This took me to the Chena Hot Springs Resort located an hour outside of Fairbanks, Alaska (the address is WRONG on the map). As Ive stated before, going out on aurora tours or trying to chase the aurora yourself at night, gets exhausting. Chena hot springs is home base for the best of Alaska Thats enough power to run all of Unalaska, and progress on the project is well underway. Theyve developed their renewable energy resources and have been able to attract industry, but it was based on a commitment to long-term, cheap power for those industries, she explains. Healing Waters - Chena Hot Springs Resort Are there any hot springs resorts in Alaska? But, I've always kinda had this migratory urge to leave home. Brooke (she/them) is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter who covers LGBTQ+ entertainment news and national parks out west. Of course, those arent your only options! Did you love it or hate it? "Worth the drive and admission. Need a place to stock up on some delicious, warm food after your weekend in these rustic cabins? With significant upgrades, Id love to return and indulge. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It seems like they host lots of weddings and large groups. 1 year ago Save I'm trying to decide if I want to go to Chena hot springs this summer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There is also firewood outside, although the wood may need to be cut to the right length. However, its super easy to recreate our Chena Hot Springs experience on your own. What is the farthest North you can drive on paved roads? It's one of my highlight of going to Fairbanks, with the other being they have good bingo halls. The Best of Alaska Business winners are joined in this issue by a plethora of small business sources, from farm owners and tour operators to wine shop retailers and construction traffic control managers. I will say that a moose did walk from the woods, checked out theAt 56 miles from Fairbanks the only reason to go to the China Hot Springs Resort is the drive. Maybe my imagination, but I went into the pool with an achy hip and came out pain free. Con: The package didnt play nicely with Fairbanks flight schedules. Curiously, a few projects across the state are gaining momentumincluding one only 80 miles from Anchoragethat could redefine geothermal energys role in Alaska. However, if you read this Chena Hot Springs Resort review carefully, youve probably realized that you can save a fair amount of money by booking items ala carte. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The recreation area is home to some of the best hiking, canoeing, public-use cabins, and fishing in the area. When we arrived the staff was very helpful in addressing our questions and orienting us with the facility. The ice museum is fun to visit but dont order the overpriced apple martini made with Smirnoff vodka. Doesn't allow for appropriate cancellation. Chena Hot Springs is open all year, and is ideally located for all manner of outdoor activities no matter what the season. Check out other in-depth articles in our May 2021 Digital Edition. Check out the Chena website for hot deals on lodging. In addition to traveling the world, she runs a Boundary Waters outfitters and helps people plan canoe trips and other outdoor adventures in northeastern Minnesota. I went back online to check and it was in such small print, it was almost unreadable. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Key to realizing this grand vision is securing the proper financing, an overarching challenge facing renewable energy projects worldwide. I'm getting in late at night on a Sunday, and need to meet up with my group trip at 4pm the following day. Late Dinner options (after 9pm) in Fairbanks? I booked a one night stay on April 8 for late June 2011 on their web page. For privacy, the tubs each have their own deck and are located 200 feet from each other. AMANDA GORDON AND GUILLERMO MOLERO Bloomberg News. These tips will immerse you in Bostons American Revolution history. Im glad we saw it. A seemingly secluded two lane road through some very rustic and pretty forest along the China River ends at the hokie resort. All Rights Reserved I know the limits of this place, but like the springs and had family visiting so thought we would try the activities. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The food came out Luke warm, a dried out piece of halibut and over cooked vegetables for $40! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The way Shaun Peterson sees ita State of Alaska petroleum geologist with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)geothermal is a solution looking for a problem. All rights reserved. So I'm thinking of checking out a few museums and getting good food. Only 80 miles west of Anchorage, the volcano has been a focal point in the states geothermal discussion for years. Im Ada, a travel writer based in northern Minnesota, on a mission to see the world. there's plenty of time to experience them all. I just wish they made the effort worthwhile by serving decent food. Frankly, is was a dirty and gross experience. For a quick drop-off, there is a public access airstrip approximately one mile from the cabins, and there may be a single tie down for a plane. She recognized that the difference in temperature between the hot water and the cold water resource available at the springsthe two main factors in a successful geothermal equationwas actually similar to other small geothermal plants in the Lower 48. Much of the food served at the resort is grown in the greenhouse on-site and much of the rest is locally sourced from Interior Alaska. in the rock lake. With this guide you wont miss any of Kauais best things to do and see. I will say that a moose did walk from the woods, checked out the hot springs for a second and walked to a field to graze. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media. When compared to China Hot Springs, one would be better off finding a hotel with a pool and spending the afternoon there. