Deep Creek Hot Springs

What to expect

Deep Creek Hot Springs is at the bottom of a boulder-filled canyon on the north, desert-facing side of the San Bernardino Mountains, inside the San Bernardino National Forest. Deep Creek, a fork of the Mojave River, runs year-round through the canyon, and hot water seeps out of the rocks along its bank at about 4,500 feet of elevation. The surrounding slopes are dry chaparral and piñon-juniper country, so the green strip of plants along the creek stands out.

The pools are built from stacked rocks and sand right beside the creek. Wikipedia lists the water at 90 to 108°F32 to 42°C, and the hottest spots are at the source near the top. The upper main pool takes most of the spring flow. A small pool below it, only about 2 feet deep, is the hottest place to sit, and lower pools mix hot and creek water so each one is a little different. Because the creek is right there, the classic routine is to soak until you are too hot, then step into the cold current.

Deep Creek Volunteers help the Forest Service look after the site, but there are no restrooms, no trash cans, no shade structures and no drinking water. This is a backcountry spring with a big local following, and on spring weekends it can be crowded and loud.

Getting there

There are three approaches. All of them involve real effort.

Bowen Ranch (most popular, about 2.5 miles each way). The Forest Service directions start from I-15 in Hesperia. Take the Main Street exit and drive east about 10 miles. Turn left on Rock Springs Road and continue about 8 miles east. The pavement ends and the road becomes Roundup Way, a graded dirt road. Turn right on Bowen Ranch Road, another graded dirt road that can be rutted or washed out after storms. The road ends at Bowen Ranch, which is private property. You pay the ranch in cash to park, then hike south into the forest.

The trail drops about 950 feet to the creek on loose decomposed granite. It is easy going down and slow coming back up, with almost no shade. Near the bottom you usually have to ford the creek to reach the pools. Allow two hours or more for the climb out in warm weather.

Bradford Ridge (from the south). This route starts on the Lake Arrowhead side of the mountains and has free roadside parking. The Forest Service calls it more challenging than the Bowen Ranch trail, at about 3 miles one way, with a steep final descent into the canyon. It avoids the creek crossing.

Pacific Crest Trail (about 6 miles each way). The PCT passes right by the springs. You can join it from Arrowhead Lake Road near the Mojave River Forks dam and hike east along the canyon. It is longer but gentler, and free. Bikes are not allowed on the PCT.

The BLM also manages dirt roads that skirt the private ranch. Contact the BLM Barstow Field Office at 760-252-6000 for those.

When to go

October to May is the best window. The canyon is pleasant, the hike is manageable, and the hot water feels right. Cold winter mornings make the pools feel even better.

Summer is hard. The Forest Service warns that daytime temperatures can top 100°F38°C, and the trail out of the canyon is fully exposed. If you go in summer, start at dawn, carry far more water than you think you need, and be out before midday.

Spring weekends draw big groups. A weekday morning is the quietest time.

Check current conditions before you go. Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 closes part of Deep Creek upstream, between Hooks Creek and Devils Hole, along with the Splinters Cabin trailhead, through June 7, 2027. The hot springs are well downstream of that section, but heavy rain can also wash out the dirt roads and swell the creek.

Rules and etiquette

• Day use only. The Forest Service does not allow overnight camping or campfires at the springs.
• Pay the ranch if you use it. Bowen Ranch charges per person, in cash. Bring small bills.
• Clothing is optional at the pools. Nudity is accepted, but keep clothes on along the trail.
• Do not bring glass. Broken glass in rock pools and bare feet do not mix.
• No soap, shampoo or lotion in the pools.
• Pack out everything. There is no trash service, and the Forest Service notes that pollution rises with visitor numbers.
• Respect other visitors’ privacy. Ask before you take photos.

Where to stay nearby

• Bowen Ranch allows camping on its own land near the trailhead for a fee. Sites are basic, with no running water.
• Mojave River Forks Regional Park, a San Bernardino County park on Highway 173 near the dam at the north end of the PCT route, has a year-round campground with showers and hookups. Its gate closes at 4 p.m., so arrive early.
• Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, to the west along Highway 138, has developed campgrounds by the lake.
• Hesperia, Apple Valley and Victorville are the nearest towns with chain hotels, fuel and groceries.
• Lake Arrowhead has cabins and lodges if you plan to use the Bradford Ridge trail.

Safety notes

• Amoeba warning: The Forest Service says the pools may contain the organism that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. It is rare but nearly always fatal and enters through the nose. Keep your head out of the water.
• Do not drink the water. Fecal coliform counts are highest in the hot springs area. Carry all your drinking water, at least a gallon per person in warm weather.
• Heat: Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and save energy for the climb out, which is where most people struggle.
• Footing: Loose granite on the trail and slick boulders by the creek cause falls. Wear proper shoes.
• Rattlesnakes: Watch where you put your hands around rock outcrops.
• Flash floods: Do not ford the creek when it is running high, and leave the canyon if a storm builds.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Pacific Crest Trail east of the springs follows Deep Creek through a pretty desert canyon and makes a good out-and-back day hike even without the soak. Lake Arrowhead and Silverwood Lake are both within an hour for a swim or a meal on the mountain side.