Pilgrim Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Pilgrim Hot Springs is a private hot spring listed near Nome, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Native-corp-owned (Unaatuq LLC) historic hot springs oasis ~60 mi NE of Nome — a maintained bathing pool plus rental cabins open summers only (2026 season Jun 19-Sep 27, 10am-10pm, CLOSED TUESDAYS) with a FREE day-pass permit and signed waiver; reachable by gravel road in season, by snow machine/ski/dog sled at-your-own-risk in winter.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Alaska Dept of Fish & Game — Kougarok Road MP53.7 Pilgrim side trip.
- 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 104°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: Free day-pass permit + waiver via pilgrimhotsprings.com/permits (Google form); included with overnight cabin bookings; winter access requires a valid permit. Kawerak co-manager: pilgrim@kawerak.org, 907-331-4716 (M-F 8-3:30).
- Best time to go: Summer season mid-June through late September, 10am-10pm except Tuesdays; weekdays quietest. The 180F geothermal source feeds the pool — winter soaks possible only by self-supported winter travel.
- Clothing reality: Swimwear — it is a maintained bathing pool on a staffed family property; no clothing-optional policy indicated.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: 10-15 min walk from parking on gravel paths; ATV assist may be available from caretakers and advance accessibility accommodations can be requested — call 907-331-4716 ahead.
- PERMIT REQUIRED for entry — free 2026 day pass via online form (sponsored by Glacier Fish Co); all visitors check in with the on-site caretaker and sign a liability waiver; cemetery-only visits are free of charge
- 2026 season June 19 - September 27, 10am-10pm for day visitors, CLOSED TUESDAYS; pool/property reserved for overnight guests after 10pm (check-in 3-10pm, checkout noon)
- Today (Sep 22) is the LAST WEEK of the 2026 season — closes to the public Sep 27; upper entrance gate is locked in the off-season
- ~60 mi NE of Nome: Beam Rd -> Kougarok Rd to ~mile 53 (old yellow dozer + green 'Pilgrim Hot Springs - 7 miles' sign), then 7 mi of gravel Pilgrim Rd at slow pace — ADF&G warns sections are very rough and may be impassable if flooded
- Park at lower gate guest parking; ~10-15 min walk to the pool — no unauthorized motorized vehicles beyond parking (advance-request access accommodations possible; caretakers may give ATV rides when available)
- Winter access only by snow machine/ski/dog sled/heli/fat bike with a valid permit, entirely at your own risk — no marked trails, pool temp not guaranteed off-season
- Surrounding land is Mary's Igloo Native Corporation property — hiking outside the property boundary or arriving via the river requires a separate MINC permit (907-642-2308)
- NO cell service once you leave Nome; overnight cabins/tents bookable; site is on the National Register of Historic Places (former Catholic orphanage with mass graves from the 1918 flu — treat with respect)
- Hazard: 180F geothermal source water — natural seeps around the property can scald; stick to the maintained pool
- Hazard: Rough gravel access road — can flood and become impassable
- Hazard: Remote subarctic site — no cell service past Nome, weather changes fast
- Hazard: Winter travel is unmarked, self-rescue terrain
- Hazard: Bears/wildlife possible on the walk in
About this spring
Historic 320-acre geothermal oasis on the Seward Peninsula — former Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic orphanage (1917-1941, NRHP-listed deteriorating structures) amid geothermal-heated tundra, with a managed soaking pool. Owned by Unaatuq LLC; visitor permit required. Fee: Free visitor permit + waiver REQUIRED at pilgrimhotsprings.com. Permit required — no trespassing; orphanage buildings unsafe; remote.
Pilgrim Hot Springs is a ghost town in the interior of the Seward Peninsula of northwestern Arctic Alaska. Also known as Kruzgamepa, Kruzgamepa Springs and Unaatuq. It is located on the southeast bank of the Kruzgamepa River, about 8 miles (13 km) south of milepost 65 of the Kougarok Road, on the traditional lands of the Kauweramiut, also known as the People of Kauwerak, also known as people of the Village of Mary's Igloo and their descendants. The location gained prominence in the early 20th century because of its thermal hot springs, which made agricultural homesteading possible, and which were adapted to provide a respite for the gold miners of Nome. Early buildings, built 1900–03, were of log construction, and included a log cabin, barn and chicken house. A roadhouse and saloon were built after 1903, but were destroyed by fire in 1908, after the mining boom had ended. After the flu epidemic of 1918, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nome built a large orphanage at the site, complete with a large church, dormitory and school, and living quarters for the staff, as well as greenhouses. These facilities were kept warm by water piped from the hot springs. The site was closed in 1941, but soon reopened as a recreational facility for the military, serving until the end of World War II. When surveyed in 1977 prior to listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the buildings on the site were in deteriorated condition. The site is owned by Unaataq LLC, a consortium of area Alaska native corporations which is working on development alternatives for the site, including power generation and tourism.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Pilgrim Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
~60-68 mi from Nome: Nome-Kougarok Rd then ~7 mi spur road to the gate (4WD recommended); park and walk in.
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.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°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 | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Pilgrim Hot Springs FAQ
Is Pilgrim Hot Springs open right now?
Native-corp-owned (Unaatuq LLC) historic hot springs oasis ~60 mi NE of Nome — a maintained bathing pool plus rental cabins open summers only (2026 season Jun 19-Sep 27, 10am-10pm, CLOSED TUESDAYS) with a FREE day-pass permit and signed waiver; reachable by gravel road in season, by snow machine/ski/dog sled at-your-own-risk in winter. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Pilgrim Hot Springs free?
Pilgrim Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Nome Census Area, Alaska. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Pilgrim Hot Springs?
Pilgrim Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Pilgrim Hot Springs clothing optional?
Pilgrim Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Pilgrim Hot Springs?
Pilgrim Hot Springs requires permission, a permit or advance booking — confirm the terms with the site manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Pilgrim Hot Springs / Unaatuq LLC — official site (2026 season, directions) — operator · 2026-09
- Pilgrim Hot Springs — official permits page (hours, fees, rules) — operator · 2026-09
- Alaska Dept of Fish & Game — Kougarok Road MP53.7 Pilgrim side trip — official · 2026-09
- KNOM — Unaatuq reclaims past, builds future at historic hot springs — news · 2025-06
- NPS — National Register nomination form (Pilgrim Springs) — official · 1977
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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