WARNING: There seems to be lots of confusion between Bowen Ranch and Deep Creek Hot Springs. Bowen Ranch has no hot springs, but it is a popular parking and camping area reputed to have the best access point to the Deep Creek Hot Springs.
a cluster of outdoor hot springs, primative.
clothing optional
fee: $0 for Deep Creek hot springs. Nearby Bowen Ranch charges $5 Overnight Camping and $4 per person day parking.
shelter: no camping in canyon, but avail nearby at Bowen Ranch (day parking or overnight camping), Silverwood Lake and Lake Arrowhead. First come first serve.
food: none (recommend bringing water)
payment accepted: free (except for parking and camping at Bowen Ranch... cash only I assume).
massage: none
temperature: 105 degree
address: none, see USGS Lake Arrowhead, CA quadrangle (7.5 minute scale). 16 mi east of Hesperia.
phone: none
email: none
notes: Though popular it's pretty pristine. Several pools clustered in an isolated high desert Canyon, 6 mile gradual hike or a steep 2 mi one. Avoid short trail during high water levels (spring) lest you get swept away by a suddenly rising river. To hike short trail, park at private ranch for a fee.
Directions:
Free parking:
From Interstate 15 take the Hesperia exit, and turn east onto Main St. Follow Main St. for about 8 mi. to a Y and Rock Srings Road. Go right on Rock Springs Rd. for about 1.8 miles to Deep Creek Road, and turn right. Follow Deep Creek Rd. until it turns to dirt. Then look for the dam and head for the southeast side of it. Park where you can and walk to the top of the dam along its paved service road. The 6 mi. hike trailhead is to the left when facing the inside portion of the dam. A small metal sign on the side of the hill marks where the trailhead begins. The trail goes uphill steeply for the first few hundred yards, then levels out. Follow the trail for 6 miles, crossing the creek on a bridge after 2 miles. The trail leads right to the spring.
Via Bowen Ranch parking lot:
To take the steeper, 2 mi trail take Rock Spring Road at the Y and go left. Follow Rock Spring Rd. about 2.8 miles to Roundup Way, then turn right. Take Roundup Rd. about 4.2 miles to Bowen Ranch Road and turn right again. Follow this graded dirt road for 5.5 miles to the ranch itself and the parking area. Someone is often there to collect a parking fee and direct people to the trailhead. Often steep and slippery.
To access Deep Creek Hot Springs via Bowen Ranch:
From the L.A. Metropolitan area, take Interstate I-15 north up to the high desert community of Apple Valley California. Exit off I-15 onto Bear Valley Road and head east for 10 miles. Turn right onto Central Avenue heading south for 3-miles. Turn left onto Ocotillo Way heading east once again for 2.8-miles to Bowen Ranch Road. Turn right and follow Bowen Ranch about another 7 miles or so to where it ends. You’ll see what appears to be an old historic rustic structure and tollgate displaying a stop sign.
Once at the tollgate, run off motor and read the easy to follow directions posted on the front door if no one is present. If your intentions are just to visit the hot springs for the day, have $4 on hand for the day time parking fee. If this a first-time visit, take Bowen Ranch Flyer lying by the front door steps where the envelopes are. There is a map and other information to read / view on the flyer.
Please see extensive comments for more directions and details.
Links:
deepcreekvolunteers@hotmail.com - Deep Creek Volunteers ( DCV ) "we created an information brochure that has been approved by the USFS for distribution at DCHS, or elsewhere. We meet on the last Saturday of every month at DCHS at 1PM to discuss possible projects, hand out brochures, and do clean up and repairs of existing hot pools." Van
Deep Creek Hot Springs (Near Bowen Ranch Campground)
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12 comments:
04/02/1999- ...my favorite hot springs...
Bill O'Neill, Irvine, CA, USA
12/02/1999- Hi Terry, I really enjoy your hot springs site, it takes me back to many magical moments soaking away in some of California's amazing hot springs. I prefer to search out the natural expiriences of less developed, primitive hot springs ...I highly recomend Deep Creek, south of Hesperia. Thanks for your work on the informative site!
Alan Jacobsen, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Bowen Ranch is not a hot spring but rather a place for the public to safely park their vehicles and to camp overnight at. It is by far the best place to hike to the hot springs from. A small parking and/or camping fee is charged. There are very limited facilities there. The idea that Bowen Ranch has or is a hot spring is incorrect. My friend Michael Castro owns and manages Bowen Ranch. Years ago when he first leased the property, one of his associates brought in a redwood hot tub and he and Mike placed the tub for all to see near the rustic structure and tollgate. Anyone coming or going could see the tub and some may have been misled into believing there was a hot springs on the property.
Bowen Ranch has an address: The Bowen Ranch 6221 Bowen Ranch Road Apple Valley, Ca. 92308 Mr. Castro has radio communications with the local sheriff’s dept., Fire Dept. Search and Rescue teams, USFS and BLM agencies to name a few. He also has a cell phone to contact him by, however I will not give it out without Mike’s approval.
