Baranof Warm Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Baranof Warm Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Sitka, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 109°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free, community-maintained soaking at the head of Warm Springs Bay on Baranof Island's east shore (~20 mi east of Sitka): a waterfront public bathhouse with three private tub rooms plus natural rock pools (~108-110°F) beside the Baranof River falls, reachable ONLY by floatplane from Sitka (~30 min) or by boat — no road, no ferry.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Hot Springs Guides — Baranof Warm Springs.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 109°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None for soaking or the bathhouse — free public use. Arrange floatplane charters from Sitka in advance; USFS Baranof Lake cabin via recreation.gov for overnight stays.
- Best time to go: Summer (June-Aug) when the community is occupied, bathhouse maintained, and tour boats/floatplanes run full schedules. Weather windows rule all travel here — build flexibility into Sitka charters.
- Clothing reality: Swimwear customary at the communal riverside pools (public, mixed-use). The bathhouse's three private rooms allow private/nude soaking behind a door.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Boardwalk village — flat but weathered planks; the riverside pools require a short uneven trail. No wheelchair infrastructure; floatplane/boat transfers are the real barrier.
- NO ROAD, NO FERRY — floatplane from Sitka (~30 min clear weather, up to 1 hr overcast; several Sitka operators) or private/charter boat into Warm Springs Bay off Chatham Strait; Alaska Marine Highway does not serve it
- Everything is free: the bathhouse and pools are maintained by the Baranof Property Owners Association + City/Borough of Sitka (which funds the boardwalk and transient dock); donations appreciated for upkeep
- Bathhouse mainly maintained in summer when the ~15-home settlement is occupied; winter = caretaker-only community and reduced transport schedules — visits possible but plan self-sufficiency
- Source water ~120-124°F — the soakable water is in the river-cooled rock pools (~108-110°F) and the piped bathhouse tubs; test before entering
- ~1/4-mi boardwalk/trail from the dock upriver to the natural pools beside the falls; trail continues ~0.5 mi to Baranof Lake (USFS cabin near the outlet)
- Soak the pools, NOT the river — the falls/rapids current is dangerous; pools shift with river level
- Transient moorage at the community dock may carry a small fee (dock rebuilt 2016); no ATVs on the boardwalk; small tour boats and fishing/hatchery traffic stop in summer
- Only commercial enterprise is Baranof Wilderness Lodge (seasonal); otherwise bring everything — no store
- Hazard: 120-124°F scalding source water
- Hazard: Powerful river/falls current beside the soaking pools
- Hazard: Marine/floatplane access only — weather delays are routine; no emergency services
- Hazard: Brown and black bears in the Warm Springs Bay area
- Hazard: Winter: caretaker-only community, minimal services
About this spring
Nine-plus thermal springs at the head of Warm Springs Bay on east Baranof Island — rock-lined riverside pools (~108-110°F) beside the whitewater Baranof River plus a free public bathhouse with three private rooms and bay views. Boat-access boardwalk community with a public dock. River pools flood dangerously at high water; some springs too hot to enter — test first.
Baranof Warm Springs is a small, primarily seasonally-occupied community located in the city and borough of Sitka, Alaska, on the eastern side of Baranof Island, from which it likely derives its name, in the Alexander Archipelago. It is occasionally referred to simply as Baranof. Baranof Warm Springs is located at 57°05′22″N 134°49′59″W.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Baranof Warm Springs, Alaska”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Boat or floatplane ~20 mi east of Sitka to Warm Springs Bay; boardwalk then a short trail upriver to the pools.
Alaska geothermal context
Alaska's geothermal sites sit along the volcanically active Aleutian arc and scattered Interior fault zones. Most are reachable only by floatplane, boat, or long backcountry routes, and the realistic soaking season is short — roughly June through September. Treat every remote spring as a wilderness trip, not a roadside stop.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
June – September (Short Summer Access Window)Remote Alaskan geothermal sites have a brief accessible season — snow, ice, and limited road access close most areas outside summer. Midnight-sun June through early September offers the only realistic visiting window for most locations.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 109°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 109°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Hot Springs Guides — Baranof Warm Springs |
Baranof Warm Springs FAQ
Is Baranof Warm Springs open right now?
Free, community-maintained soaking at the head of Warm Springs Bay on Baranof Island's east shore (~20 mi east of Sitka): a waterfront public bathhouse with three private tub rooms plus natural rock pools (~108-110°F) beside the Baranof River falls, reachable ONLY by floatplane from Sitka (~30 min) or by boat — no road, no ferry. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Baranof Warm Springs free?
Baranof Warm Springs is listed as free to access in Sitka Borough, Alaska. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Baranof Warm Springs?
Baranof Warm Springs has a reported soak temperature of 109°F and a historical source temperature of 109°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Baranof Warm Springs clothing optional?
Baranof Warm Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Baranof Warm Springs?
Baranof Warm Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Hot Springs Guides — Baranof Warm Springs — community · 2026-09
- Wikipedia — Baranof Warm Springs (community) and thermal springs articles — community · 2026-09
- NW Explorations — 2025 Alaska Flotilla visit (guests soaked in pools) — community · 2025
- Plungeworthy — Baranof Warm Springs — community · 2026-09
- Top Hot Springs — Baranof Warm Springs — community · 2026-09
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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