120 MILES FROM L.A.—CONSIDERED THE BEST NATURAL HOT SPRINGS IN THE L.A. AREA
There are several hot pools in the rock formations, plus a cooler creek flowing below.
LENGTH: 5 MILES ROUND TRIP
ELEVATION GAIN/LOSS: We park at elevation 4400 feet at Bowen Ranch and the trail drops 800 feet down to the hot springs. The last half mile of the trail can be slippery, so bring grippy hiking shoes.
IF COMING FROM L.A.: Take the 10 freeway east all the way to Ontario. Then take the 15 freeway north over the Cajon Pass (which leads to Las Vegas). The first town you see is Hesperia. Exit the 15 freeway at Main Street in Hesperia . Continue 14 miles east on Main street, and there will be a left hand turn at a fork onto Roundup Way. Drive for 4 miles east on Roundup Way and stop at the intersection with Central Road. WE WILL MEET HERE AT 11:30 AM AND CONVOY AS A GROUP FROM HERE
IF COMING FROM OUR SATURDAY JOSHUA TREE HIKE: Leave at 10:00AM, drive west on Highway 62 and turn right (north) on Highway 247. In about 35 miles, you will intersect with Highway 18. Continue straight, going onto Highway 18. Drive for around 11 miles. You will then turn left onto Bear Valley road, following it for 2 & 1/2 miles until you reach Central Road. Turn left (south) and drive 3 & 1/2 miles. Wait for us at the intersection with Roundup Way. WE WILL MEET AND CONVOY AS A GROUP FROM HERE
NEXT.....FROM OUR ROUNDUP AND CENTRAL MEETUP SPOT:
From Central and Roundup, we drive 2 & 1/4 miles on Roundup (going east). The last 1 &1/4 miles of Roundup Way is unpaved dirt road.
Then we turn right (South) onto the unpaved Bowen Ranch road and drive for 9 miles, and Bowen Ranch is where we park our cars. (As it is private property, we pay $5 a person to park, which is well-worth it since the alternative is a 6 mile walk each way from the free forest- service lot near Lake Silverwood). Then we walk down the sometimes steep trail for 2 miles, wade across the creek and we are there by about 1:30.
DEEP CREEK HAS A LIBERAL CLOTHING POLICY, SO YOU MIGHT SEE NUDE PEOPLE. WE, HOWEVER, WILL KEEP TO OUR SWIM-WEAR. (Sorry, to those who wanted to see me in the buff….)
