Deep Creek Hot Springs Near Apple Valley: 2026 Guide

When people search for the "Apple Valley hot springs," they almost always mean Deep Creek Hot Springs: warm pools beside Deep Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest, just beyond Apple Valley. No road reaches them. Most visitors hike a steep 2.5-mile trail that starts on private Bowen Ranch land east of Hesperia. Before any trip, read the closure status below and call the ranger district.

Closure status (checked November 2, 2026): Forest Service Order 05-12-52-25-02 is in effect from July 2, 2025 through June 7, 2027; the alert was last updated September 10, 2026. It closes National Forest land within 50 feet of Deep Creek between the Hooks Creek confluence and Trail 2W01 at the Devil's Hole Trailhead, and it lists Deep Creek Hot Springs among the affected sites. The Forest Service hot springs page (updated January 5, 2026) still shows the site as open, and the exact boundary is drawn on the order's Exhibit A map. Call the Mountaintop Ranger District at (909) 382-2790 before you go.

Quick reference

Is there a hot spring in Apple Valley itself?

We found no public hot spring, past or present, inside Town of Apple Valley limits. The Forest Service puts Deep Creek Hot Springs in the Deep Creek drainage on National Forest land, just past the town.

What are Deep Creek Hot Springs?

Per the Forest Service Deep Creek page, the creek loses roughly 3,000 feet of elevation over a 22-mile run before it joins the East Fork of the Mojave River. The agency describes a remote, fast-dropping stream with big pools and plenty of boulders. The hot springs are warm pools at the water's edge. The Forest Service does not post a water temperature, so we don't give one.

How do you get to Deep Creek Hot Springs from Hesperia?

Every route ends on foot. There is no road to the pools.

Route 1: Bowen Ranch (shortest)

1. Leave I-15 at Main Street in Hesperia and drive roughly 10 miles.
2. Go left on Rock Springs Road for roughly 8 miles east. The pavement ends and it becomes Roundup Way, a graded dirt road.
3. Go right on Bowen Ranch Road, also graded dirt. After storms, expect ruts or washed-out spots.

Bowen Ranch is privately owned, and the owner charges you to cross it. We found no official or owner-posted price, so carry cash and ask when you arrive. The Forest Service notes that BLM dirt roads can route you around the ranch; the BLM Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000 can explain them.

From the trailhead, you lose about 950 feet over about 2.5 miles of steep trail. The Forest Service warns that the return climb is the tough part. Its 2013 trail guide rates the last section, Hot Springs Trail 3W02, as difficult.

Route 2: Pacific Crest Trail

For about 16 miles, the Pacific Crest Trail runs beside Deep Creek between the Lake Arrowhead area and the Mojave River Forks Dam. To reach the springs this way, start at Arrowhead Lake Road and hike about 6 miles east, then the same distance back. Bikes are prohibited on the PCT.

You skip the private land, but the round trip is more than twice as long.

What does the Deep Creek closure order cover?

The signed order was issued for public safety and bans these five things:

• Entering National Forest land within 50 feet of Deep Creek, from the Hooks Creek confluence down to Forest Trail 2W01 at the Devil's Hole Trailhead.
• Using a vehicle on Forest Road 2N26Y (Hook Creek Road).
• Entering the Splinters Cabin Trailhead and Picnic Area.
• Being on Forest Road 3N34C (Splinters Cabin Road).
• Being on Forest Trail 2W22.

Holders of a PCT long-distance permit may still use Trail 2W22, Road 3N34C and Splinters Cabin. A violation can mean a fine of up to $5,000 for a person or $10,000 for an organization, up to six months in jail, or both.

Does the closure affect the hot springs?

The Forest Service alert names Deep Creek Hot Springs as an affected site, and the closed area's exact edges are shown only on the Exhibit A map. We could not review that map, so we can't tell you where the line falls relative to the pools. Treat the closure status above as current only as of November 2, 2026, and confirm with the Mountaintop Ranger District at (909) 382-2790. The district office is open Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Do you need an Adventure Pass?

The Forest Service hot springs page names no Adventure Pass for either route; the only charge it mentions is the Bowen Ranch fee. Where this forest does require one, an Adventure Pass is $5 for a day or $30 for a year, as of November 2026. Ask the ranger district whether your trailhead needs one.

Is it safe to soak at Deep Creek Hot Springs?

The main hidden danger is in the water. The Forest Service cautions that the pools may carry the amoeba behind primary amebic meningoencephalitis and tells visitors not to put their heads under.

• What it is: Per the CDC, Naegleria fowleri lives in warm fresh water, hot springs included. It causes infection only if water travels up the nose. Swallowing the water does not infect you.
• How serious: The CDC reports 167 U.S. cases between 1962 and 2024, with four survivors.
• Local history: A 2015 fact sheet from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health ties a fatal 1991 case to exposure at Deep Creek Hot Springs.
• What to do: Keep your head out of the water. Don't dive, jump or dunk in the warm pools. Pinch your nose or wear a nose clip if water might splash in.

Other hazards to plan for:

• Bad water: Never drink from the creek or pools. The Forest Service reports that fecal coliform levels peak at the hot springs.
• Heat: Summer afternoons can pass 100°F. Pack lots of water, a hat and sun protection.
• Flash floods: The Forest Service warns the creek can turn violent in rainstorms. If storms are in the forecast, skip the canyon.
• Footing and wildlife: Crumbly granite and slick boulders lead to falls, and rattlesnakes use the rock outcrops.
• No staff or services: You will find no rangers, restrooms or drinking water. Help can be hours away.

Rescues take time. Victor Valley News reported that a May 2025 rescue of an injured hiker above the springs took about five hours and involved county fire, Apple Valley fire and a Sheriff's helicopter. People have also died here, including a 2018 death in the pools that the outlet reported from a Sheriff's news release.

What are the rules at the hot springs?

The Forest Service hot springs page bans overnight camping and campfires. The 2013 trail guide adds that the Hot Springs Trail area is day use only and bans glass bottles. Nobody collects trash here, so carry out everything you brought.

Use Leave No Trace habits: keep to established trails, and stay off the sandy creek banks. The Forest Service says the endangered arroyo toad lives there.

Before you leave home, look at the forest alerts page for any new closures.

For more outings near home, see our High Desert hotspots guide, the High Desert hot springs and water sites map, and mountain day trips from the High Desert.

How Pleasant Hill can help

Pleasant Hill Real Estate Group is based on Main Street in Hesperia. Thinking about a move to Apple Valley or Hesperia? You can search homes, request a free home valuation, or read our Hesperia community guide. Contact us or reach Dustin Bynum or Nancy Navarro directly.

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