Re: Bradford Ridge Trail

East Bay, The Bradford Ridge trail comes from highway 173 which is to the south of the hotsprings. I have hiked it many times and have never had any problems at the parking area at the Kinely Creek bridge. On the south side of the Mohave Dam 173 turns to dirt and goes the back way to Arrowhead lake. From the end of the pavement go 4.6 miles on this dirt road and you will come to the Kinely Creek bridge. If youv'e never hiked this trail the first 200 yards is not well marked. On the northside of this bridge there is an old road that has a gate made out of pipe which is visible from the bridge. Go past this gate about 20 yards to the north and you will be in a small canyon. Follow this canyon downstream for a few hundred feet and you will see the trail cutting off to your right. After that the trail is clear all the way to the PCT at which point you will go right or up stream on Deep Creek to the hotsprings which are within about a quarter mile. One thing to look for is that you will come to a barbed wire fence just before descending into the Deep Creek Canyon. Use the trail that crosses over this barbed wire fence. Just after this fence the trail will cut across the steep face of a hill. I find it easier to avoid this section since it is slippery by hiking across the ridge of this same hill and joining the same trail on the other side. Hiking at a quick pace without stopping gets me to the springs in about one hour and fifteen minutes. I use it in the winter when there is flooding on Deep Creek and I don't want to cross the rushing cold creek to the hot pools. This trail is not as well maintained as the bowen Ranch Trail and since it goes up and down a number of times it makes it harder than the Bowen trail. I think you will find that it is longer also than hiking from the Bown 2 wheel drive parking area to the springs. There used to be a road from the Kinely Creek Bridge across the hills to a point on top of the hills east of the hotsprings. It has been closed for many years and has been dug up by a dozer with ground rippers. The Bradford Ridge trail follows Kinely creek for the first half and is west of this old road. I would like to hear a report if you do opt for this route. Hope that helps :-)