Wait, people fuck down there?by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Anyone live near DCHS or have a weather report for how things are going out there? I have a trip planned for either Thursday or Friday (1/12 or 1/13) but if the creek isn’t passable, or if the conditions make the hike unsafe, I’ll cancel.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Camped out the night of 4/10 at the new Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground. It was alright - the sites are a little too close together to feel like you have your own space, in my opinion. Plus, some of the sites are in the middle of the parking area with no privacy, and others are on the edge where you can get parked in by people behind you. But decent enough camping setup: picnic table, fire ringby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
After doing probably > 20 rushed day trips of a few hours, I'm thinking it might be time for me to actually camp out near DCHS and thus be able to take my time. It seems the most logical place to set up camp would be the new DCHS Campground facilities. But I will admit, having seen the camp sites, it's really just a few rocks in a circle that they call a fire pit, and a big square of astroturfby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I always try to pack out every thing I pack in. But on Friday I left behind a blue and Gray hammock, between the two trees across the creek from the pools. I can’t go back to get it for awhile (and I’m assuming it has been thrown away or taken by someone else already) but I do want to apologize to this group for my error. I feel disgusted by myself, not just because the hammock was a gift froby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
"Sketchy" is a bit of a stretch. I'll temper that. I just was sort of taken aback by all of the pseudo-military vehicles and gear. There's a few trailers that look like the vehicles from Jurassic Park 2, and a bunch of tents that are military-esque. There's also way more cars, ATVs, trucks, etc than there are people, and the people who are there usually don't present themselves as superby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Sorry Trailgal, my last trip was almost two weeks ago, so I don't know exact weather conditions. I found it pretty easy to cross back then - only knee deep, and there was a path of stepping-stones so I didn't even have to go that deep. As for parking, I've been going to the new Campground parking lot near Mike @ Bowen... it's a little sketchy, but I like that it's closer to the trailhead, I gby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I wrote a trip report 11/19 that mentioned a couple instances of graffiti on the trail from Bowen to DCHS. I went back just two days later on 11/21 and it is SO MUCH WORSE. In fact, this was an overall BAD trip to the springs. Seemingly every quarter mile, there's graffiti. One says "you tha man," another says "keep going," another says "san bernardino ca" ...by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Great day for the springs. Hiked in from Bowen around 11:30. A few new bits of graffiti on boulders on the way down (at least the message was uplifting instead of hate speech this time). Water in the creek is pretty cold, but not the frigid nightmare it can be sometimes - plus it was shallow enough I was barely knee-deep crossing over. The lowest pool (I think it's called the womb? Sorry, I cby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I think it’ll be my new go-to hang out spot once I get to the springs, especially on hot days. I don’t know if I mentioned it in my original post, but it’s not recommended to hike there nude. Lots of scratchy bushes. Lol!!!by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Okay, I should've read this forum earlier and realized the SBNF was closed. Sorry for being a rule breaker. But that said, here's how it went. Got to the new camp at 11:30am. Only about 4 or 5 other cars in the lot. Free hiked in, and didn't see a single soul. Down at the springs, I saw one couple (textiles) bouncing between the pools. I mostly hung out in the creek - seemed a bit higher thby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've been to DCHS anywhere from 15-20 times (I've lost count at this point), always free hiking in from Bowen Ranch. I've done it in heat waves. I've done it when there's frost on the ground. I've done it in the pouring rain. The heat wave this weekend is the worst it's ever been. I highly recommend AGAINST going to DCHS this weekend. I got to Bowen at 10:30 (did the new campground - sorry,by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Can you share a link to that website? I had not yet seen it. Thank you!by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Exactly. My only hesitation parking w/ the new guys was that I feared Mike might come down there and slash tires of his competition's customers.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Here is a link to the view as you hike back out, facing the parking lot: https://i.imgur.com/mjOyNZ7.jpg And here it is with some areas of interest circled & annotated: https://i.imgur.com/TWwWxGQ.jpg Sorry if this formats badly on mobile.