Visiting Chena Hot Springs

People have been visiting hot springs for centuries. Whether they believed they held the key to the fountain of youth or simply to heal an aching muscle, hot springs continue to be popular all over the world. It is said that the healing water of Chena Hot Springs in Fairbanks, Alaska has been compared to the mineral waters found in the hot springs of the Czech Republic.

A variety of different minerals make up the water at the hot springs. However, the geothermal system is fed by water that circulates deep underground. It has been picking up the natural heat of the Earth for thousands of years. Can you believe that Chena’s recorded history dates back to the 1990s and there is even evidence that indigenous people use the water as well?

What to Expect

When you decide to visit Chena, there are a couple of different options in how to get there. You can either drive yourself or visit as part of a tour group. When I visited, I was a part of a tour group that was not only visiting Chena, but also visiting the Aurora Ice Museum and finally chasing Northern Lights. I recommend going as part of the group, especially if you are visiting in winter time. The snow and ice on the roads can be quite dangerous if you’re not used to driving on them!

The springs have both indoor and outdoor possibilities. If you are visiting in winter, it is a fast walk (or sprint) to the nice, hot waters outside. You will see that the locker room exit is about 300 feet to the entrance of the springs (at least the women’s locker room is). The boulder-lined outdoor lake I was running to, is restricted to adults only. But, it has a nice sandy bottom which makes walking around comfortable and easy!

The resort the hot springs sits in also includes many other things to do then soaking in their hot springs. There’s a campground, restaurants, hiking and mountain biking in the summer, just to name a few. However, if you have time once you’re done soaking, I highly suggest visiting the Aurora Ice Museum. It is home to the world’s largest year-round ice environment. One thousand tons of ice and snow from the resort were used in the creation! Walking in, you’ll notice right away the temperature. It is keep at a chilly 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius). The museum is also home to dozens of ice sculptures and even has a bar!