First time through Bowen since July. First thing I noticed was the fee is now $10 per person for day use. No camping at bowen anymore, Mike said he tried to shut down his place for a couple days but too many people kept coming. Parked around 8:45am and got down to springs at 9:15am. Was excited to be there after neogeo’s cleanup the day before but alas, there was a fresh mess. At least 8 smallby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Got it! Thank you G!by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi was just looking for this and wondering if anyone could dm me a link or the file? OP link is broken. Thank you!by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
It seems like the whole pay to park on the ranch was probably always legally grey even though its on his property. He’s basically been operating a tax free small business these past years. He no longer just has a little wire cable blocking exit now, he has a chainlink gate that he blocks with a truck to prevent entry/exit. While I think its good that this will limit camping at the springs, I amby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Freedom trail was worse yesterday, and looks to be getting worse with Mike closing camping and restricting daytime access through bowen ranch( which will lead to more people coming through freedom trail with sedans imo) and the forecasted rains in the next couple weeks.by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I went in through Freedom yesterday and the people I talked to who went in through Bowen said Mike has stopped allowing camping at his property and told people he will only allow daytime access through his property for another year. He told people to start hiking back by 3:30pm so they could be out of the ranch before sundown. He’s charging $10 per person for people he has to let out after darkby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
On an extended Thanksgiving road trip through Arizona, my partner and I stopped at Camp Verde and camped at the abandoned hamlet of Childs. We arrived on Black Friday right at sunset and wanted to check out the Verde Hot Springs at night. We made camp and started the walk along the abandoned town, really great, bright moonlight with the near full waning moon. As we were heading there a couple wasby paulespo - U.S.A. Hot Springs
I think I will try Mutau Flat next time, its tough doing those longer hikes with less daylight. We didn't make it to Willet's Hot Springs but I'd like to try that one in the future. Here are some pictures:by paulespo - California Hot Springs
Did a 3 day backpacking trip with two friends to Sespe for the first time. We took the 12 mile Alder Creek Trail from Dough Flat Trailhead. The drive there had some extremely rough and steep parts, only 4x4s in the parking lot. Hike was amazing, some really interesting striped rocks along the Condor Sanctuary, encountered one king snake in our path near a steep part of the trail. With that trailby paulespo - California Hot Springs
Really didn't want to go on a Sunday on a holiday weekend but my good friends wanted to go to celebrate a birthday. Saw a coyote cross Bowen ranch road as I was driving in. Got to Freedom trail lot at 7am, there were 4 trucks and 1 car, air temperature was 36 degrees. Got down to the springs around 7:30am. A nude couple already in the serenity pool, I could see about 6 clothed people in the Phoenby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I just went down on Sunday through Freedom Trail and spoke with some people who went through Bowen. They relayed that Mike is considering ending camping on his property by the end of the year because people say they are camping at the ranch but actually camping at the springs. The people that I talked to said they had to be out before dark which was around 5:30pm that day. I heard that there is aby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Had a hectic week so this one is a little late. Set out from Bowen at around 7:30am with a friend who has been cleaning up garbage at the hot springs for the past several years. We did a deep clean of the womb before the sun came out and drained the anniversary and contemplation pools. Overall it was pretty nice, sunny but not sweltering with a good breeze. There were probably 5 nude and 6 textilby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
What an amazing time. I planned to head down early, and help remove the graffiti on a rock outcrop over the anniversary pool that neogeo pointed out to me. I got to Bradford path around 8:40am and ran most of the way, getting down to the springs by 9:30am. Unexpectedly empty, just one couple(camping) there at the beach with 3 dogs. I had coordinated with someone who already made a large effort toby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Got into Bowen Wednesday around 1 after an early trip to the Cady Mountains hunting boulders of jasper. No Mike at the Ranch so left $ in the envelope, heard later that he went out for a camping trip up north. Hiked down to the springs and saw 30-40 people 90% textiles. Found the contemplation pool basically empty with no plug. Went to my hiding spot and my hose and scrubber were safe. Began scruby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Honestly if cell reception ever reaches down to the springs, SWIM would either acquire or make a signal jammer and hook it up to a solar powered battery to run indefinitely. If only there was a technology that could jam digital camerasby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Pushing it back to next week when the heat dies down s little.by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hoping to head to the springs next Wednesday 6/13 afternoon or Thursday 6/14 morning to drain and scrub the pools.by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Here's my report on my attempts at cleaning the springs. Drove in on Wednesday evening, parked in the Freedom Trail and slept in my car. Got up at 4am on Thursday, headed down with hose and brush. Seemed like all PCT people were camped out when I got down, probably 8 tents total and I'd estimate 20 people max. Nobody in the springs though. I drained the Anniversary, Womb and Contemplation poolby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Amazing, I will definitely check it out if I am over there. I found some very interesting orbicular rhyolite on east ord mountain where the abandoned grandview mine was located. Completely alone! I will detail the pool scrub in a separate trip report soon.by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard, I am planning on heading out today. I am looking for some orbicular rhyolite in the Ord mountains and then I will take my suv down and park at the freedom trail lot, probably sleep in my car. I will then hike down early tomorrow morning to drain and scrub the pools. I have a 25 ft pool hose and a stiff plastic bristle broom as you recommended.by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard! Thank you for the detailed instructions. I really like the idea of filling the bottom of the Womb with sand but I wonder if that would upset people who like to jump in as it would decrease the depth? I would like to try scrubbing and vacuuming the Anniversary pool, Contemplation pool and Womb when I can get down to the springs next time. I also think the Serenity pool needs to be vby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I would like to help with scrubbing the pools. I’m also curious which pools need more scrubbing? I’ve seen pictures of groups of people doing it but also heard that Wizard does it on his own. Wondering if it happens at a regular interval and if anyone would want my help?by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Exactly the info I needed. Thank you wizard!by paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you Wizard! That info helped me realize the Freedom Trail lot wasn't exactly what I had in mind, still want to try it but, I am curious about the parking lot that intersects with the Bowen Ranch Trail after about .5-1 miles on it. The lot is a couple yards east of the trail and I've always seen at least one car there. From an aerial map it looks like theres a way to it from the upper bowenby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi All, Been going to the creek a year now(through Bowen and Bradford) and would like to try heading in through the road to the Freedom Trail this Wednesday morning. I have a subaru 4x4 but not a whole lot of experience with off road driving. Wondering if anyone has advice on particular parts of that road or recent experience with it. The forecast for Wednesday in Apple Valley looks like lighby paulespo - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California