Where I park is in Forestry lands, just barely. A Forest adventure pass would be required to park there but I don't know how much the Forestry Personel frequents that area. The last time I was cited for not having my pass has been a while because I forgot it in another area of the San Bernardino forest. All you had to do at that time to take care of this ticket was either to send in the paperwork with the number on your pass or to send in $5 to cover the amout you would normally pay for a day pass. At that time you did not have to pay the full price for a yearly pass. Do you really have to pay the $35 for a yearly pass to satisfy the ticket? Also Hotone7, The open public routes 4 and 3 which go around the Bowen Ranch will eventually take you to the lower parking lot along the Bowen Trail. The last section of this route to the lower parking lot is basically four wheel drive territory. It is legal to drive these open routes and you can hike to the hotsprings from anywhere along route 3. There are a few differant ways to go. You mentioned taking the east route around the ranch but if you drove by the Bowen Building then you were going west. There is a way to drive to the springs area off to the east but it is much longer and harder, its route 1. Since you are new to the area it would probably be better for you to access through the Bowen Ranch and follow the trail to the springs from there since it is hiked by more people and you'll have less of a chance of getting lost. I'm curious, what was Mike questioning you about?