Hello Murray, it was nice to meet you on Saturday, sorry if I wasn't very good company. I work nights and by the time I have hiked down and get to soaking I just get so relaxed I zonk out. I really am looking forward to a trip where I don't have to work the previous night. As you stated it was a very mellow group. While I was there a couple arrived on horseback and stopped to soak in the Arizby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello Murray, I am going to try and make it to the springs on Saturday also, what time do you think you will be arriving? Also I am not sure what Hwy. 18 will be like on a Saturday with all the skiers going to Big Bear, might be crowded compared to other times of the year. Also with this rain you may want to check the snow level. More than likely I will be going in via the Bowen Ranch route.by lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello Jobe, I have hiked the Bradford Ridge trail twice and I have not had any issues getting to the top of the ridge just downstream of the springs but I don't think I am following the correct trail to get down from the ridge to the PCT trail. It has been over a year since I have tried it so my memory is not that good. I just remember coming out on a promitory type point where there was some wby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard, so are the hot springs located between Green Valley Lake and the Mojave forks dam? I have hiked the Bradford Ridge trail but I have not hiked the PCT trail to or from the Mojave forks dam. One other question, is there a dam somewhere upstream of the springs that controls the flow of Deep Creek? I have been to the springs a couple of times when the water level was as high as theby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Just curious where the source of Deep Creek is? For some reason I thought it was Silverwood Lake but that only supplies the Mojave river. Also it seems like Deep Creek flows towards Silverwood Lake. Try as I can from maps and satallite photos I cannot figure the source out. Can anyone help? Thanksby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
When it works correctly the tube needs to fully inflated, you then should be able to sit in the tube, with your butt barely touching the water. You then pull yourself across the creek using either the rope the tube slides along or if the leash rope is attached you could use that rope to pull you across. When I installed the main rope I got too cold to try to attach the leash rope to the shackleby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Great trip report Murray, thanks. It is so much nicer these days to visit the springs on a weekday versus the weekends. It just seems like a whole different group of people compared to the weekends. They seem much more mellow, appreciative of nature and open minded to the clothing optional nature of the springs. The textiles have out number us the last 2 times I have been to the springs. Didby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was able to make it back to the springs on Friday, 1/9/09. The drive up was much better than when I came up on 12/27, no mud anywhere on Bowen Ranch road. It was pretty windy and cold though. I arrived at the Bowen Ranch at 730am. I was the first one there that morning and I had to wait a few minutes because the cable at the entrance was still up. Once I made it down to the parkingby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Does anyone know if the rope across the creek has been replaced yet? It was not there when I was at the springs on 12/27. I am planning on coming up again on Friday and was going to put a new rope across along with another one of those River Rat inner tubes like the one that Wizard had donated a year or so ago. I was just wondering if someone had already replaced the rope. When I attach the tby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Regarding the cattle, when I was driving up to the springs on Bowen Ranch road Saturday I had to drive around a couple of horse and cattle trailers that were parked at the cattle guard by Oak Springs Road. There were a bunch of cowboys on horses and they were herding cattle. I think they were going to load some of the cattle into one of the trailers, I was only passing by so I could not tell foby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard, that cleared it up perfectly. I just needed a reminder, I was calling the Arizona pool the Anniversary pool in some of my notes and it did not sound right, and I was also confused on the Serenity and Womb. Thanks again.by lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I made a mistake in my last trip report in regards to the pool names. It was the Anniversary pool that I spent most of my time in when I was there on Saturday...if that is the upper pool by the grassy area. The pool that had only 8 inches of water in it was the small pool down by the "New" beach. What is the name of that shallow pool? I have been in it before and it seems like it usby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Made it down to the springs at around noontime on Saturday. Bowen Ranch road was a little rougher than usual with pot holes and lots of mud. I have a little front wheel drive Saturn but made it to the ranch parking lot without too much trouble, you just need to take it easy. No snow anywhere on the road though you could see some in the shady areas along the sides of the road. Whenby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was finally able to make it to the springs on Friday at around 11am, it had been a few months since my last visit. It was a little windy at the top of the trail but once in the canyon it warmed up nicely. By the time I reached the creek I was ready for a cool dip. Crossing the creek the water only came up to mid thigh and there was a very slow current so it was easy to cross. There weby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Due to the recent rains I made my first trip on the Bradford Ridge trail. I had a meeting in Ontario in the morning and I did not make it to the trail head until 1:30 pm. I drove up the 173 from the Silverwood lake side. I have a Saturn sedan with very low ground clearance but I was able to make it up with out any major