When Mr. Castro is not present, there are easy to follow directions posted on the front door of the historic and rustic structure. Day time parking is $4 per person. Overnight Camping fee is $5 per person. Campsites are on a first come first serve basis. Some sites have picnic tables. Very limited facilities on property.
It is expected of all visitors to pack out their disposals when leaving the springs. Bring a plastic trash bag or two with you. It is prohibited by the U. S. Forest Service to bring glass containers to the hot springs or into the Deep Creek drainage area. Also prohibited by USFS, is overnight camping and campfires at the hot springs.
There’s a group calling themselves “Deep Creek Volunteers”. They have brochures available at the trailhead and they now recently have a website to. I prefer not to join the club for at least two good reasons to me: 1. The group is affiliated with the Naturist Society (TNS), I do not want any affiliation with the TNS. 2. I do not like the name the group has chosen, “Deep Creek Volunteers” because infers that the there’s a group going to hot springs for the specific reason of picking up after everyone. So some feel they can go to this hot spring and leave their trash behind and others will later haul it out for them. I approached some members about making a name change and they simply procrastinated over my suggestion. I then decided to resign my membership. Thank God there’s enough willing nonmembers taking out trash with them when they leave the springs to control the amount of trash left there by some disrespectful types. I do not give full credit to DCV for the control of trash at this wilderness hot spring.
One last comment, there are plenty of websites of Deep Creek Hot Springs and I feel there’s too many of them that lack adequate information about this very popular hot spring. Someday my may create my own website that will truly give the right and adequate amount of information.
To access Deep Creek Hot Springs via Bowen Ranch:
From the L.A. Metropolitan area, take Interstate I-15 north up to the high desert community of Apple Valley California. Exit off I-15 onto Bear Valley Road and head east for 10 miles. Turn right onto Central Avenue heading south for 3-miles. Turn left onto Ocotillo Way heading east once again for 2.8-miles to Bowen Ranch Road. Turn right and follow Bowen Ranch about another 7 miles or so to where it ends. You’ll see what appears to be an old historic rustic structure and tollgate displaying a stop sign.
Once at the tollgate, run off motor and read the easy to follow directions posted on the front door if no one is present. If your intentions are just to visit the hot springs for the day, have $4 on hand for the day time parking fee. If this a first-time visit, take Bowen Ranch Flyer lying by the front door steps where the envelopes are. There is a map and other information to read / view on the flyer.
Prior to leaving home, take a plastic trash bag or two with you to take to the hot springs for your disposal items. Enjoy a great day at Deep Creek Hot Springs.
P.S. … NO GLASS – NO TRASH at the hot springs !!!
To access Deep Creek Hot Spring via another way:
From the L.A. Metropolitan area, take Interstate 15 north up to the high desert community of Hesperia California. Exit onto Main Street and head east on Main Street for about 8 miles. You need to drive through the entire business district of Hesperia. Once past the last stop-and-go light and out of the business district of Hesperia, Main Street will continue straight for about a mile or so and then will begin to curve to the right. Main Street then turns into Arrowhead Lake Boulevard once through the large right hand curve. Shortly after the big curve the road has a lot of smaller curves and takes you past Hesperia Lake and Campgrounds. Continue past the lake only a few miles more to where you’ll see the Mohave Forks Dam structure. You’ll begin to see large boulders laid along the left-hand side of the road. At about this time you’ll be going uphill, but just as you begin to reach the very top of the hill, you’ll see what appears to be a maintenance road and large metal gate on the left. Be very careful in this area because fast moving traffic comes from both directions along Arrowhead Lake Blvd. and there’s a blind spot to drivers coming towards you in the opposite direction. Pull off the road and find a place to turn around so you are then able to park on the same side of the road as the maintenance road and metal gate is on. I wouldn’t recommend parking on the maintenance road by the gate, but rather parallel to Arrowhead Lake Blvd. Park vehicle and hike across the top side of the large cement dam structure. Continue towards the side of canyon wall in order to gain access and view of the Pacific crest Trail. Hike uphill to the PCT and the hike to Deep Creek Hot Springs is about 6-miles.
Note: By parking at the dam / spillway, your vehicle is open to vandalism. Park at own risk.
Note: I do not recommend parking at the end of Deep Creek Road as described by others.
