White Sulphur Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
White Sulphur Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Pelican, Alaska. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free public warm springs on the exposed Pacific coast of Chichagof Island in Tongass NF's West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness — boat-only access (anchor at Mirror Harbor + ~1-mile trail, or beach boats in calm weather); a cedar bathhouse with concrete soaking pool plus an outdoor warm pool sit 50 ft from the reservable Forest Service cabin, but the springs are NOT exclusive to cabin renters and stay open to any visitor year-round, weather permitting.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 3 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Recreation.gov — White Sulphur Springs Cabin, Tongass NF (springs free, non-exclusive, boat access).
- 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-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: Spring itself needs no permit and is free; overnight stays use the White Sulphur Springs Cabin via recreation.gov (sleeps ~6; ~86 nights/yr rented, 9th busiest of 25 Sitka Ranger District cabins — reserve well ahead). Alaska cabin reservations can be modified only once.
- Best time to go: Summer months for calm seas and reliable boat access; roughly 6 unguided day-use parties/week in summer — solitude likely but not guaranteed
- Clothing reality: No posted policy — remote wilderness bathhouse used by fishermen, kayakers, cabin renters; nudity customary at the private bathhouse pool when alone but the site is shared public use, so expect mixed company and have a suit handy.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Remote wilderness site — boat landing, ~1-mile primitive trail from Mirror Harbor anchorage; not accessible for mobility-limited visitors
- NO road access — boat or floatplane only; floatplane lake landing now unreliable due to vegetation
- Nearest charter base is Pelican (~23 mi by boat); ~65 mi NW of Sitka — arrange boat charter, no ferry/scheduled service
- Reserving the White Sulphur Springs Cabin does NOT include exclusive spring use — day visitors may arrive anytime; conversely the cabin area can be noisy for renters
- No overnight camping allowed in the bathhouse
- No potable water — rainwater catchment barrel only (boil before drinking); bring extra water against dehydration
- Dry Pass Trail / Sea Level Slough crossing only passable at lower tides
- Cabin not maintained in winter; firewood scarce; pack out all garbage
- Spring emerges ~135°F — bathhouse temp is moderated but check water before entering
- Hazard: Brown bears frequent the area
- Hazard: Exposed open-ocean coast — weather can trap or block boats; carry VHF/satellite communicator
- Hazard: Tide-dependent slough crossing on the Dry Pass trail
- Hazard: Remote — nearest services Pelican; no rescue infrastructure
- Hazard: Dehydration from hot soaking with no potable water on site
About this spring
Natural warm springs pool ~50 ft from a reservable USFS cabin on the north shore of Bertha Bay, west coast of Chichagof Island inside the West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness — historic early-1900s health-spa site with ocean views. Fee: Pool free; USFS cabin ~$45-60/night via recreation.gov. Exposed Pacific coast — access weather-dependent; springs shared with cabin visitors.
White Sulphur Springs may refer to: White Sulphur Springs (California) White Sulphur Springs, Florida, a former name or the natural spring of White Springs, Florida White Sulphur Springs, Hall County, Georgia, an unincorporated community White Sulphur Springs, Meriwether County, Georgia, an unincorporated community White Sulphur Springs (Jena, Louisiana), listed on the NRHP in La Salle Parish White Sulphur Springs, Indiana White Sulphur Springs, Montana White Sulphur Springs, New York White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia White Sulphur Springs (Amtrak station)
Text from the Wikipedia article “White Sulphur Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Boat only — anchor in Mirror Harbor or Porcupine Bay, then the 0.9-mi White Sulphur Springs Trail. Charter from Pelican or floatplane from Sitka.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°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 | Recreation.gov — White Sulphur Springs Cabin, Tongass NF (springs free, non-exclusive, boat access) |
White Sulphur Springs FAQ
Is White Sulphur Springs open right now?
Free public warm springs on the exposed Pacific coast of Chichagof Island in Tongass NF's West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness — boat-only access (anchor at Mirror Harbor + ~1-mile trail, or beach boats in calm weather); a cedar bathhouse with concrete soaking pool plus an outdoor warm pool sit 50 ft from the reservable Forest Service cabin, but the springs are NOT exclusive to cabin renters and stay open to any visitor year-round, weather permitting. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is White Sulphur Springs free?
White Sulphur Springs is listed as free to access in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is White Sulphur Springs?
White Sulphur 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 White Sulphur Springs clothing optional?
White Sulphur Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access White Sulphur Springs?
White Sulphur Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Recreation.gov — White Sulphur Springs Cabin, Tongass NF (springs free, non-exclusive, boat access) — official · 2026-09
- Recreation.gov — Site So1 White Sulphur Springs Cabin (restrictions, bear/tide warnings) — official · 2026-09
- USFS NEPA Decision/FONSI — White Sulphur Springs Bathhouse replacement (2012 rebuild details, use stats) — official · 2011
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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