Melozi Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Directory data reviewed September 2026
Current status
verified against an official sourceAbandoned fly-in wilderness resort on BLM land ~30 miles northeast of Ruby, AK: roughly 20 springs (~131F source) along Hot Springs Creek with an outdoor tub on a bluff and natural soaking pools; the resort closed in 1996, BLM razed/cleaned the site (DEC 'cleanup complete' 2015), and the airstrip is washed out — realistically reachable only by charter floatplane/helicopter or a multi-day overland trek.
Sources: Alaska DEC Contaminated Sites — BLM Melozi Hot Springs (Cleanup Complete 9/15/2015) (official · 2015-09) · Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — 'BLM planning to spruce up Melozi Hot Springs' (3-phase cleanup plan, lease ended 1996) (news · 2013) · Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — 'Deep in Alaska's Interior, a deserted hot springs lodge fades into history' (news · 2010) · alaskatracks blog — winter ski/snowmachine visit to Melozi (pool 'clear, bubbly, clean. Warm.') (community · 2013-04) · Alaska.org — Melozi Hot Springs (community · 2025) · Hot Springs Guides — Melozi Hot Springs (community · 2025)
Abandoned fly-in wilderness resort on BLM land ~30 miles northeast of Ruby, AK: roughly 20 springs (~131F source) along Hot Springs Creek with an outdoor tub on a bluff and natural soaking pools; the resort closed in 1996, BLM razed/cleaned the site (DEC 'cleanup complete' 2015), and the airstrip is washed out — realistically reachable only by charter floatplane/helicopter or a multi-day overland trek.
Melozi Hot Springs is a private hot spring listed near Ruby, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Before you go — visit checklist
- Status: Road access restricted — confirm via Alaska DEC Contaminated Sites — BLM Melozi Hot Springs (Cleanup Complete 9/15/2015).
- Cost: Fee status unknown — verify cost before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 105°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 — BLM Central Yukon Field Office public land; no fee or permit.
- Best time to go: Winter (Feb-Apr) for ski/snowmachine travel, or summer for floatplane access. Essentially never crowded.
- Clothing reality: No policy — essentially private in practice given extreme remoteness.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — requires bush aircraft or multi-day wilderness travel.
- NO road access — nearest road is ~35 miles away; only realistic entries are charter floatplane (land on the lake — the old airstrip is overgrown/washed out and unusable per 2010-era accounts), helicopter, or boat to Ruby then multi-day hike/packraft
- Winter overland approach by ski or snowmachine from Ruby via the ghost village of Kokrines is a documented multi-day route used by locals
- Source water ~131F; a scalding hot waterfall pours off the ~20-ft bluff into Hot Springs Creek — test pools before entering
- Resort structures are deteriorating — collapsed pool house roof, unsafe buildings; the final leaseholder group maintained a disputed claim on the physical structures after BLM ended the lease in 1996
- Alaska DEC contaminated-site record: diesel-range organics/lead cleanup completed 2015 — avoid the old maintenance/shop areas
- No services, no fuel, no potable water, no communications — file a flight plan / carry satellite communicator
- Brown and black bears; interior Alaska weather
- Hazard: Scalding ~131F source water and hot waterfall
- Hazard: Deteriorating/collapsing structures
- Hazard: Unusable airstrip — do not plan a wheeled-plane landing
- Hazard: Bears
- Hazard: Extreme remoteness — no rescue infrastructure
Fact Sheet & Geothermal Specifications
| Reported Soak Temp | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source Temp (Historical) | 105°F |
| Trail Access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access Fee | Unknown — Verify Locally |
| Clothing Policy | Reported Clothing-Optional |
| Pet Policy | Reported No Pets |
| Geothermal Data Reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check Land Status | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Detailed Description
~20 springs (~130°F source) along Hot Springs Creek in the Kokrines Hills ~30 mi NE of Ruby — site of a 1960s-80s wilderness lodge now abandoned and decaying, on private land with no managed entry. A favorite of backcountry travelers despite the access risk. PRIVATE LAND — buildings structurally unsafe; extremely remote.
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 private-access site means here
This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.
Directions & Trailhead Access
No road — fly to Ruby then boat ~30 mi up the Yukon plus a multi-day hike, or charter floatplane.
Seasonal Soaking & Best Time to Visit
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.
Sources & References
- Alaska DEC Contaminated Sites — BLM Melozi Hot Springs (Cleanup Complete 9/15/2015) — official · 2015-09
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — 'BLM planning to spruce up Melozi Hot Springs' (3-phase cleanup plan, lease ended 1996) — news · 2013
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner — 'Deep in Alaska's Interior, a deserted hot springs lodge fades into history' — news · 2010
- alaskatracks blog — winter ski/snowmachine visit to Melozi (pool 'clear, bubbly, clean. Warm.') — community · 2013-04
- Alaska.org — Melozi Hot Springs — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Melozi Hot Springs — community · 2025
Current access has not been independently confirmed for this visit. Check the linked sources before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Frequently Asked Questions: Melozi Hot Springs
Is Melozi Hot Springs open right now?+
Abandoned fly-in wilderness resort on BLM land ~30 miles northeast of Ruby, AK: roughly 20 springs (~131F source) along Hot Springs Creek with an outdoor tub on a bluff and natural soaking pools; the resort closed in 1996, BLM razed/cleaned the site (DEC 'cleanup complete' 2015), and the airstrip is washed out — realistically reachable only by charter floatplane/helicopter or a multi-day overland trek. (Status verified against an official source.)
Is Melozi Hot Springs free?+
Directory records do not confirm a fee status for Melozi Hot Springs — verify current access rules with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Melozi Hot Springs?+
Melozi Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 105°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Melozi Hot Springs clothing optional?+
Melozi Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Melozi Hot Springs?+
Melozi Hot Springs is a recorded location in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Exact access, parking, and land status are not verified — check with the local land manager (BLM/USFS/NPS) before visiting.
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