deep creek hot springs

Haven't seen hot springs there but everything else was great. This area is a paradise for off-roading. Lots of trails category 1 to 6. Horseback riding available. About 10 miles drive to Shaver Lake wich provides swimming , fishing and boat rentals. If you are a family get a pontoon boat. Kids loved. Couple of camping grounds in the area. Easy drive to get there. 60 miles N. of Fresno.

Take the advice of other posters and pay the $10 for a shorter hike. We tried parking at the resevoir but law enforcement chases you away and rumor is they tow. No fun hiking a long distance out and finding no car. Actually here August 2011.

We drove to Bowen Ranch and paid the $10 per person to camp overnight. We hiked down the first afternoon - it took maybe 30-40 minutes. It was really hot, so definitely bring lots of water, especially if you're not used to the desert heat (like me). We stayed down at the springs until it was almost dark (I was too chicken to hike back out in the dark). Plenty of camping at the top (technically camping down at the creek/hot springs is illegal, although many people do), which is where we set up our tent. In the morning, we went back down to the creek for a few hours and then hiked back out before the afternoon heat got too intense. The creek wasn't too chilly when we were there - almost bath temperature. The springs near the top were a little too hot for me, but the ones closer to the creek were a bit cooler and I could chill out in them for quite a while with no issue. I would definitely recommend having a vehicle with some clearance, however we took a Dodge Charger to get to the ranch and didn't have any major issues - just drive slow and watch the bumps. Like others have said, this is a clothing optional area, so be prepared for that. It didn't bother us as most people kept to themselves. Also, there are plenty of beer drinkers and quite a few pot smokers, so be prepared for that as well. For us, the scenery and the experience far outweighed the nudity, beer, and pot. We plan on visiting again when we're back in California.

The hot springs is a perfect place to see nature at it's best. Parking at the top is $10 per person for an overnight stay. A two mile hike that goes over a 1000 foot elevation change will dump you right in front of the creek. The trail itself is moderate in difficulty, going down is a breeze, hiking out can be more challenging with lots of steep grades and slippery gravel. Bring lots of water. Once you get to the creek you can cross the water to get to the hot pools on the other side. The higher the pool the warmer it gets. There are hiking trails around the area. Be cautious of flash flooding and keep you eyes on the weather. Rain to the north can cause the creek to rise. As always DO NOT DRINK the creek water. You will get sick and it's not fun. Lastly this is a clothing option location do not bring your children unless you are okay with that. There will be nudity. Hope this helps! Remember if you pack it in, pack it out.

I love this place, but...-You have to hike in. You can hike for about 2-3 miles instead of 7 by parking and paying $10 at Bowen Ranch.-Summer is too hot and winter may be too cold-You have to cross a river to get there, good luck on that if it's high...-Avoid the weekends for less teens, local beer heads and drum circles.-The algae count can be terrible at times and parasites...I try not to think about that part.-Prepare for it to snow and ice over, bring your own candles with wind protection, towels, etc.-This is a day/night trip, bring snacks and as little as possible but be ready for all sorts of weather depending on the time of year.All that said it's a great, nearly free getaway. Oh yeah, the roads aren't paved so don't bring a car you don't want gravel hitting and yes on a 4x4...no bathrooms or any other conveniences. Just hot springs, a river and beauty sheltered by a rock canyon.

My boyfriend and I drove out to Bowen Ranch to camp for the weekend. The road to the ranch is very rough, so take a truck or SUV if possible. We got to the gate, paid our $10 and were pointed to a camp spot.The ppl at Bowen give you a nice hand drawn map for how to get to the creek which was really nice. It's pretty straightforward, but still - nice. We had a great interaction with the woman working.Nice hike to the falls. Wear sneakers because part of the path is very thin and would be dangerous in sandals. Of course, lots of naked old men so just keep your eyes elsewhere and you'll enjoy it. Definitely lots of drinking there, because by the time we got there at about 2pm I'd say half the people there were drunk.There are 3 "hot tubs" and the one closest to the bottom is the best temperature, in my opinion. The middle and top were SO hot I could barely put my foot in. Really neat little hang out. I wished we brought some drinks and snacks.Hiked back (definitely a bit rough up hill if you're tired...) and had a nice campout at the ranch.

I lost my camera at Bowan Ranch yesterday 7/16. It is my life and has all of my photos from some major life events on it and I have to get it back. There is no number to reach the people that live on Bowen Ranch.. So I'm driving back from Las Vegas to re-trace my steps. If you find a canon camera in a forest green case please contact me @ 817-372-2262 or my boyfriend @ 707-499-1439. Or... If you know how to get in contact with the people that run the ranch. Please help! I'm hysterical. Thank you~ Sierra