I live in Arkansas and started coming to the springs in the early 90s. Back then, I parked at the trailhead on the jeep road. I believe that is called the Freedom trail? The last 8 years or so, I come down about once a year. I now park at bowen ranch, mainly becasue I have been in a car, and partly because I thought is was less likely someone would break a window looking for things to steal. I don'tleave anything of value in my veichle. I will be driving a 4X4 this year and want to backpack to the springs and camp up stream from the springs a couple of nights. I don't rally want to pay $40 for two people to park there, especially since the road is not even kept graded.