Deep Creek Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Legally closed through June 7, 2027 under Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 (covers the hot springs reach of Deep Creek), but Bowen Ranch still sells trailhead parking and people continue to hike in and soak — at risk of a $5,000 fine.
Field notes — checked February 2026
- Hazard: Naegleria fowleri (rare but fatal) — do not submerge head
- Hazard: Heat exhaustion / summer rescues
- Hazard: Rattlesnakes
- Hazard: Loose decomposed-granite trail; river ford
- Hazard: Vehicle break-ins reported at informal trailheads (Bowen Ranch lot is watched)
- Entering the closure area is a federal violation — up to $5,000 fine / 6 months; only PCT long-distance permit holders and FS-7700-48 permit holders exempt
- Bowen Ranch (private) still charges $10/person day-use for parking + trail access; gate ~7am-midnight, trail cutoff mid-afternoon
- Bradford Ridge Path off Hwy 173 is free but only a handful of unsigned roadside spots
- No camping or campfires at the springs; pack out trash; no glass
- Summer temps 95-110°F; multiple heat rescues/deaths — hike Oct-May, early start, liters of water
- Naegleria fowleri confirmed in these springs — keep head above water
Current status
Legally closed through June 7, 2027 under Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 (covers the hot springs reach of Deep Creek), but Bowen Ranch still sells trailhead parking and people continue to hike in and soak — at risk of a $5,000 fine.
Checked February 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
About this spring
A well-known cluster of natural thermal pools (~90-108°F) along Deep Creek in San Bernardino National Forest, reached by a steep ~2-mile descent from Bowen Ranch. Maintained by the Deep Creek Volunteers; one of Southern California's most-visited clothing-optional springs. Fee: Springs free; Bowen Ranch charges ~$10/person parking for the shortest trailhead. Steep return climb in desert heat — carry water. Deep Creek crossing dangerous at high flow; drownings have occurred. Nudity common.
Deep Creek Hot Springs is a cluster of natural thermal pools along a canyon stretch of Deep Creek inside San Bernardino National Forest — one of Southern California's best-known clothing-optional springs. Reported pool temperatures run around 90–108°F. The standard approach is a steep two-mile descent from Bowen Ranch, which charges roughly $10 per person for day-use parking and trailhead access; volunteer stewards from the Deep Creek Volunteers have long maintained the pools.
Access is now legally restricted: Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 closes the hot springs reach of Deep Creek through June 7, 2027, and entering the closure area is a federal violation carrying fines up to $5,000 — only certain permit holders are exempt. People reportedly still hike in and soak, but they do so at legal risk. The hike itself is real work — a steep return climb in desert heat — and the creek crossing has a documented drowning history at high flow.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Hiking distance | 2 miles (moderate) |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS — Deep Creek Area Closure (Aztec Falls), Order 05-12-52-25-02 |
Deep Creek Hot Springs FAQ
Is Deep Creek Hot Springs open right now?
Legally closed through June 7, 2027 under Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 (covers the hot springs reach of Deep Creek), but Bowen Ranch still sells trailhead parking and people continue to hike in and soak — at risk of a $5,000 fine. (Status verified against an official source, last checked February 2026.)
Can I soak at Deep Creek Hot Springs?
Legally closed through June 7, 2027 under Forest Order 05-12-52-25-02 (covers the hot springs reach of Deep Creek), but Bowen Ranch still sells trailhead parking and people continue to hike in and soak — at risk of a $5,000 fine.
Where can I check access to Deep Creek Hot Springs?
Check USFS — Deep Creek Area Closure (Aztec Falls), Order 05-12-52-25-02: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino/alerts/deep-creek-area-closure-aztec-falls
Sources & references
- USFS — Deep Creek Area Closure (Aztec Falls), Order 05-12-52-25-02 — official · 2025-07
- USFS — Deep Creek Hot Springs page (rules, Bowen Ranch access) — official · 2025
- mklibrary.com — Deep Creek guide analyzing the 2025-27 closure — community · 2025
- r/DeepCreekHotSprings trip report (via enmlounge mirror) — community · 2026-02
- Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground @ Bowen Ranch — operator · 2025
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction