MValley,
Sorry you had such a bad experience, during a normal weekday you should rarely exprience a negative visit. I live in Long Beach and it is usually quite a communte (a 2 hour drive one way) to Bowen Ranch. {On my next trip I am going to try the Bradford Ridge trail via Lake Arrowhead. According to Google maps if I access the trail by driving up and around Lake Arrowhead to get onto Hwy. 173 it might be a shorter commute than going all the way to Bowen Ranch. The hike from the car may be a little longer but over all the trip to the springs and back might be shorter from Long Beach. I will post a note if I find that to be true. Google maps has a 2005 satallite image of Hwy. 173 and the Bradford Ridge trail. From the image it appears that Hwy. 173 to the Bradford Ridge trailhead is paved all the way from Lake Arrowhead, in the past this was a dirt road.
As info, the Bowen Ranch trail during the week is very clothing optional friendly as well as the springs. I have visisted the springs 3 times in the past month during the middle of the week and have enjoyed the hike to and from the springs sans clothing. I have met other hikers clothed and unclothed along the way and have had never had any negative reactions. The springs themselves are usually occupied during the week by about a 90% clothing optional crowd. Usually the make up during the week is about 25 percent female. I have had conversations with many of these weekday patrons and they prefer the weekdays over the weekends due to the laid back attitudes. MValley yous should really try to plan a weekday trip just to see the difference. I hope you have a extra enjoyable trip on your next visit to compensate for your "Not so great trip report" visit.
Happy Soakin :-) .