The Devil’s Gate in Pasadena; Is it a Portal to Hell?

Since the dawn of history, the Devil’s Gate has been connected by people’s beliefs to the dark side of spirituality. The original Tongva people who lived in Arroyo claimed that the noise of the rapids as they moved through the gorge was the laughter of their Coyote spirit.

The Devil’s Gate is not the nearby dam and channel, with which it shares a name, but rather a peculiar rock formation on the Arroyo Seco, Pasadena, California. Why the “Devil’s Gate”? Because of the water, over the centuries, has created a rock formation with a passing resemblance to the biblical Satan.

This trick of nature has inspired a large group of paranormal lovers to declare the Devil’s Gate to be a literal entrance to Hell. Aleister Crowley, the famous Satanist and occultist, was particularly enamoured with the idea but he wasn’t alone. Jack Parsons, the co-founder of JPL, and L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, also converted to the concept.

These 3, along with other – less notable – occultists, would gather at the Devil’s Gate to conduct rituals known as Babylon Working to summon the “moonchild”. In their belief system, the “moonchild” would be an Anti-Christ like figure which would cause upheaval on earth and deliver a Thelemic revolution.

Despite the involvement of the “Wickedest Man in the World” (as Crowley was known to the press); there is no evidence that they succeeded. However, for a time the occultists believed that Marjorie Cameron – who came across the group just after one ritual was complete – was “Scarlet Woman” who would give birth to the “moonchild”.

To find the Devil’s Gate begin at the end of La Canada Verdugo Road and follow the path there towards the dam. It’s worth noting that you can’t get a glimpse of The Devil’s Gate from the dam and you’ll have to keep following the trail beyond the dam; the gate itself is obscured from easy view by a thicket – so be aware that you’ll need to hunt around a little to find it.

Then once you’ve found it, you can decide whether you agree with Michael Juliano the Time journalist who said; “The rock really does look like Satan: protruding chin, pointy noise, stern eye socket, stumpy horn. I stare down the gated tunnel at its base, half expecting a gnarled, old crackhead to crawl out. But nothing happens. Moreover, I don’t feel anything out of the ordinary, other than the disappointment that I’m surrounded by a patchwork of sloppy graffiti and a floating collection of discarded spray paint cans. On my list of alarming forces in LA, Devil’s Gate lags far behind earthquakes, wildfires, and the Santa Ana winds. That said, you’ll never catch me there at night—and certainly not alone again.”

It is worth remembering that whatever you believe; several children have gone missing in the area around The Devil’s Gate including 2 children who were only out of supervisory contact for a few seconds. Maybe it really is a Portal to Hell?