Chena Hot Springs

The hot springs were known to Athabascan people of the Interior long before newcomers arrived. In 1905, during the gold era around Fairbanks, prospecting brothers seeking relief for aching muscles followed reports of steam rising from the hills and located the springs, and a rough resort soon grew up around them.

For more than a century since, Chena has drawn Fairbanks residents and travelers up the valley to soak. The setting, at the end of a road deep in the boreal country, gives it a remote, off-the-map feeling even though it is an easy day trip from the city.

The water emerges naturally hot from the ground and is cooled to a comfortable temperature for the outdoor rock lake, the heart of the resort and the reason most people come.

The outdoor rock lake is an adults-only pool of warm mineral water surrounded by boulders and, much of the year, snow and frost. In winter the contrast is unforgettable: the air far below freezing, steam rising off the surface, and, on a clear night, the aurora borealis dancing above.

Fairbanks and the surrounding Interior sit under the auroral oval, one of the best zones on earth for seeing the northern lights, and Chena's dark skies and open valley make it a premier viewing spot. The resort even runs late-night aurora watching, with warm-up lodges and tours up a nearby ridge.

Aurora season runs roughly from late August into April, peaking on cold, clear, moonless nights. Summer visitors trade the lights for the midnight sun and long daylight, and soak all the same.

One of Chena's oddest attractions is the Aurora Ice Museum, a large structure built entirely of ice and snow and kept frozen inside all year, even through the Interior summer, using power drawn from the springs. Inside are ice sculptures, ice bedrooms, and a bar that serves a signature cocktail in a glass carved from ice.

Keeping ice frozen in summer takes energy, and Chena makes its own. The resort pioneered low-temperature geothermal power, using the hot spring water to run a generator, and it channels the heat into greenhouses that grow tomatoes, lettuce, and other produce through the deep cold of winter.

Tours of the greenhouses and the geothermal plant show off a small, self-reliant experiment in living off the earth's heat at the edge of the subarctic.

Getting to the springs is half the pleasure. Chena Hot Springs Road runs 56 paved miles east from the Fairbanks area up the valley of the Chena River, through the Chena River State Recreation Area, a favorite for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and, in winter, dog mushing and skiing.

The drive passes trailheads, riverside campgrounds, and granite tors on the ridgelines, with good chances of seeing moose. In winter the road is plowed but remote, so travelers should carry warm gear and check conditions. Many visitors come on a guided tour from Fairbanks, especially for aurora nights.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Chena Hot Springs, in the hills northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a beloved hot-springs resort famous for its natural geothermal pools, remote wilderness setting, and reputation as a wonderful place to view the northern lights. Reached by a scenic drive from Fairbanks, the resort offers soaking in naturally heated mineral waters, including a large rock lake, along with an ice museum, hiking, wildlife, and, in the dark months, excellent aurora viewing away from city lights. Its relaxing waters and Interior scenery make it a cherished destination. A soothing and scenic retreat, it delights visitors. With its hot springs and aurora, Chena Hot Springs offers a rewarding destination in Alaska.

Yes, Chena Hot Springs is a renowned place to view the northern lights, thanks to its location away from city lights in Alaska's Interior, and soaking in the warm springs while watching the aurora overhead is a magical experience. The aurora is best seen during the dark, cold months of roughly fall through early spring, on clear nights, and viewing depends on solar activity and clear skies, so planning around the season and checking forecasts help. Dressing warmly for the cold nights is essential. For the aurora, visit during the dark months and hope for clear skies at Chena Hot Springs in Alaska.

You can soak in the naturally heated mineral springs, including the large outdoor rock lake, visit the year-round ice museum, hike, watch for wildlife, and in the dark months view the northern lights. The relaxing hot springs, the ice museum, the hiking and wildlife, and the aurora viewing are the draws, making it a wonderful retreat in any season. Soaking in the warm waters amid the wilderness is the highlight. With its springs and activities, Chena Hot Springs offers a rewarding experience in Alaska.

The springs are enjoyable year-round, but each season offers something different: summer brings mild weather, long days, and hiking, while the dark, cold months of roughly fall through early spring are the time to soak while watching for the northern lights. Because aurora viewing depends on the dark season and clear skies, plan accordingly and dress warmly. For summer hiking choose the warm months, or for the aurora visit the dark months, at Chena Hot Springs in Alaska.

Chena Hot Springs is in the hills northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, reached by a scenic road through the Chena River valley and Chena River State Recreation Area, within reach of Fairbanks with its museums and Pioneer Park. That makes Chena Hot Springs a rewarding stop to combine with the attractions of the Fairbanks area on a visit to Alaska.