Chief Shakes Hot Springs

Q: Is Chief Shakes Hot Springs free?

Chief Shakes Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Wrangell Borough, Alaska. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.

Q: What temperature is Chief Shakes Hot Springs?

Chief Shakes Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 106°F and a historical source temperature of 106°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.

Q: Is Chief Shakes Hot Springs clothing optional?

Chief Shakes Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.

Q: How do you access Chief Shakes Hot Springs?

Chief Shakes Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.

Wrangell, Alaska (Wrangell Borough)

By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026

Chief Shakes Hot Springs is a developed hot spring listed near Wrangell, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 106°F. See the visit fact sheet.

Chief Shakes Hot Springs — natural hot spring near Wrangell, Alaska — Photo: Forest Service Alaska Region, USDA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

106°F reportedFree access (reported)

Get directions

Current status

Open — last verified below

Free USFS day-use hot-springs facility in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness ~28 river-miles up the Stikine from Wrangell: two redwood tubs (one enclosed, one open-air) fed by ~140F source water cooled to ~105-108F, reached only by boat or floatplane plus a 0.3-mi trail off Hot Springs Slough — a local favorite that gets busy on summer weekends and holidays.

USFS Tongass NF — Chief Shakes Hot Springs Site (facility, access, crowds; updated 2025-02-19)

Spring

Open

Road

Unconfirmed

Access

Public land

Soaking

Soaking allowed

Water

Normal

Crowds

Busy weekends

Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓

Before you go

Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via USFS Tongass NF — Chief Shakes Hot Springs Site (facility, access, crowds; updated 2025-02-19).
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 106°F — always test the water before entering.
Rules: Reported clothing required; 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 — free USFS day-use site, first-come first-served; nearby wilderness cabins via recreation.gov.
Best time to go: Weekdays in June-August for fewer people; sunny summer weekends get crowded by local boaters. Late May-early Sept for reliable river/tide access.
Clothing reality: No posted clothing policy; developed-but-remote USFS site shared with local visitors — assume swimwear customary.
Kids: Allowed.
Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
Accessibility: Boat/floatplane approach plus 0.3-mi trail/boardwalk; slough-walking required at low water — not wheelchair-suitable.
NO road access — boat or floatplane only, ~28 river-miles (1.5-2 hr) up the Stikine River from Wrangell; water taxis and guided jet-boat tours run from Wrangell
Tide/river-level dependent: need ~14 ft tide to cross the Stikine tide flats; at river levels below ~16 ft boats can't reach Hot Springs Slough and you must walk the slough; check the Shakes river gauge and tide charts
River is normally ice-free May-October; prime season late May-early September
Day use only — no overnight stays at the tubs; tent camping allowed within 100 ft of trails; reservable Shakes Slough 1 & 2 cabins ~4 mi downstream on recreation.gov
Don't expect privacy — USFS warns of crowds on weekends, holidays and sunny summer days; it's a favorite of Wrangell locals
Source ~140F but tubs are tempered by hot/cold flow pipes (~105-108F) — adjustable
Recent maintenance: USFS + Sitka Conservation Society rebuilt the lower tub's deck (Aug, ~$179K GAOA funds) with the lower tub itself scheduled for replacement the following year — some construction possible
Brown/black bears, moose in the area; no potable water; 2 outhouses; bring everything
Note the conflict: USFS says 28 miles NW of Wrangell, the Wrangell Sentinel says ~12 miles upriver — likely straight-line vs river-mile difference
Hazard: Remote tidal river access — tide flats, shifting channels, weather
Hazard: Stranding risk at low river levels (<16 ft gauge)
Hazard: Brown/black bears
Hazard: No potable water, no cell service
Hazard: Possible construction work on lower tub

About this spring

USFS day-use site on the Stikine River with two redwood tubs — one enclosed, one open-air — fed by ~122°F spring water with hot & cold pipes to adjust, in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness. Recently rebuilt by USFS and the Sitka Conservation Society; reservable cabins nearby. River levels/tides control access — check the Stikine gauge; bears.

Chief Shakes Hot Springs is a free USFS day-use site on the Stikine River about 28 river-miles northwest of Wrangell, inside the Stikine–LeConte Wilderness — two redwood tubs, one enclosed and one open-air, with hot spring water piped in beside a cold line so you set your own soaking temperature. Reservable Forest Service cabins sit nearby, and the facility was rebuilt in recent years by USFS and the Sitka Conservation Society.

Access is boat or floatplane only — figure one and a half to two hours up the Stikine by water taxi or jet-boat tour from Wrangell, entering Hot Springs Slough and walking a short 0.3-mile trail. The real gatekeeper is the river itself: crossing the Stikine tide flats needs roughly a 14-foot tide, and low water or bad timing can strand the trip. Bears are a genuine presence. Late May through early September is the dependable window; sunny summer weekends draw local boaters.

Directions & trailhead access

~28 mi NW of Wrangell up the Stikine River; enter Hot Springs Slough, walk 0.3-mi trail.

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 developed site means here

A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.

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.

Recommended soaking windowMid-Day (Warmest Ambient Temps)

Packing & trail advicePack bug repellent, rain gear, and bear spray — most Alaskan springs are in remote backcountry with no services.

Live Outdoor Soaking Weather

Reported Directory Data

Alaska Geothermal Area • Reported 106°F

Reported source temperature — actual pool conditions vary.

Live NOAA sync...Directory Data

Fact sheet

Reported soak temp	106°F
Source temp (historical)	106°F
Trail access	Recorded coordinates — access unverified
Access fee	Reported free — verify locally
Clothing policy	Reported clothing required
Pet policy	Reported no pets
Geothermal data reference	NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive)
Check land status	USFS Tongass NF — Chief Shakes Hot Springs Site (facility, access, crowds; updated 2025-02-19)