Devil’s Canyon Hike

I wish there had been a Unilocal review so I wouldn’t have had to make three attempts at this hike, but another part of me is happy for the adventure!
From the 118, exit Topanga Canyon Rd then you’ll find yourself outside of a gated community. Park outside and follow the marked line. Walk past the expensive homes and arrive at the trailhead.
This is where it gets tricky. The first time (October 2007), we named the hike Devil’s Muddy Maze of Sheepy Doom. Instead of turning right onto the poorly marked trail, we went straight and wandered off until we came across a sheep farm where the big, white creatures were grazing on onions. We quickly learned that hiking the day after rain = heavy, muddy shoes.
Our second failed attempt (December 2009) was titled Rocky Staircase of Heaven. We started heading up (not a good sign during a canyon hike) & encountered a stripped car and the remnants of burnt down home. We used timer and posed for a picture Gargoyles style.
In our third attempt, we passed a fence and DWP sign before descending down past a dam (good sign!). Once we reached the dam, we were rather disappointed. This is a poorly maintained horse trail (meaning you’ll be playing the avoid-​the-​horse poop game) & the overgrown brush means you’ll have to do a tick check before getting back into your vehicle.
The actual trail is confusing so I wouldn’t recommend going on it unless you’re a seasoned hiker with a good sense of direction and a decent ability to backtrack. I would wander around and see what I find. I’d probably give the actual trail 2 stars but the adventure potential gets 4! :)