There was poison oak along the single track path, but you could avoid it if you were attentive, or hit it if not. No evidence on me yet, so hopefully I missed it all. The single track also looks like a good place to get ticks, but again, none on me...I was pretty attentive.by hiker - California Hot Springs
Never been to Gaviota Hot Springs, so I visisted on Friday. This was a real treat! Beautiful lush natural setting, sulfuary smell, but not bad, smallish warm pool, could hold 6 maybe. Great for a summer morning and I had the spot to myself for over an hour. The birds were having lots of fun, every bird "chirp" and "song" imaginable. http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/gaviotby hiker - California Hot Springs
Dispersed camping is legal in the area of the Bradford Ridge Trail and folks do camp in the parking area. There is also a decent level area that could be used for camping about 1.5 miles in on the trail if you wanted to backpack in a way.by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
For what its worth, I was at Deep Creek on Thursday and had a much better day. I arrived at Bowen around 2:30 and the parking area is really trashed, debris and clothing everywhere. There were 5 cars parked when I left for the springs. I didn't see the shit pile Neo saw. It was warm, but not too bad for the hike down, probably mid to high 90s. I passed a couple from LA hiking down who askedby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Neo for a nice report. Glad you had a wonderful day. I did go yesterday and had a very nice time, lots of very nice folks, most in suits but many nude. There were several cars at the Bradford Ridge trail head when I arrived and when I left, but I never saw a soul while on the trail. The trail felt like my own private place in paradise (well, except perhaps the first hill hiking out, thaby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Enough has been said about how nice the Bradfird Ridge Trail is, but I will pile on and say I have been hiking it for several years and I love it. I have posted several trip reports on hikes via the route. The hike is peaceful, the road is paved, I often have the trail to myself or nearly so....And you don't cross the creek. Hike it free (in more ways than one ) no parking fee and no need forby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The steep trail up the ridge is the correct trail. It is the more "gentle" of the two options. I can recall speaking to someone on one of first visits to the hot springs; they told me that they lost 30 pounds over the years hiking to the hot springs on the Bradford Ridge Trail. I can believe it. It's unfortunate, but if you drink too much or get too mellow at the hot springs and yoby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Neo, Thanks for the nice report. Your first hike on Bradford Ridge reminds me of my first hike there. I wasn't sure if I took the right path down the ridge to the springs either. I could see the springs, but wasn't sure how to get to them. You ended up taking the "Family Canyon" trail down. I usually go down that route, but up a slightly more gentle trail. If you go through tby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I hiked in on the Bradford Ridge Trail at 10:00 am. The trail was wet, but no footprints ahead of me. There were just 2 or 3 of us at the springs until around 1:00pm when a couple large groups arrived, one from Bowen and the other from Mojave Dam. I left at 2:30 and there were 20 or so people there and more arriving. Creek level is just below the sandbags for the Arizona Pool which was a bit cby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Neo, I was there last Saturday. I arrived around 10:30 and left around 2:30. Not a drop of rain during my visit. It was clear when I arrived at Bowen, but was partly cloudy to overcast the rest of the day. Rain never threatened however. When I got back down the mountain to Devore, it was sprinkling. When I arrived at 11:00 or so there were 8 to 10 people there, most with suits. As theby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard, I had no issues getting to Mammoth, spent the evening at the Wild Willy's Hot Springs and got home Sunday. From what i have heard, Exodus was much better this year with no more than about a 3 hour trip to the pavement. Although it is preliminary, I think I also head that the population was less than last year, about 52,000? See you on the trail or at the Springs!by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Looks like Art Car tracks to me! Hi Wizard, I've been enjoying your Flikr pics! Keep em comingby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks Wizard, As my name implies, I like to hike and it is good for the body and great stress relief for my soul. Hiking around Deep Creek (and up Bradford Ridge) and other nice SoCal hikes has been very good for me. This summer I was able to get a permit to hike Mt Whitney and I was able to make it up and down in a little over 14 hours. Not bad for an old guyby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm ready to go and just as excited as last year. So much to see and do. To bad it's only a week. I'll see