Hey Mojave (denali), I am one of the few long time regulars on this forum who remembers you and your posts. You always had interesting information. And its funny how I remember your posts about driving your Mercedes to the Freedom Trailhead! I'm blown away by what happened to you. Your detailed description is quite dramatic, and I daresay you are lucky to be alive! That's must have been hell tby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Great report RCF! Glad you had a good time and enjoyed the area and the springs!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
QuoteWizard Damn Dam Parking Is Bad Good one Wizard! I'm not an anal person, although my pet peeve is bad spelling LOL!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Damn= swear word. Dam= a structure across a river to hold back waterby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Trailgal, I wouldn't recommend parking at the dam. Several of my friends who have parked there have had their cars vandalized, including pretty recently. One friend had all four tires slashed, and another had all windows broken and stuff stolen. So don't take a chance. The hike to the springs is also much longer. Consider the Bradford Ridge Trail if you are looking for an alternative. http://wby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Nguyen, welcome to this forum! Thank you for your trip reports! Although camping is illegal at the springs, you wee fortunate to find someone camping who was able to help you all out a bit with the impromtu overnight stay. Next time you may want to stick to the Bowen Ranch trail. Its more clearly defined, as you saw.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hainerni, as a suggestion, it would be a lot nicer for you if you were able to hike down earlier- perhaps take a day off from work or school. Weekdays are always less crowded than the weekends. Hiking down after 3 pm is doable but wont give you much time at the springs. Take a flashlight and be very careful on the trail when it starts getting dark.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
QuoteWizard There is a long time hot source that flows into the south side of the Womb that in the past was quite small and not that hot but now it has increased over time and is quite large. I measured it last week at 110 so it is helping to keep the Womb Pool warmer than it used to be. I noticed recently that there is a warmish flow coming out of the granite at the south end of the Crab Cooker.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for that Rick! I have some friends that were getting ready to go over the hill to those springs. I suspect the road will be closed for a while....by Paul P. - California Hot Springs
Freedom Trail!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Sandals, thanks for fixing things and removing trash!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Quotespeakeasy Were there still hobo dude and his kid living at the Pirates Cove? The guy gets wasted every day, begs for change and makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I have seen a guy at Pirates with kind of scraggly hair -wears a weird hat and drinks a lot on the beach. Is that the guy? Didn't see any kid with him though.by Paul P. - California Hot Springs
They don't say when it will be fixed. by the way, the National Park Service is looking for a Volunteer Host for the Saline Valley campground and hot springs area. Applicant must provide their own housing (travel trailer, motor home, tent). Time: 32 hours per week, year round. Duties: providing information about park rules and regulations to visitors; coordinating emergency services; visiby Paul P. - California Hot Springs
so the way I interpret it, an Adventure Pass is not required when parking at or near the Bradford Ridge trailhead to the springs. Also, it does not appear an Adventure Pass is required for parking in any undesignated ,undeveloped area of the national forests. Maybe Joe B is off the hook now for all those Adventure Pass violations he accruedby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I soaked at Crowley and Hilltop not to long ago. Always a great soak especially if you go on a weekday early. This time of year it gets too warm later in the day for soaking the Long Valley Caldera hot springs, of which there are many more besids those two. However, the very early morning soaks are great!by Paul P. - California Hot Springs
Forget the weekend. Way too crowded.You will have a much more enjoyable experience if you go during the weekdays.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
QuoteRudedog I was out fourwheeling Saturday. Found two couples wandering the trails from Bowen Ranch. Doesn't Mike hand out maps any more? I haven't seen Mike hand out maps in a while. And have you seen those maps? They are not helpful, and end up confusing people more than helping them.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I thought that price was a joke at first! Way, way, way overpriced. Maybe worth about 200,000 at most. I can guarantee they will not find a buyer until they lower the price dramatically. Why are they selling?by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
That's good news! There was also some talk on this forum a while back about a new entrance/exit road away from the ranch house toward the east. Has this been constructed?by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Can anybody who has been to the springs recently tell me if the PVC waterfall out of the Anniversary Pool is still set up to flow into the creek for a cooling waterfall?by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard covered the "dicey" road section quite well.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Tuesdays and Wednesdays definitely have lighter crowds than the weekends. It could vary from just a couple folks to 20 or more. The road to the Ranch is fine. Within the Ranch it's a little dicey for the last leg to the parking area.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Quoteneogeoand contra Paul P.'s post, many of them are women. I probably should have been more specific regarding my comment. I have received reports from 4 of my female friends who have gone to DCHS by themselves, and each and every one of them was harassed by a guy or a group of guys. They felt extremely unsafe there, especially when they were nude. So I'm not refuting you neogeo- I'm just sby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
QuoteEric0321 On my way to start hiking down now Please let us know how you liked it today!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
bryson, don't let Jobe's message scare you. There is no problem going to Deep Creek by yourself. Most of the time there are always nice people there. Remember it gets more crowded on weekends. I don't mean to sound sexist, but a female going there alone is probably not the best idea. I can't tell by your post if you are male or female.by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Phi910,yes nudity is fine at Bowen Ranch and on the hike down to the springs.and of course you can be nude at the springs. Enjoy!by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard, I am surprised. Sounds like some clear cut discrimination. I don't know if Mike is just concerned about liability on his property. Of course he has no jurisdiction/liabiity with children at the actual springs or away from his property. I don't know if this was just an isolated incident in response to Ron (Mercer) bringing in the large group, or some sort of permanent decision on Miby Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Someone posted on the DCHS Facebook page that kids are no longer allowed at Bowen Ranch. I am sure this is just a rumor with no basis in fact. I can't imagine why Mike would do this. Anybody have more info?by Paul P. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California