To access Deep Creek Hot Spring via another way:
From the L.A. Metropolitan area, take Interstate 15 north up to the high desert community of Hesperia California. Exit onto Main Street and head east on Main Street for about 8 miles. You need to drive through the entire business district of Hesperia. Once past the last stop-and-go light and out of the business district of Hesperia, Main Street will continue straight for about a mile or so and then will begin to curve to the right. Main Street then turns into Arrowhead Lake Boulevard once through the large right hand curve. Shortly after the big curve the road has a lot of smaller curves and takes you past Hesperia Lake and Campgrounds. Continue past the lake only a few miles more to where you’ll see the Mohave Forks Dam structure. You’ll begin to see large boulders laid along the left-hand side of the road. At about this time you’ll be going uphill, but just as you begin to reach the very top of the hill, you’ll see what appears to be a maintenance road and large metal gate on the left. Be very careful in this area because fast moving traffic comes from both directions along Arrowhead Lake Blvd. and there’s a blind spot to drivers coming towards you in the opposite direction. Pull off the road and find a place to turn around so you are then able to park on the same side of the road as the maintenance road and metal gate is on. I wouldn’t recommend parking on the maintenance road by the gate, but rather parallel to Arrowhead Lake Blvd. Park vehicle and hike across the top side of the large cement dam structure. Continue towards the side of canyon wall in order to gain access and view of the Pacific crest Trail. Hike uphill to the PCT and the hike to Deep Creek Hot Springs is about 6-miles.
Note: By parking at the dam / spillway, your vehicle is open to vandalism. Park at own risk.
Note: I do not recommend parking at the end of Deep Creek Road as described by others.
To access Deep Creek Hot Spring via another way:
From the L.A. Metropolitan area, take Interstate 15 north up to the high desert community of Hesperia California. Exit onto Main Street and head east on Main Street for about 8 miles. You need to drive through the entire business district of Hesperia. Once past the last stop-and-go light and out of the business district of Hesperia, Main Street will continue straight for about a mile or so and then will begin to curve to the right. Main Street then turns into Arrowhead Lake Boulevard once through the large right hand curve. Shortly after the big curve the road has a lot of smaller curves and takes you past Hesperia Lake and Campgrounds. Continue past the lake only a few miles more to where you’ll see the Mohave Forks Dam structure. You’ll begin to see large boulders laid along the left-hand side of the road. At about this time you’ll be going uphill, but just as you begin to reach the very top of the hill, you’ll see what appears to be a maintenance road and large metal gate on the left. Be very careful in this area because fast moving traffic comes from both directions along Arrowhead Lake Blvd. and there’s a blind spot to drivers coming towards you in the opposite direction. Pull off the road and find a place to turn around so you are then able to park on the same side of the road as the maintenance road and metal gate is on. I wouldn’t recommend parking on the maintenance road by the gate, but rather parallel to Arrowhead Lake Blvd. Park vehicle and hike across the top side of the large cement dam structure. Continue towards the side of canyon wall in order to gain access and view of the Pacific crest Trail. Hike uphill to the PCT and the hike to Deep Creek Hot Springs is about 6-miles.
Note: By parking at the dam / spillway, your vehicle is open to vandalism. Park at own risk.
Note: I do not recommend parking at the end of Deep Creek Road as described by others.
A word of caution to first timers --- Bowen Ranch is closed from 10:00pm to 7:00am. Don't make the mistake I made and try to get to Deep Creek at 6:30 for sunrise. You'll come across a very mean and bitter ranch owner! In all my research into deep creek I didn't see anything about the hours of operation. He has years of frustration from being woken up that unfortunately he took out on us so we just wished him well and left. Just don't want anyone else to have the same experience...
.....Directions to deep creek hot springs via freedom trail
from the L.A. area take the 15 fwy north exit main st turn right and go 7.1 miles and turn right onto to rock springs rd. as you pass Kiowa rd., rock springs turn into round up way, continue on round up way another 2 miles, the road turns from pavement to dirt. Zero out your odometer when the road turn to dirt and continue on to Bowen ranch road (JF3310), make a right onto Bowen ranch rd. you will come to one big fork in the road just stay to your right and keep driving at about 4.7 mi you'll pass round mountain ranch and cross over a cattle guard . At around 6 miles you will come up on a fork in the road, the entrance to Bowen ranch on the left and the road to freedom trail on the right (JF 4325). The road to the right looks really scary but it's not that bad and it's only that bad in the beginning. Any suv or med to high clearance vehicle will be fine even small cars can do this if they drive smart. At around at 7 miles you will come up on a fork in the rd. keep left onto (JF 3320) at around 7.5 miles the barbwire fence will come up on your left again the road goes uphill and at about 8 miles starts downhill, take this slow it's a little tricky and rough. The next left will be coming up shortly after at around 8.3 miles, continue on around 8.7miles you'll come to the last tough spot a small uphill stay to the right and keep moving the parking area is another 100 yards down the hill 8.8 mi and the trail begins to the right . It's a very easy trail to fallow but a little steep challenging just like Bowen ranch only 1 mile to the hot springs and no ridiculous fee of 5$ per person. Please know your limits bring and plenty of water.
The route trough Arrowhead Lake is 2.5 miles walk, 1,033 feet going down and 210 feet going up. The Bowden Ranch route is 2.3 miles walk, 968 feet going down, 33 feet going up. From L.A., the Arrowhead Lake route is much closer as distance but it's about the same as time, because of the one way lane curvy road. You get a nicer view though and avoid paying $4 per person entrance fee.
GPS coordinates for the parking spots on each of the two routes:
Bowen Ranch parking lot (34.358271,-117.164676)
Arrowhead route parking (34.318282,-117.196056)
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