Re: Bradford Ridge Trail

Wizard, thanks for the good directions. Although I am a Southern California native, I have only recently heard about the hot springs and am anxious to give them a try soon. Having been scared away from the Bowen Ranch by the dchs web site (and not wanting to pay the $5.00), I had figured that the Bradford Ridge trail was my only means of access. So I was glad to hear from you that you can get most of the way on the "Bowen bypass" with a 2-wheel drive car. All other directions on all other web sites say you must have a 4-wheel high clearance vehicle.

So now here's my question: The dchs web site, the SoCal Hikers web site (http://www.socalhikers.com/traildeepcreek.html) and you all say to use BLM roads #4 and #3 to bypass the ranch. In fact, SoCal Hikers says that roads #1 and #2 have been deemed to be on private property and are now closed. However, another website, Western Assoc. for Nude Recreation (wanr)(http://wanr.earthbiz.net/DCUpdate.html) posts a headline at the top of their page saying "Convenient road access around west side of Bowen Ranch closed!". They have published the same BLM map that's found on the dchs website and say that BLM roads #1 and #2 must be used and issue all the same warnings as does dchs about wandering into closed BLM land. The point here is that the wanr web page says it was updated Sept. 9, 2001 whereas dchs and the other sites show no update info and don't appear to have been updated in quite some time (especially the dchs site -- doesn't appear to have had anything new in about a year).

So what's the scoop here? Your input is appreciated and thanks for all the time you put into this!