Camping in the area (but NOT at the creek!)

Hi all!

I've spent a decent amount of time scrolling and searching the forum, but I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. Unfortunately, the ranger station is closed so I can't reach them (I'm calling when they open tomorrow), so I wanted to ask those of you who are experienced with the area.

My wife and I are experienced hikers and campers. We have thought DCHS looked like an amazing place to try both natural hot springs and possibly nudism. We also wanted to try to avoid some of the crowds by spending the night close and hiking in early. As a result, I have a few questions:

We can camp at Bowen Ranch for $10 per person per night. How frequently are the sites filled up? Should I have a backup plan, or am I largely guaranteed a spot when I pull in on a friday afternoon? Is the campground also nudist? Can a Pontiac vibe/Toyota matrix handle the road down to the camp (Most answers seem to be "drive slow!" )?

Bradford Ridge looks to be far enough removed from the creek to camp. It is not a wilderness area, so if I read the San Bernardino NF website correctly, I can dispersed camp anywhere around as long as I am 1 mile from the creek and observe the regulations for distance from roads, etc, correct? Potential issue: possible car vandalism?

The NF website says there are bears in the area. Are they indeed in these desert sections? I ask mostly to decide how I should store my food.

We obviously would observe safe waste disposal, pack out TP, etc. Plus, from reading this forum, bringing a few extra garbage bags sounds like a good plan too?

We plan to be there on the 9th. I see there's a big group of people headed there. I look forward to possibly meeting some of you!

EDIT: I just got off the phone with the mountaintop ranger station. I wanted to share this info for anyone else with similar questions:
Bradford Ridge trail is indeed good to camp as long as you observe dispersed camping guidelines (200 ft from road, trail, etc.). Indeed, prettymuch the whole area is good to camp in as long as you observe the guidelines and are a mile from the creek.
According to the ranger there, bears are not likely in the area, but other small food stealing and venomous creatures are. No bear canister required, just common sense and proper protocol.
No permit or fee is required to camp in the NF besides the NF parking, adventure, or interagency pass.

Even so, if others recommend Bowen, I'd love to hear more about it too.

Another Edit: I posted it further down, but here's the link to the map you can export and use in your app/device of choice:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=16QnSWZxYkE49NQBwzO2g8ntgWFY&usp=sharing



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2017 09:15AM by birdbrain5381.