Country
United States
Reviews
No reviews yet
Family friendly
Check local rules
Terrain
Rock
Season
October to May (summer heat on the climb out is dangerous)
About Deep Creek Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs is a cluster of natural rock and sand pools where geothermal water seeps into Deep Creek in a desert canyon on the north side of the San Bernardino National Forest, between Hesperia/Apple Valley and Lake Arrowhead. Hot water collects in several small soaking pools of varying temperatures right beside the cool, clear creek, so visitors alternate between the two. The Pacific Crest Trail follows the creek for 16 miles here, and the drainage is a State Wild Trout Stream with the richest wildlife habitat in the forest, including endangered arroyo toads. There are no facilities at all: no restrooms, drinking water or trash service, and camping and campfires are prohibited. The springs are informally clothing optional, and nude soaking is common and widely reported; the Forest Service page itself is silent on clothing. The water is known to harbour the amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, so never put your head under or swallow water, and coliform counts are highest around the busy pools. Summer temperatures can top 100 F, and the climb back out is steep and exposed.
Legal context & local rules
The springs are on National Forest land; nudity is tolerated informally but not formally designated, and the Forest Service page makes no mention of it. Overnight camping, campfires and bikes on the PCT are prohibited.
Public nudity is largely prohibited in the US under indecent exposure laws which vary significantly by state. Vermont has no state-level law against public nudity, making it unique. Florida designates specific beaches as clothing-optional (Haulover Beach, Blind Creek State Park). Federal jurisprudence under the First Amendment has occasionally recognised nude expression in protests, though states regulate for public decency standards. Most states prohibit exposure of "sexual organs" in public under statutes similar to Florida Statute § 800.03.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
The usual approach is from Hesperia: take Main Street east from I-15 about 10 miles, Rock Springs Road east about 8 miles (becoming dirt Roundup Way), then Bowen Ranch Road, which can be rutted. Bowen Ranch is private land and charges a parking fee ($10 per Time Out; hours about 7am-5pm). From there a steep 2.5-mile trail drops about 950 feet to the springs and you may need to wade the creek. A longer free route follows the PCT about six miles from Arrowhead Lake Road; the BLM Barstow office can advise on other routes. Not wheelchair accessible.
What visitors say
Guides and trip reports agree the reward is real but the effort is too: the pools are secluded and clothing optional, yet the trail down is steep and loose and the return is almost all uphill. They consistently advise carrying plenty of water, starting early in the morning to beat the desert heat, wearing proper footwear, and keeping your head out of the water because of the amoeba risk.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
⌖View this place on the map
34.3394, -117.1770
Frequently asked questions
Is nudity allowed at Deep Creek Hot Springs?
It is informally clothing optional and nude soaking is common, though the Forest Service does not formally designate it.
How long is the hike?
About 2.5 miles each way from Bowen Ranch with roughly 950 feet of descent, or about six miles on the PCT from Arrowhead Lake Road.
Is there a fee?
Bowen Ranch is private and charges for parking (reported at $10); the PCT route is free.
Is it safe to swim?
Keep your head above water and do not drink it: the pools can carry a rare but fatal amoeba.
Can I camp there?
No. Overnight camping and campfires are not allowed.
Sources
- Deep Creek Hot Springs - San Bernardino National Forest (USDA Forest Service) Official
- Deep Creek Hot Springs (Time Out Los Angeles)
- Deep Creek Hot Springs (Outdoor Project)
- Deep Creek - The Long Way (Naturism Community)
Researched 25 October 2026 .
Help keep this page accurate
Conditions and venue policies change. Submit a correction or update so other naturists can make informed decisions.
Suggest an update →Members’ reviews
Write a review →No member reviews yet. Been here? Share what it was like.
More naturist places in United States
View all in United States →Alice Falls
Alice Falls is a waterfall and swimming spot on the Ausable River near Keeseville, at the northeastern edge of the Adirondacks. Flat rock ledges beside the falls are used informally for nude sunbathing, including by families. It has no facilities or official status. River currents can be strong after rain, and visitors should respect nearby residents.
Alpenglow Ranch Clothing Optional B&B
Alpenglow Ranch is a clothing-optional bed and breakfast and small resort near Bend in central Oregon, listed with AANR and the Clothing Optional Home Network. Guests stay in the house and can relax nude around the grounds with views toward the Cascades, using Bend as a base for high-desert hiking and hot springs trips. Booking ahead is required.
Alvord Hot Springs
A privately owned desert soaking spot at the foot of Steens Mountain in south-eastern Oregon. Two rustic concrete pools look out over the white playa of the Alvord Desert. The spring is on a working ranch, and a small fee covers soaking, with bunkhouse rooms and camping nearby. Soaking here is clothing-optional, and the remote setting is known for big skies and stargazing.
Apollo Beach
Apollo Beach is the northern, Volusia County district of Canaveral National Seashore, a federally protected barrier island south of New Smyrna Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast. A park road runs south from the entrance station past five numbered parking areas with boardwalks over the dunes; nude sunbathing happens on the sand south of parking area 5, the last lot before the road ends. A long-standing understanding between naturist groups and rangers dating to 2000 asks people to stay covered until about 150 yards south of that boardwalk, although nude visitors are often seen closer. South of there the beach continues as Klondike Beach, roughly a dozen miles of undeveloped shore with no road access, so the farther you walk the emptier it gets. The beach is wide, soft, pale sand backed by sea oats and dunes, with no shade, no buildings and no vendors. It draws fewer people than Playalinda at the Brevard end of the seashore, mostly because parking is so limited. Volusia County has never passed a public nudity ordinance, which is why this end of the seashore has a calmer legal position than Playalinda. Wildlife sightings (shorebirds, wild hogs, armadillos) are common on the drive in.
Apollo Beach Ramp 5
Apollo Beach Ramp 5 is a nudist-friendly beach in Volusia County, Florida,, USA. Nudity is optional. On-site amenities include restrooms.
Arcadia Romantic Getaway
Arcadia Romantic Getaway is a small, couples-oriented naturist retreat in the rural community of Arcadia, near Shelton in Mason County. The fenced six-acre property has gardens, a pool and a hot tub, and the owner screens visitors, so guests must call ahead. Day passes are available during a summer season that runs roughly from Memorial Day through September. Coordinates mark the Arcadia community, not the exact gate.