fishing can be had in Devil's Punchbowl
Brian Kalet - Jul 25, 2008 2:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2008
Devils Punchbowl
3rd county highpoint of 7 in 4 days.
Dean - Jun 24, 2007 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
With Eric
A new trail as Bob Burd mentions is a nice renovation for this one as it cuts off some elevation loss and gain. Even with it, my gps tracked a bit over 14 miles and 4000+ elevation gain. The stuff in the chute makes for slow going and my hat is off to Bob B. for his 5 hour round trip time. There is no longer a register on the summit but the red can is still there.
ericnoel - Jun 24, 2007 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
SW Gully
I hiked this via the trail, then around the West side of the lake and up the SW Gully. Then we went along the ridge and up to the top. Same route down but I took a shortcut around the lakeside brush. The snow is pretty much all gone.
Bob Burd - Oct 15, 2006 5:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2006
NE Ridge
Like DMT I followed the lake clockwise on the descent, but I found it *way* better than the route the other way around the lake. Goes to show how subjective this is. :-)
derbilly - Aug 15, 2006 11:36 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2005
Devils Punchbowl
Still lots of snow around the lake and up the chutes. Nice area. I also saw the largest black bear I've ever seen hiking back to the trailhead. This is really out there.
Route Climbed: Crosscountry Ridge Route Date Climbed: 26 July 2003
Don't follow me by taking the ridge route. The trail is much easier to Devils Punchbowl. It is bad enough from the lake to the summit without bushwhacking along the ridge for several hours.
Jonodo - Jul 3, 2020 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2020
Devils PunchbowlMake a backpacking trip out of this one and was glad I did. The bushwhack on the west side of the lake was less dense a little higher up near the cliffs. Went lower on the way down and that was a mistake! The talus chute was steep and loose but not too bad. I took an early turn to the ridge and ended up in the wrong chute and on some solid class 4 rock, IMO, which is just outside my comfort zone. Found an easier way down on the more westerly chute amongst the trees. Great peak and a fund trip with my son.
trexkerry - Jul 18, 2015 5:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2015
Tougher than expectedDon't let the first few miles fool you, after the steep uphill to Devils Punchbowl the going gets tough. We went to the right of the lake, tried to avoid brush but not too effectively. The talus slope at the far right was very loose, kicked down a lot of heavy rocks. So 2 hours to the Punchbowl and 3 hours from there to the summit. Total 9+ hours on the day. Fantastic views from summit! TR is HERE.
davidsanger - Jul 17, 2015 7:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2015
Long day, great viewsCamped overnight at Doe Flat. Stopped on the way in Cave Junction and picked up a large pizza and some local beer which we enjoyed at the trailhead.
Standard route to Devil's Punchbowl, then around the right side of the lake, staying high near the cliff where the brush was a bit less dense. Then a tedious slog up the talus and scree slope, staying right where possible, topping out just under point 6411. Then left along a use trail near the rim, when we could find it, though it kept appearing and then disappearing.
There was a new summit register placed by Andrew K. only three days earlier.
Going down was slow and we got back at sunset.
BurmaAdventureCat - Feb 22, 2014 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2013
ExhileratingPuppi Burma and I tagged the summit of Bear mountain or Bear peak as we refer to it on july 4th. I scouted the climb from the far side of the punchbowl and opted to hike straight up from the campsite area along the northwest side of the punchbowl to a line that steadily climbs beneath the cliff faces to the upper section of the talus chute in the southwest corner of the mountain face. Some exposure but relatively safe. The talus chute would have been an easier and safer climb, but my opinion is this western line we hiked was more fun and rewarding. The view was incredible.
mnpalerm - Jul 3, 2012 3:49 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Western ChuteWent up the western most chute. Still a little snow but mostly avoidable. Very cloudy, obscured views but incredible climb! Staying close to lake as well as close to the cliff on the ridge avoid most of the shrubs and are not bad at all. Still no register on top.
mrchad9 - Jun 13, 2010 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2007
Great remote summitGreat hike to Devil's Punchbowl and up the easiest, westernmost chute from there. Over to Salmon the next day.
Diggler - Oct 13, 2009 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2009
Great highpoint!Made a backpacking trip out of this one. Faith & I took 3 hours to get to the lake from the TH. From there we decided to stash our stuff at the campsite & continue. Bucking the book description, we headed off SW (ca. 17.20), taking a loose class 4ish gully system to gain the ridge to the N of the prominent SW subpeak. Nice to see some views of Shasta & the ocean before darkness overtook us.
Much bushwhacking through impressive fields of manzanita got us to the 'standard' 'trail.' Working our way around (when possible) & through (when necessary) the brush, coupled with occasional enjoyable scrambling, we finally summited at 20.00. Great weather, some good snacks & bubbly made for an enjoyable summit time. View of Crescent City lights was cool too.
On the way down (took off at 20.32) it took 3 tries before we finally found the correct descent gully (that we hadn't gone up)- other alternatives cliffed out/got too nasty. Finally back at camp at 0.18. Tasty Bites, wine, & sleeping bags were never so good! Descent next day from the Punchbowl actually took longer than the previous day up (a first?)!
Great trip with fabulous company.
Adamus - Sep 8, 2009 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2009
From Doe Flat TH3:10 From parking area. Nice trail. The brush around Devil's Punchbowl was pretty nasty. I took the west ridge route using the gully. It wasn't that loose, and aside from the bushwhack, it was a nice climb.
keema - Jul 18, 2009 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2009
Via Devil's PunchbowlA fun, but long day for me. There is a plastic bottle nested in the red can with a few slips of paper but no writing implement. I didn't have one.
Looks like some good fishing can be had in Devil's Punchbowl
Brian Kalet - Jul 25, 2008 2:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2008
Devils Punchbowl3rd county highpoint of 7 in 4 days.
Dean - Jun 24, 2007 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
With EricA new trail as Bob Burd mentions is a nice renovation for this one as it cuts off some elevation loss and gain. Even with it, my gps tracked a bit over 14 miles and 4000+ elevation gain. The stuff in the chute makes for slow going and my hat is off to Bob B. for his 5 hour round trip time. There is no longer a register on the summit but the red can is still there.
ericnoel - Jun 24, 2007 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
SW GullyI hiked this via the trail, then around the West side of the lake and up the SW Gully. Then we went along the ridge and up to the top. Same route down but I took a shortcut around the lakeside brush. The snow is pretty much all gone.
Bob Burd - Oct 15, 2006 5:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2006
NE RidgeLike DMT I followed the lake clockwise on the descent, but I found it *way* better than the route the other way around the lake. Goes to show how subjective this is. :-)
The NE Ridge was a great scramble. Trip Report
derbilly - Aug 15, 2006 11:36 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2005
Devils PunchbowlStill lots of snow around the lake and up the chutes. Nice area. I also saw the largest black bear I've ever seen hiking back to the trailhead. This is really out there.
Dennis Poulin - Oct 4, 2005 10:50 pm
Route Climbed: Crosscountry Ridge Route Date Climbed: 26 July 2003Don't follow me by taking the ridge route. The trail is much easier to Devils Punchbowl. It is bad enough from the lake to the summit without bushwhacking along the ridge for several hours.