Hutlinana Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Hutlinana Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Interior Alaska backcountry spring on the bank of Hutlinana Creek ~6-7 mi in from Elliott Highway MP ~128-129 (128 mi NW of Fairbanks): a rock-walled pool runs ~105-106F and keeps part of the river ice-free in winter; reached by an unmarked ATV/snowmachine trail (RS 2477 route RST 1845) — easiest by ski/snowmachine after freeze-up, a boggy mosquito slog in summer.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — Hutlinana Hot Springs smooths out rough parts of winter camping trip (Dec 2015; 106F, 6-mi winter trail, MP 129.3 pullout).
- 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 102°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 — open public access (BLM land / ADNR RS 2477 trail corridor); no fee.
- Best time to go: Winter after freeze-up (Nov-Mar) — frozen muskeg makes the 6-7 mi ski/snowmachine run far easier than the summer slog through bog and mosquitoes.
- Clothing reality: No policy — remote BLM backcountry; clothing-optional in practice.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — 6-7 mi one-way over unmaintained, poorly marked trail with bog and creek crossings.
- Unmarked trailhead ~MP 128-129.3 Elliott Highway near the Hutlinana Creek Bridge — look for informal markers (socks/ribbons tied on trees) at the pullout on the east side before the bridge; the trail is an unsigned old ATV/snowmachine route
- ~6-7 miles one-way, mostly flat but muddy/boggy in summer with brutal mosquitoes — winter (ski, snowshoe, snowmachine after freeze-up) is the consensus easier season
- Pool ~105-106F, rock wall separates it from the cold Hutlinana River; discharge ~400 L/min; hottest water near shore under the rock outcrop — soak on the far side
- Winter creek/river crossings on ice bridges can be precarious — running water under ice near the springs
- Trail is an ADNR-recognized RS 2477 right-of-way (RST 1845) crossing mixed land — follow the established route
- No facilities, no fee; winter camping beside the pool is the classic trip; warm ground noted near the springs
- Gravel Elliott Highway beyond MP ~28 (paved to Fox then gravel stretches) — long remote drive; nearest services Fairbanks ~128 mi
- Bears possible; no cell service
- Hazard: Unmarked trail — route-finding required; carry map/GPS (Bettles-area topo)
- Hazard: Boggy muskeg terrain in summer; severe mosquitoes
- Hazard: Precarious ice bridges over the creek/river in winter
- Hazard: Arctic winter cold — trips are overnight for most skiers
- Hazard: Remote gravel highway approach; no cell service
About this spring
Undeveloped geothermal pool on the bank of Hutlinana Creek ~150 mi NW of Fairbanks — the warm spring keeps a stretch of creek unfrozen in winter, making it a popular winter ski/snowmachine camping soak. No structures or signage. Unmarked trailhead; trail boggy in summer; remote.
Hutlinana Hot Springs is an undeveloped geothermal pool on the right bank of Hutlinana Creek in interior Alaska, roughly 150 miles northwest of Fairbanks and 21 miles southeast of Rampart. Reportedly named by prospectors, the spring discharges about 110 gallons per minute into a pool at roughly 106°F, separated from the cold creek by a short stone wall; its outflow keeps a stretch of the creek open through deep winter, which is what makes it a classic winter-camping soak.
No road or maintained trail reaches the pool. The unmarked trailhead sits near mile 128 of the Elliott Highway just before the Hutlinana River bridge — reportedly the fourth pullout on the east side — and the route runs about 6-8 miles over flat-to-bumpy frozen muskeg and forest, most practical after freeze-up by ski, snowshoe, or snowmachine. Some winters volunteers mark the way with ribbons and socks tied to trees; there are no facilities, though a trapper's tent has occasionally been left open for travelers, and trail users are cautioned about trapping equipment along the route.
Hutlinana is a geothermal spring located on right bank of Hutlinana Creek, 21 miles southeast of Rampart, Yukon-Tanana Highway, east of the Elliott Highway in interior Alaska, approximately 150 miles northwest of Fairbanks. There is no direct road access. The trail is used primarily in winter after freeze-up.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Hutlinana Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Elliott Hwy ~Mile 128-129 near the Hutlinana Creek bridge; unmarked trail ~6.5-7 mi along the creek.
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 | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 102°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 | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — Hutlinana Hot Springs smooths out rough parts of winter camping trip (Dec 2015; 106F, 6-mi winter trail, MP 129.3 pullout) |
Hutlinana Hot Springs FAQ
Is Hutlinana Hot Springs open right now?
Interior Alaska backcountry spring on the bank of Hutlinana Creek ~6-7 mi in from Elliott Highway MP ~128-129 (128 mi NW of Fairbanks): a rock-walled pool runs ~105-106F and keeps part of the river ice-free in winter; reached by an unmarked ATV/snowmachine trail (RS 2477 route RST 1845) — easiest by ski/snowmachine after freeze-up, a boggy mosquito slog in summer. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Hutlinana Hot Springs free?
Hutlinana Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Hutlinana Hot Springs?
Hutlinana Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 102°F and a historical source temperature of 102°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Hutlinana Hot Springs clothing optional?
Hutlinana Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Hutlinana Hot Springs?
Hutlinana Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Wikipedia — Hutlinana Hot Springs (106F pool, 400 L/min discharge, stone wall, river stays open) — community · 2025
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — Hutlinana Hot Springs smooths out rough parts of winter camping trip (Dec 2015; 106F, 6-mi winter trail, MP 129.3 pullout) — news · 2015-12
- NorthernFeet blog — Hutlinana Hot Springs (2014 hike report: sock markers, 6.5-mi ATV trail, boggy) — community · 2014-09
- The Edventures (Ed Plumb) — Weekend at Hutlinana Hot Springs (105F, 6.5-mi ski, trailhead east of bridge) — community · 2007-10
- Grokipedia — Hutlinana Hot Springs (RS 2477 RST 1845 trail status, MP 128.6, Yukon-Koyukuk CA) — community · 2025
- HotSpringsGuides.com — Hutlinana Hot Springs (trailhead details, winter-best access) — community · 2025
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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