The devil’s geology
On recent trip, I was looking up a place I wanted to hike (the devil’s ladder), and noticed that there are a large number of places and geological sites that are named “The Devil’s whatever”, like devil’s tower, devil’s postpile… I thought it would be interesting to try and see how many of these sites I could visit. So I hit 4 in just this first trip.
First, “The devil’s ladder”:
This is at the top of Carson Pass, it got its name from settlers who had to winch their wagons up over the top.
Next, in a nearby valley above Upper Blue lake, “The Devil’s Corral”:
It’s a box canyon that opens to the left in this pic, sorry it so crappy.
Then we went through “The Devil’s Gate” on Monument pass:
And lastly, above Yosemite Village is “The Devil’s Dancefloor”:
Anyone know of some other spots with devil or diablo in the name? Post suggestions in the comments.
devil’s thumb in boulder, colorado…rock outcropping, actually looks like a thumb…here’s a pic from a rock climbing site…
devil’s thumb
Comment by steve vegas — January 9, 2006 @ 8:59 am
Very cool… love the site. Althouhg I live in the USA now I was born and grew up in Slovakia (as in CzechoSlovakia in Eastern Europe) and I remember as a kid this strange cave that was next to a pub in the Boonies on some backroad… it was just a hollowed out tunnel IIRC but it was refered to as a Cave and the name of it was “The Devils’ Furnace” in Slovakianof course. Whenever we passed by there wiht my grandparents my morbid curiosity would kick in and I’d ask for us to stop and take the tour again. To a 6 or 7 year old kid just the name itself sounds freaky.
Comment by Silvester — January 28, 2006 @ 6:50 pm
Googling a bit, I found a devil’s furnace in Slovakia (Certova pec) that is prehistoric site, I wonder if it’s the same one?
Comment by Administrator — January 29, 2006 @ 3:36 pm
Be sure to visit the Devil’s Tower in Alpine New Jersy. Read about it at WeirdNJ. Have a great time on your journey!
Comment by medusa — January 31, 2006 @ 9:54 pm
There’s the Devil’s Playgrond Wash in the Mojave National Preserve, there are dunes there and cinder cinder cones surrounding the area.
Comment by camos — February 6, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
In Connecticutt, near Groton and New London, there is a park named The Devils Playground, no idea why.
Comment by Jesse — August 19, 2006 @ 2:16 pm
Kill Devil Hills, NC is on the Outer Banks just north of Kitty Hawk where the Wright brothers first flight occurred. It’s name comes from an old pirate legend that claimed the Devil had been outsmarted, killed and buried in a sand dune there by a pirate protecting his booty.
Comment by Tucker — September 12, 2007 @ 11:14 am
“Devils Backbone” just west of Loveland Colorado.
it also goes by “the hogback”
no pic but it is a very pretty geological formation. you can hit this one when you do the boulder colorado one, not far away.
aaron in estes park
Comment by aaron — November 16, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Then there’s the “Devil’s Punchbowl” near the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California.
Comment by Sierra — February 11, 2009 @ 9:14 am