SAm, if you have any type of hard time with the Deep Creek Trail from Bowen Ranch, then you will have lots of trouble with the Cold Springs Flat trailhead to Little Caliente. Going down is no problem, but you'll have a 2300 elevation GAIN coming back, so if you're not a reasonably good conditioned hiker, I would not recommend it.

The Romero Saddle closed gate stops access to BOTH Big C and Little C. You can't get to either via the road if the gate at the saddle is closed. Continue to check with the Los Padres Ranger office to see when the road past the Romero Saddle will be open.