I have found Mountain Lion scat in places along the Deep Creek between the Rainbow Bridge and the dam. One time near the east end of the old Hesperia aqua duct where it connects to the creek bed, in a small canyon near the stream I found where two Deer had been killed, in the same spot. There is a well used Deer route that access Deep Creek from the higher hills there and it was a perfect ambushby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
From looking at Sarah's video Paul, that seems to be the status of things right now for the Bowen Ranch. Last I heard he is only open for day use, no overnight.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Paulespo, I was down there at DCHS today with my daughter. I think the old timer Wonderhussy was refering to was Richard. He was down there today too and said he had talked to her on Monday about the access. He lives up in the mountains at Arrowhead and has been hiking to the hotsprings for a long time. He is 74 and still going strong doing the Bradford Ridge Trail!by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
peciousaitiff, in the comments of this thread, closer to the top, Paul P gave a link to the new access website, deepcreekhotspringscampground.com?by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wonderhussy put up this you tube video. She went in the Bowen Ranch then after seeing the situation opted instead to use the Freedom Trail route. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ40ugbFdKA&fbclid=IwAR0huHrVgIYHfxUtL3HbBNEtp50leLYnUf70XlkKdwzuiHG3S1lqMlOPlh4by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
At the new website, down at the bottom, the thumbnail at the right, you can click on it to see a larger version. That red marked route that goes from the Bowen Trail to the warm springs is actually a way motorcycle riders illegally ride into the canyon at the warms springs. About the last half of the route is a very steep sandy/dirt hillside. If it was hot to warm you would not want to try and goby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
On the home page of the website the small black writing is hard to read against the back ground images. Seems like the website is still a work in progress.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
TF, as you say it would be nice to have the hard part of the hiking in the beginning of the day, as opposed to it being the other way around when you hike to DCHS. It is worth the effort of course This idea is why I do enjoy hiking in my local desert beautiful mountains, north eastern Apple Valley, because when I go there I get the more hard part of the hike done in the beginning, so my hike homby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
TomFoolery, what a wonderful report of your experiences at DCHS yesterday! Thank you for taking the time to post it! The " world traveler guy " you mentioned is named Dan. I always enjoy the stories of his travels. He discussed while we were down there his next destination, Chili, South America. I just saw a National Geographic show in which they were talking about the possibility of thby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello TomFoolery72, I'm guessing you mean Jobes upcoming trip report? Of course all trip reports like yours too are always welcome hereby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello Paul, from talking to Jobe about the new access point, when you are getting near the Bowen Ranch you know that right hand turn that takes you along the north side of the Bowen Ranch, the same road that can be used to get around to the Freedom Trail parking area, that is the way to the new access point. The new property is on the west and apparently also the south side of the Bowen Ranch. Thby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Take the first right just before the Bowen Ranch. Sounds like 10 bucks for day use parking, maybe overnight. I think the snow will be melted enough for you to get up the Bowen Ranch Rd, warmer temps for the next week or so. Good luck on your adventureby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
AVJess, I see this is your first post to this forum. Are you one of the owners, or caretakers of this new property?by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
" Mike's on his bullshit ", is this an indication that Ed and Mike have some issues?by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Back when the Bowen's first began to reside on the property they lived in tents and hand carried water from that spring to where they were. Later they built a road down to it and had some sort of vehicle with a container to get water up to the ranch. The spring area is easy to see in satellite images, running north to south on the west side of the lower Bowen Ranch parking area.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I think it was Jobe who told me a while back about someone who he met that said they were buying property on the north side of the Bowen Ranch and they had plans like what you are talking about. Sounds like its the same guy.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
So, the SBNF officials who as far as I know have always had contact with the Bowen Ranch, now needs the DCHS Forum to provide them with info as to what is going on there ?by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Lots of snow still around in the mountains. This afternoon my wife and I hiked to the top of the Fair View Mountains in the snow, not too deep. Great 360 degree view from up there of the Victor Valley just before sunsetby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The family and I went up to our folks home on Oak Hill Rd not too far from the top of the Cajon Pass yesterday for Thanksgiving dinner. I opted to take my four wheel drive truck, good thing! By the time we left around 7PM it was a complete winter wonderland and the snow depth at their house at that time was about 11 inches, and it was still snowing heavily. Because the 15 FWY and all the roads arby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I thought this entrance would more likely be on the left side of the road just before you get to the Bowen Ranch building, as you are coming into the area from the Bowen Ranch Rd. But from what Jobe says it seems it may be past the Bowen Ranch, on its west side. From what I understand the Bowen Ranch is still closed from dusk till sunrise.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good to hear a trip report from you Jobe Maybe Neogeo has additional info?by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/october-hottest-temperature-record-earth-eu-climate-change-a9188121.html , the air and oceans are getting warmer, which means more evaporation resulting in greater rains, including increasingly stronger storms. I think if anything the Mohave Forks dam needs a gate that would enable the tube to be closed in case it was compromised by large scale flooding.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Here is another article on this subject, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/04/california-wildfires-power-outages-not-only-threat/4161525002/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories , note that it says the dam has only ever been about half full. It talks of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, and the Orville Dam, as if those things haveby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
In the life of this flood control dam the level behind it has never even got close to the spillway level, and the spillway is very wide and could handle a huge amount of overflow, at a level well below the top of the dam. There are no gates on this flood control facility and water constantly empties through a large drainage tube under it. I have seen in the bottom of washes in the desert mountainby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I know people who have free hiked this trail. You may encounter other persons or groups so use the same considerations and precautions as you would free hiking the Bowen Ranch Trail.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
You can go to Deep Creek any time of year. Recreation within a mile of Deep Creek on either side is day use as per USFS regulations.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
On a different subject, late in the afternoon while it was still very hot at the creek 4 young men showed up suddenly and informed us they had gotten lost for three hours and the one young man who was very overweight was showing the symptoms of heat exhaustion. The men had run out of water giving it to the heavy man. I showed them how to get back out of the canyon, telling them hiking the PCT wasby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was at Deep Creek yesterday with my wife and a friend, our two pooches too. We had a wonderful day dipping and enjoying the scenery. Such a great place to spend this time of year. We are all doing fine today, including the doggies. While I do not know what types of algae and other water plants are in Deep Creek, I am not noticing any varieties that I would consider different than past years. Itby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Well thanks to Jobe's words of wisdom algae pancakes are definitely back on the menuby Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
There is a web address at the end of the article which it said reports of algae blooms can be made. When I click on it I just get an error page. Maybe its some glitch due to my old computer.by Wizard - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California