Devil Canyon Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devil Canyon Creek |
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Map of San Mateo Creek and Arroyo San Onofre drainage basins. San Mateo Creek basin is in dark green.
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| Other name(s) | Devil Canyon |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Diego County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | a flat in the Santa Margarita Mountains 2,440 ft (740 m) 33°27′38″N 117°22′28″W / 33.46056°N 117.37444°W |
| River mouth | confluence with San Mateo Creek 453 ft (138 m) 33°28′24″N 117°27′57″W / 33.47333°N 117.46583°W |
| Length | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Devil Canyon Creek is a small waterway, sometimes called an arroyo, located in San Diego County, California. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. This creek is an important tributary (meaning it feeds into) of San Mateo Creek.
Most of Devil Canyon Creek flows through the beautiful Cleveland National Forest. It also passes through the San Mateo Wilderness area.
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Where is Devil Canyon Creek?
Devil Canyon Creek starts high up in the Santa Margarita Mountains. Its source, or beginning, is on a flat piece of land. This spot is about 2,440 feet (744 meters) above sea level. Imagine standing on top of a tall building; this creek starts even higher!
Its Journey Through the Landscape
The creek begins its journey by flowing towards the southwest. Then, it takes a turn and heads down into a deep valley called a canyon. This part of the creek is inside the San Mateo Wilderness. It flows north for about two miles.
After that, it turns west. It continues until it meets San Mateo Creek in San Mateo Canyon. This meeting point is called a confluence. Here, the elevation is much lower, around 453 feet (138 meters) above sea level.
Devil Canyon's Path to San Mateo Creek
The very last part of Devil Canyon Creek, about half a mile, leaves the National Forest. It flows through the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. This base is a large area used by the United States Marine Corps.
What is a Tributary?
Devil Canyon Creek has one main tributary of its own. This is another smaller creek called Cold Spring Canyon Creek. Cold Spring Canyon Creek flows into Devil Canyon Creek from the right side. It joins about a mile and a half before Devil Canyon Creek meets San Mateo Creek.
A tributary is like a branch of a tree. It's a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Tributaries help collect water from a wider area. This water then flows into the main river.
The Surrounding Area
The area around Devil Canyon Creek is very natural. It's part of the Cleveland National Forest. This forest is a protected area. It's home to many plants and animals. The San Mateo Wilderness is an even more wild part of the forest. Here, nature is left mostly untouched.
These areas are important for wildlife. They provide habitats for different species. They also help keep the water clean. Protecting these natural spaces is important for everyone.
