Deep Creek Hot Springs

The narrow trail - usually pretty steep on the edges




Crossing the Creek


Hot Springs



On Saturday, we went into the desert, past Hesperia, for a hike to Deep Creek Hot Springs....

You exit the freeway in Hesperia, drive about 8 miles through the city, and reach a dirt road. From here, there's about 6 miles of legitimate off roading until you get to a privately owned ranch where you can park (for a small fee).

It's about a 2 mile hike down to the hot springs which I've read is a descent of about 1,000 feet in elevation. Once you get to the bottom of the mountain, you encounter an average sized creek which stands between you and the different pools of "hot springs." They say in the spring time, the creek's water level can get as high as chest deep.

When we got to the creek, my friends dipped their legs in the water and said it was too cold. With obviously idiotic bravado, I ran into the water only to find that it was already up to my neck. I ran for a bit and started to feel my whole body burning - The water was so cold it was difficult to breathe, so I ran back, got out, and my lungs were burning haha...

One of my friends jumped in and bravely swam across. Luckily, someone brought a blue inner tube which we sat on one by one and pulled ourselves across via the rope in the middle of the creek...It's weird that you cross a freezing creek, and just behind it is a hot pool of water.

The hot springs itself was pretty cool in that it was a pretty unique thing, but it's not as serene as you may think with all the algae floating around that kinda makes it gross, not to mention some of the naked dudes lurking around.

Anyway, the hike back up the mountain was pretty tough, about 1,000 feet over just two miles plus the fact that the trails are pretty narrow for maybe half of the hike.

Pretty cool overall.