Pacific Crest Trail in San Bernardino Mountains above L.A.

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View attachment 46956 Deep Creek is a stunning tributary of the Mojave River with miles of deep pools and cascading waterfalls flowing from pine forests into a true western California desert. The creek is flanked by a chaparral ecosystem and beautiful rocky hills, while the well known hot pools are situated in fascinating rock outcroppings with incredible opportunities for viewing the surrounding geology. The stream was a major entry point to the San Bernardino Mountains for the Vanyume Serrano Indians who once traversed from the Mojave Desert to the mountains each summer to collect acorns. There are many archaeological sites. It is home to the Southwestern Arroyo Toad and supports the greatest diversity of wildlife habitats of any drainage on the San Bernardino National Forest. Black bear, mountain lion, raccoon, ground squirrel, coyote, beaver, and bobcat visit the creek and numerous fish species are found in the water.....and this is all within a 90 minute drive from the Los Angeles basin and 12 million people. Like getting a dose of the Sierra Nevada range, but farther south and much closer. Check out this photo album of 54 images:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59573003@N06/

Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's hippies were always tripping off to awesome places up in the mountains, and one of the most popular spots for folks around Los Angeles was Deep Creek. A great outing was to catch a concert at the Swing Auditorium in San Berdoo, with acts like: Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, The Doors or Janis Joplin.... then just a short hop in your VW Bus up to Deep Creek for a few days to digest the music and play in nature. Those old bands might be gone now, but over 40 years later Deep Creek still is a magical destination with nice pools & sandy beaches, no fog, waterfalls, massive granite boulders, pine forests, desert-scapes and the famed natural hot springs.
When the warmer weather arrives every year from May through October there is still a healthy flow of nature lovers into this creek, and the friendly crowd is out for serious fun. Of all the mountain ranges in southern California none of them are as high as the San Bernardino's, and this includes over 17 peaks that exceed 10,000 feet, covered with snow in the winter months. The Pacific Crest Trail meanders from Mexico to Canada and passes through this range and hugs the canyon walls of Deep Creek for over 20 miles. For upper Deep Creek, the access by car is surprizingly easy, and there are pristine pools and sandy beaches even within 15 minutes walk of the parking lot, and if you walk 30 minutes you can have your own private beach & pool.
The best thing about the stream is that it virtually never dries up, but is fed from the high peaks and valley's to the east, and is one of the most perrenial flows of water in southern California.
The upper portion Deep Creek is accessible from Lake Arrowhead/Cedar Glen area via Hook Creek Road:
From the greater Los Angeles area take the 210 Freeway east until you reach San Bernardino area, take Waterman Avenue (Highway 18) exit towards the mountains and follow the signs to Lake Arrowhead...then turn right on Hwy. 173 and go towards Cedar Glen, then right on Hook Creek Road until the pavement ends, and then it becomes a good dirt forest road # 2N26Y, when you reach the fork go left, cross the stream then at the first right park at the locked gate for Splinter's Cabin, and walk the last half mile....(The road washed out around the bridge in this years heavy rains). Any passenger car can handle this road. The trails begins there, and the Pacific Crest Trail is 4 minutes away. You need to display an adventure pass in your windshield, and you can either get one for the day or the entire year at the Arrowhead Ranger station on Highway 18...at 28104 Hwy. 18 in Skyforest, near Lake Arrowhead. Call them if you want any info: 909-382-2782 Also, there's a Hostel in Big Bear if you wanna spend the night on the mountain.
15 miles downstream the lower portion of Deep Creek is accessible from the other side of the mountain via the Mojave Desert and town of Hesperia, off Interstate 15. This part of the stream includes Hesperia Falls, and the ever popular Deep Creek Hot Springs.
Upper Deep Creek is where you want to be in the summer months....while lower Deep Creek in the Mojave desert is nice during cooler weather. Check it out. Remember, this is flower power at it's most organic, where the mountains meet the sky and hippie lore still echos through the canyons. Pick up the thread and tap into the vibe...and pass it on.