issues. This was my first time up this road and it is very narrow in spotby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Jobe, I am planning a trip up to the springs on Wednesday. I usually like to get an early start out of Long Beach (5 or 6 am) to beat the traffic. In the past when I have left this early I have found the cable strung across the parking lot access at Bowen Ranch . I bought a annual Adventure Pass earlier this year but have never used it, now I hear that it may not be needed any more toby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Has anyone ever timed the difference between accessing the springs from Bradford Ridge vs Bowen Ranch when coming up from the LA area (Long Beach to be specific)? I know the hike to the springs is longer from Bradford Ridge but what I am looking for is the overall difference between driving up to the Bradford Ridge trailhead and hiking in vs going thru Hesperia then the long drive up Bowen Ranchby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I know they kept pushing the opening of Rock Springs road back, does anyone know if it has finally opened yet?by lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Does anyone know if the bridge repair on Rock Springs Road as taken place yet or if they have even begun any repair work on it? Has the railroad bridge been repaired Thanks. LBCALRRby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was unable to get to the springs over the holiday weekend but I was able to come up on Tuesday. I arrived at Bowen Ranch around 7:30am. There were maybe 3 or 4 other cars already there but no one was camping up at the parking lot area. It was already getting very warm so I got undressed and put on some sun screen and my back pack and headed off to the springs. I was suprised that there wasby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I drove up to Arrowhead on Wednesday morning (4/27 around 7am) and found that they had the entrance gate to Hwy. 173 closed and locked just past Lake Arrowhead. I was experimenting to see if this would be a shorter way to access the springs from Long Beach. Big mistake!!! Hwy. 18 was closed for a short distance due to road construction and you have to go around it on a detour. I had to dby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Has anyone been on Hwy. 173 from Lake Arrowhead within the past few weeks? I pulled up a 2005 satallite picture of Lake Arrowhead from www.google.com/maps and by zooming in on Hwy. 173 it appears that the road is paved all the way from Lake Arrowhead to what appears to be the Bradford Ridge trailhead. I would like to confirm if this is true or not. Also does anyone have an opinion if tby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
MValley, Sorry you had such a bad experience, during a normal weekday you should rarely exprience a negative visit. I live in Long Beach and it is usually quite a communte (a 2 hour drive one way) to Bowen Ranch. {On my next trip I am going to try the Bradford Ridge trail via Lake Arrowhead. According to Google maps if I access the trail by driving up and around Lake Arrowhead to get ontoby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was able to visit DCHS on Friday afternoon before the rain started. Originally I planned on trying the Bradford Ridge Trail to access the springs but I was worried that 173 might have issues with the pending rain storm that was due to hit. This trip I exited highway 15 at hwy. 138 and used the Summit Valley Road cutoff to get to Hesperia. This seemed like a pretty good route but there wby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the report Steamboat, sorry to hear that the silver raft has deflated. Maybe it can be repaired and still be put back to use. (I know how cold the water is; going over you are rewarded by the warm water in the pools but coming back you are left to shiver.) When I was at the springs last Tuesday the rope across the creek was a 3/8 inch thick nylon rope, it seemed pretty sturdy, has iby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the heads up LaughingBear. Yesterday I did carry my shorts in my hand on the hike down to the springs from Bowen Ranch. On the way back though I put them away inside my backpack. LaughingBear, just to make sure I am understanding you correctly, the Bowen Ranch Trail is on BLM controled land so that is where we all need to be careful when choosing to hike au natural? And you are sby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the reply Rick. Is Summit Valley Road a paved or dirt road? If it is a dirt road is it drivable with a car or is truck advisable? I drove my car (a Saturn) up Bowen Ranch Road yesterday (3/8), it was rough with three small spots where water was still flowing over the road but my car made it through without any problems. If Summit Valley Rd. is a dirt road is it in about the sameby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was looking for opinions on which DCHS access trail would be closest to me when commuting in from Long Beach. I have only used the Bowen Ranch access but every trip it seems like it is taking longer and longer to drive from the I15 to the Bowen Ranch. The the trip back to the I15 is even worse! Bear Valley road is turning into a parking lot. On the way back to the I15 I have been cuttiby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard for your pictures and trip report from your Monday 3/7 visit to the springs. I did not get a chance to view the pictures before I went on Tuesday. Like your trip the weather was awsome, it was too warm for clothes on the hike to and from the Bowen Ranch. When I got to the parking lot at around 1:30pm there were 3 other vehicles already there. I got out of my work clothes and putby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Has anyone been able to visit the DC springs since the last big rain and the subsequent lake draining activity that has been going on? I might be able to get to the springs on Tuesday and was wondering if the water level in the creek has gone down to a safe level for crossing and if the pools would be accessible. Like Wizard I to have a river tube, I planned on crossing the creek usingby lbcalrr - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California