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I’ve got a photo from the parking lot looking back at the old and new roads. I’ll upload soon!by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Got in kind of late - around 12pm. Hadn't been to Bowen since September, at which point there were fences before the check-in house, but still only the option to park with Mike. This time, right before those fences, there was a yellow hand-written sign pointing cars off to the right for "New Bowen Ranch parking" - you take a freshly-cleared dirt path up about a quarter mile to whby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I’ll add that the woman at the Bowen gate (haven’t seen Mike in awhile) says “we’re on the verge of losing the whole hot springs” due to stupid vandalism like this. Despite going there a dozen times or so, she still wanted me to go through the rules - no glass, out by dark, etc - before letting me in. Apparently the problem of people disrespecting the area is only getting worse. Makby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Got into Bowen around 11:30. No Mike at the gate. Free-Hiked down to springs, passing 3 textiles (they seemed taken aback by my presence). About a dozen or so people there, including one of you fine souls rebuilding a pool with shovel and bucket and all. Mostly textiles but a few other nudes. The stream was pleasant for the first time in months - calm and cool, but nice to just soak in.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Arrived to Bowen around 11. Mike said the river was knee-high or waist-high. Got down to the springs, and heard running water from farther away than I ever have before. One other couple ahead of me turned around at the end because they didn’t want to cross. I did cross, but couldn’t take anything across the river with me - had to leave my pack, clothes, etc behind. I have never seen the riby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you to everyone who has worked to clean things up at DCHS after the flooding. Looking at pictures, it’s clear there was a lot to do and I appreciate everyone who jumped to work. What’s the latest report? Are more cleanups scheduled? Is it safe to visit now with water levels presumably lower? Are any of the pools open? Thinking about visiting this week - curious whether it’s beyger tby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Sorry, I’m not really sure where freedom trail begins. I’d describe it as 2/3 of the way down from Bowen to the springs. This may not make sense as it’s just a big landmark from me, but about 2/3 of the way down there’s a GIANT boulder that you can either walk above or below - kind of a narrow spot. The swastika was on another boulder about 1 minute after that spot. Hopefully you guys knby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
On the path to Bowen, about halfway up, there’s a boulder with a swastika painted on it - it’s been covered with other spray paint, but still visible. I hate ALL the graffiti at DCHS, but this in particular really disgusted me. Thank you to the people on this forum for being protectors of the springs, and the spirit of the springs.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey, I’ve had a trip to DCHS scheduled for Monday (1/14) for weeks. Is it dangerous to drive there, or hike to the springs from Bowen? I don’t want to cancel my trip, but I also want to avoid unnecessary danger.by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'll try that trick uphill of Phoenix Pool. Kind of sad that it seems like a spot thing, not a provider thing. I'm of course eager to have a signal in case of 911 emergency, but also I have a partner who likes to make sure I'm safe when I'm out there and hear from me every couple hours :-)by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
One of the things I dislike about DCHS is that, when hiking alone, I have no cell reception with which to make a call if anything bad happened. Does anyone get service down at the Springs? I can get them up at Bowen, but as soon as I start down the hill it's gone for the rest of the hike. If you are able to get even a modest signal - enough to send a text - while at the pools, please let me knowby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've wondered about backpacks before, both at DCHS and at Black's Beach. I usually try to keep my backpack within eyesight, but I can't spend all day babysitting it. One time I put a drink in the the shallow water of the creek to cool off while I played in the springs, and an hour later I saw someone drinking it. That's more understandable - to them it probably seemed abandoned. But considering mby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Got into Bowen at about 11. Plenty of cars already, but I only passed one group (clothed) on the trail down. Once down at the springs, the first thing I saw was 4 tied-up horses. Cool way to get around on the trails, I imagine, but I hope the horses weren’t too thirsty. When I arrived there were just over a dozen or so people at the springs - only 2 topless/nude, the rest clothed. I didn’t wby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Probably my weirdest trip yet to DCHS. Drove in via Bowen - no one at the gate - around 11. Hiked in bottomless, about a quarter mile behind another group. They were all clothed, and when I got to the springs I realized all 20 people there were clothed. I put on some boxer-briefs and crossed the stream. Right away I cut my foot open - plenty of blood. I wore my sock and avoided the pools for tby peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
by peciousaitiff - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California