Trail/Camping recomendations

Morning all,
I am planning to head out to DCHS this Friday with my wife and her little sister in the late afternoon/early Friday and staying the night in the area. I am an experienced hiker and my wife has quite a few hikes under her belt as well, her 14 year old sister is a little less experienced but very capable. I have hiked in Bradford ridge before, but last I hear the 173 from silverwood is closed, but looking on the forum it looks to be open now, is that correct? I have a 2012 FJ cruiser 4x4 so I am not worried about road conditions really.
I have also read a bit about Freedom Trail, I haven’t heard of that nor hiked it, is it new? My wife and I are kind of apposed to paying to hike down to land our tax $$ already pays for so we prefer to avoid Bowen.

so out of Bradford ridge and Freedom which would you all recommend? Leaning towards Freedom being that it sounds shorter but slightly concerned being that I have never done it and we will be showing up later in the day. Is it clearly marked? Easy to find? Not really concerned too much that it is steeper as both ladies have climbed the ski hut trail on Baldy without too much difficulty. Just don’t want them second guessing every turn we make ha-ha.

Now on to camping. We want to stay the night in the area, we have full backpacking gear so that’s not really an issue just want to know where I can camp. I would really prefer to camp as close to the river as possible but from some of the reading I have done that sounds like it’s a no go, but then I do read some post alluding to staying on the beach next to the springs? So where can I camp and not get hassled and still be relatively close to water/springs?

Any and all help/advise would be appreciated!!