Alaska Hot Springs Guide 2026 — Chena, Manley, and the Wild Ones
Alaska's Hot Springs: From Drive-Up Resorts to Bush Soaks
Alaska has dozens of geothermal springs scattered across the Interior and western regions, ranging from developed resorts with pools and lodging to remote wilderness pools reachable only by float plane or days of hiking. The northern lights in winter, the midnight sun in summer, and temperatures that make the contrast between cold air and hot water genuinely dramatic — hot springs are one of Alaska's most underrated experiences.
Chena Hot Springs Resort
Chena Hot Springs Resort is the most accessible hot spring in Alaska, located 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks on a paved road. It operates year-round with an outdoor rock lake pool (104–106°F), an indoor pool, private tubs, and a full resort complex including lodging, a restaurant, and the only year-round Aurora Ice Museum in the world — a walk-through sculpture environment kept at 25°F, open even in summer.
Day-use rates for the rock lake pool run $15–$20 per person. The resort is a reliable northern lights viewing destination from mid-August through April; its distance from Fairbanks city lights makes for dark skies. Book the Celestial Dome cabin or aurora viewing packages well in advance for the September–March peak window. Cell service is limited at the resort — the drive out on Chena Hot Springs Road passes through birch forest with no services for the last 20 miles.
Manley Hot Springs
Manley Hot Springs is a small community at the end of the Elliott Highway, 152 miles northwest of Fairbanks on a mostly paved but rough road that can be muddy and rutted in wet conditions. The springs themselves are on private property at the Manley Roadhouse — a historic lodge that dates to 1906 and is one of the oldest roadhouses in Alaska still in operation.
The Roadhouse operates three concrete tubs fed by the springs, plus an outdoor greenhouse pool surrounded by tropical plants — an oddly lush environment in interior Alaska. Soaking access is available by arrangement; call ahead. The Roadhouse also has basic lodging and serves meals. The community of Manley has fewer than 100 year-round residents. The drive itself is worth it — the Elliott Highway through the White Mountains passes through some of the most remote roadside scenery in the Interior.
Tolovana Hot Springs
Tolovana Hot Springs requires effort to reach, which is part of the appeal. It sits in the White Mountains north of Fairbanks and is accessible by a 10.5-mile trail that is used year-round — on foot in summer, by dog sled or skis in winter. The BLM maintains three soaking tubs and a public-use cabin at the springs (cabin reservation required through recreation.gov, $25/night). The walk through boreal forest to a remote natural hot spring is the Alaska experience the Chena resort approximates for those who want to earn it.
Serpentine Hot Springs
Serpentine Hot Springs in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve on the Seward Peninsula is one of Alaska's wildest accessible soaks — accessible only by charter flight from Nome. The springs emerge from a rocky hillside near dramatic granite tors, with a bathhouse maintained by the National Park Service and a public bunkhouse. Water temperatures reach 170°F at the source, cooled by a mixing system to a comfortable soak temperature.
Getting there from Nome requires chartering a small plane (roughly $350–$500 round trip per person depending on group size) and coordinating with the park service. This is a genuine backcountry experience — come prepared for Nome-area weather and bush travel conditions.
Circle Hot Springs
Circle Hot Springs, located off the Steese Highway northeast of Fairbanks, has a complex history — the historic resort closed and has operated intermittently. As of recent years it has been partially operational; verify current status before driving out. At peak operation it had a large outdoor pool fed by springs reaching 139°F, with the mix creating a 97°F soaking temperature. The drive on the Steese Highway toward Circle is worthwhile regardless.
Planning Tips for Alaska Hot Springs
- Best season for northern lights + soaking: Late August through March; September and March have the best combination of reasonable temperatures and long dark windows
- Summer midnight sun soaks: Surreal experience — 2 AM in a hot spring with full daylight is distinctly Alaskan
- Remote springs logistics: Charter flights from Fairbanks or Nome; coordinate with operators like Wright Air Service or Bering Air for bush destinations
- Always call ahead: Remote facilities have irregular operating seasons; conditions change seasonally
- Chena in winter: Dress in full winter gear for the walk between the changing room and the outdoor pool — the air-to-water contrast at -20°F is unforgettable but the walk matters
The northern lights came on at 1 AM and we were the only people in the rock pool at Chena. Steam coming off the surface, sky doing its thing, –12°F air on our faces. That's the soak you're paying for in Alaska. The trick is finding the right hot spring for what you actually want, because they range from drive-up resorts to bushwhack-and-pray.
Looking for things to do in Alaska? Browse upcoming Alaska events →