How do you get to do this sort of thing? Its not really an issue for me anymore seeing that Im back in Texas, but there was always one trail in New Mexico that lead to an amazing hotspring that was closed (even when it was extremely passable for somebody with tires and 4X4). At times, friends and I would go out to hike the trail (maybe 7-10 miles) for the soak and there would be nearly no snow the entire way. It was a Forest Service trail that they closed for something like November through May.