you next week!by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I did my new favorite hike again today. I hiked the Bradford Ridge Trail to the springs, then on to Bowen Ranch and then back. A good work out. I got an early start to avoid the heat leaving Highway 173 at 5:30am. It was a nice cool morning and the hike in was very pretty once the sun came up. It was still dark when i started and I needed a headlamp for the first 1/2 hour or so. Theby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Do you know where you'll be camping yet. I think I'll camp where I did last year at Hushville (4:00 and D). See you there?by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey Wizard, nothing like camping with 60,000 of your closest friends in the middle of the desert having a really big campfire! Of course I am getting eager, but I don’t have a hard copy of my ticket yet. They were supposed to mail in June. Hopefully it’s on its way; I sent an inquiry yesterday. They have taken my money so….. Haven’t seen you at the springs lately, but did see yourby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Try this link for a Bradford Ridge trail map. As Wizard says, it about 2.5 (or so) miles one way. The last 1/4 mile or so is very steep. http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/6957 Note that the Deep Creek Volunteers Website provides directions to the Bradford Ridge Trail head from Highway 138 and I-15. This route is no longer available as the portion of Highway 173 between Mojave Dam aby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
So, how was it? Did you camp?by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I have never camped in that area, however I believe dispersed camping is allowed in this portion of the National Forest. There are several areas near the trail head that are level enough to camp. Most of the Bradford Ridge Trail proper Is not level. There are a few areas off the trail down by the creek as you first get started that might work and there is a nice level area about 1. 5 to 1.7 mby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I have been hiking to Deep Creek of and on all winter and spring, but with summer coming (or I guess it's here ) I have wanted to do some longer hikes to prepare for hikes I plan later this year in the Sierra. I often hike on various trails in the San Gabriel's, but the clothes free option there is very limited. So this morning I decided to take a longer hike and not just head to the springs.by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Jan, The road to the Bradford Ridge Trail and Highway 173 is open and easy to get to. I hiked it this morning. I take Waterman Ave (18) to Highway 189 through Twin Peaks, then Grass Valley Road to Highway 173 to the Kinley Creek Bridge and start hiking. Have funby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I saw him at the springs on Friday afternoon.by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Okay, thanks tj. Not sure what I'll do or when. But if not this time then sometime in the future I'll see you at the springs.by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
No wait, what am I saying...... It's going to be too cold and too windy on Friday and the springs will be trashed.....It will be a terrible day to go to the springs and no one should go.....there will be snakes and bobcats and other critters that could hurt you and the hike will be just too steep, too far and too hard.... I suggest you all hold off on Friday and stay home and be warm and safe.by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Neogeo, Cold, hot, rain, snow, sun? What difference does it make if your at DCHS? Never a bad day. How cold can it be in May compared to January! I'm going for it and hope to see you there!by hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Although I'm not sure how it was meant, the US Forest Service is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture. When you get a chance take a look at their logo. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0d/USFS_Logo.svgby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I think I can make Friday at 4:00. If for some reason I can't, I'll let you know. Otherwise, see you there. Thanksby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'll second Johnny's comments. It will be busy. It was busy this last weekend, but the crowd was very nice and all got along well. I arrived early Saturday and cleaned up from the Friday night crowd, but still it was a nice day. There is always room for more upstream. I am planning a trip sometime on Friday or Saturday. I usually hike alone from Bowen or Highway 173. If anyone would likeby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard, I'm sorry to have missed you! I wanted to stay longer (actually I never want to leave), but I still need an income and I had to work. I hope you and your daughters enjoyed the day. As I was hiking out, one of the groups asked me how busy it was. I told them it was very crowded, but if they went upstream just a little way, they could probably find a nice peaceful spot. And that's whby hiker - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California