If you drive up from route 18 near Lake Arrowhead, it is paved all the way. ( Great joy and gratitude.) I drive from the Claremont/Upland area and prefer Bradford ridge route. Yes it is is longer than the northern based routes, but it saves in HOURS of driving. If you are moderately fit, it is a good hike, but not impossible. I take one camel-bak (sp?) and am quite comfortable with the hike. Rby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I prefer this time for visiting the creek/river and less the springs themselves. A nice place to take a break during a long hot hike. This is another option.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
"Instead of following trends it is better to look at a nations heart or spirit. Those things do not change." History is full of examples to disprove this claim. America was once the home of the liberal moral views and Europe was conservative. Now it the opposite. Japan was once a waring nation. Now the US is begging it to build a national defense. The field of History is the study ofby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
From my experience visiting France and Europe for many summers, the French really do not care.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
May I recommend the Bradford Ridge route. If you are coming from the LA region, it takes less time to reach the start of the hike. If you come via Lake Arrowhead, it is paved right to the beginning of the trail head. I have only seen a handful of cars at most parked there.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Funny, I made one and only visit on Saturday. Did not see any warnings. Sigh....by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Whoops - I should have read your response before constructing my own. I prefer your wording.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Nathan, I am a long time subscribe to John Stuart Mills's harm principle - that each individual has the right to act as he or she desires as long as it does no harm to others. This is what we should be calling freedom. Now defining harm to others can be difficult (one never actually lives in total isolation), but in a great number of situations, the principle can be applied with minimal criticby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The route to which I refer as more popular is the end point of the Barrett-Stoddard road trail. The reason I did not recommend this one is because of the homes along the route, but once one pass the homes, I bet free hiking is possible. Next week I will follow this route, but from the east point and report on how viable it is as a comfortable nude hike. (As comfortable as Bradford Ridge.)by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
One reason I do the DCHS hike, is it allows me to enjoy a nude hike. I know it is a little off topic, but for those of similar interests, may I recommend another, what I consider, a delightful good nude hike. It is quite demanding - up a trail that is well marked. See: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.169737,-117.62671&spn=0.028725,0.042486&z=15 for a Google Maps locationby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
For those who are not informed (like me), National Nude Recreation Weekend is July 6-12 according to http://www.brownielocks.com/july.html Other than that website, I have no info.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Without being there, I predict less than 10% nude.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
It depends upon how one defines "significant."by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I don't know if it is satire. I would not doubt it legitimacy. It is England - which is bloody cold AND many Brits take package vacations to Spain where toplessness on the beach is common. Since they are not showing up in Spain these days (as noted in a recent NPR report), why not stay home and release the twins, as the mums would say? The Canary Islands, where I have visited a couple times inby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
In short - a very positive experience. Arrived around 3 and stayed for an hour. There were many people around - some in the water, several under the trees. No screaming, people talking at conversation levels. Virtually everyone was textile. Just when I got in the water, one of the guys, who turned out to be nude, left the water and proceeded to toss beers to his friends. He then asked if I, sansby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
July 2 - it is Thursday! Actually, it is tomorrow - I will be there in the afternoon. Hopefully, I will see at least one of the naturist there. Will be traveling down BRT.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
What? He really isn't walking the trail on National nude hiking day? Instead as a devote christian Republican Governor, he equates nude hiking with leaving one's wife and 4 boys on Father's day for a rendezvous with an Argentinian mistress? Well I'm shocked --- shocked I tell you. (Here are you winnings...)by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Motivated by Murray's report - today, Thursday the 25th, I repeated my last Thursday afternoon hike to DCHS using the Bradford ridge route. I was pretty ticked off last week, but Murray's report made me realize I should go with flow and enjoy the adventure - especially the walk in and out of the canyon. I also decided to apply militant freehiking. I exited the car, disrobed and considered the ulby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
It is nice to see that politicians are now participating in Naked Hiking Day. Hopefully Gov. Sanford will lead a full group of naturists next year on the Appalachian Trail.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I would be interested in Glen Eden, but there appears to be little area near the park were one can hike in the buff. Or am I wrong? At least near DCHS, there are miles of trails on which I feel comfortable doing a free hike.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
My only disappointment was that there were no responders to the story demanding nude hikers be shot on sight. That would have made my day. Thanks for the link - too bad I missed it - went bicycling instead.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Sorry - should have noted I went out Tuesday afternoon - the 16th of June. I agree with your point - one should expect more naturists on weekdays. Yesterday certainly was not the case.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Took advantage of some free time to drive up to the start of the Bradford ridge trail. Started about 2:40. One car present and I met the nice young couple hiking down while they were traveling in the opposite direction. The air was pleasant at a temperature of 65 degrees, a slight wind and only partial cloud cover. Now the real report. At this point I no longer ask myself if I will be in theby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Just want to say I appreciate the report. DCHS is an important element of my life. I have noticed that the multiple walks to the springs has dramatically improved both my physical and mental condition. Since I will be out of town for the upcoming couple of weeks, I hope to help out by the third week of June.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I too hike nude. I don't drive to the trail head of the Bradford ridge trail (BRT) nude. However, once I have left my car, I am nude. Of the approximately dozen times I have hiked BRT, I have met people only twice. I have met two other groups from BRT along Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) a couple times. I am ashamed to admit that this past Wednesday, I actually put my shorts on. (Yes, more ashamed toby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks lbcarll for confirming my opinion that the ridge route is in need of some repair. I agree that the most treacherous sections are located on the ridge itself. In addition, there are a handful of locations between the ridge and the road that could use some shoring up. A follow up on Monday's and Tuesday's report. Now that I have a few free days (it is difficult to freehike if you don't pby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Shoot - I thought it was the pools near Bridgeport. Probably less snow there.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Other than the 800-832-1355 #, do you have a local number that you suggest?by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you for your recommendations. I was less concerned about the somewhat intoxicated crowd (I can deal with hoots and hollers), but the fire from the mature group is more serious.by SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The good, the bad and the ugly: This morning, I completed a warm freehike to the DCHS using the Bradford Ridge trail. It is the first of this season after about a dozen last year, my rookie season. The good: *In my opinion, the trail, to the point where the trail splits into the ridge route and the creek route, is in very good condition – a couple points where 10 minutes of shovel work wby SoCalFreeHiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California