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. And nobody seemed to care. Shooting photos the whole time. Mount Spurr, located 80 miles from Anchorage, is a potential source of geothermal energy; it is pictured here in 1992, when its Crater Peak vent erupted. We paid $1340 for our double package, or $670 per person. Screen grab from @TouronsofYellowstone Instagram video. ), but you could stay snuggly warm in the natural hot springs. We got there and we were so hungry and it so happens they actually have a restaurant on site so we got very excited. Viewing the Northern Lights in and around Fairbanks. And while tapping into geothermal heat is by no means a new concept, the resource does have certain advantages over other renewables like wind and solar, particularly as they relate to issues of availability. What do you plan on doing up until that time? Chena Hot Springs is an unincorporated community and hot spring resort in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States, 56.5 miles northeast of Fairbanks near the Chena River State Recreation Area.The resort makes use of the first low-temperature binary geothermal power plant built in Alaska, and is working on several alternative energy projects, including production and use of . To enjoy the springs, take a soak in hot tubs or outdoors in the steaming natural Rock Lake. The accommodations are ugly. Also, theres no internet or cell reception, so if staying connected is important to you, get ready to pay $8 per day for their (spotty) WiFi. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They never bother to tell you it is over crowded and that the two indoor hot tubs and one large outdoor hot tub are taped off and unaccessable. It does not get more natural than that. Shuttle service to and from the Fairbanks Airport, Two nights lodging in the Moose Lodge (a standard two queen hotel room), Pass to the Hot Springs Pool Area (valid for 48 hours), Two dinners, two breakfasts, and one lunch in the restaurant. There were only five chairs to sit in for a parent and monitor their child and overall it was unwelcoming. But a remote job, with onsite employee housing, comes with it's own built-in community (or so it seems to me). Read on to learn more about our experience with Chena Hot Springs Resorts Best of Aurora package. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. With high room rates ($200-$350 per night, unless theyre running a special), and extremely high shuttle service rates ($100-130 each way), my main question was: is it worth it? I was disappointed that there was only a shower (which was not advertised as a limitation) when most other family accommodations have tubs. Karls team ended up partnering with United Technologies Corporation, drawn by its PureCycle power generation systems, which were originally designed to capture waste heat from industrial processes. We love Manley Hot Springs, which is settled in an old mining town 150 miles from Fairbanks. The resorts restaurant offers greenhouse-to-table cuisine and the Trails End lounge is great for a postsoak drink. That was cool. Not only will you save a buck by not having to rent them, youll also be so much happier using familiar equipment! To echo the bullish Karl once more, by the end of the year things really could look a lot different. Look no further, as we have your next weekend winter experience right here. I told him that was a bad idea and they shouldnt get off the board walk, the poster said in the video caption. Chena Hot Spring? Skip or must do? - Fairbanks Forum We werent the only ones shocked either. The water was murky and smelly. Read our, Ways to Experience Chena Hot Springs Resort. A seemingly secluded two lane road through some very rustic and pretty forest along the China River ends at the hokie resort. My friend and I are flying from Juneau to Fairbanks, renting a vehicle prepared for the Dalton Highway and driving as far as we can get, then doing the road lottery on our day. So, lets break down the good, the bad, and the ugly. Reservations are required and can be made up to three months in advance of your trip. Any Chena guest can sign up for a free geothermal tour offered twice a day. It seems easy to get hired there (ironically, I can pass the drug test), and although the wage is low, they offer room and board. Bad business practices. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Its probably pretty boring up therebut that doesnt make it okay. Its a baseload resource that you can use directly to heat buildings, to heat sidewalks, to heat swimming pools, or greenhouses, he continues. In my country, we have Saunas even Saunas on wheels! Again, no staff anywhere in sight. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the Northern Light will appear so I am not promising you or guaranteeing you that if you go you will definitely have that remarkable experience. more. I know I'm repeating what many others have said, but let that be your warning. Our room was clean and spacious, and the resort offers a very nice outdoors natural hot springs in addition to other fun activities like Northern Lights viewing at night or Dog Sledding during the day. Deb, Fairbanks can be oh so lovely in the summer - I would skip the hot springs and go enjoy all the other things! The Hot Springs are worth it - Review of Chena Hot Springs Resort This post contains affiliate links. It overflows most of the year and last erupted in 2006. However, I dont think the very short dog sled ride is worth the cost. Package prices depended on the number of people in your group. We lasted about 15 minutes before checking out the indoor pools (too hot for us), and eventually went to enjoy the outdoor hot tub. The outdoor rock lake is shallow but you can still swim around as much as you want and get a full soak in. If Alaska State Troopers issue a travel advisory for cold weather, the Elliot Highway may be shut down and access to the trailheads could be closed, so do keep this in mind while planning and upon the day of your arrival. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Also, you might want to check out Circle Hot Springs, which is 130 miles from Fairbanks; the lodge is either open or not, so you might want to double-check before arriving at that one. Get answers to your questions about Fairbanks. Yellowstone National Park officials said rangers are aware of the incident and are investigating. Chena Hot Springs are a system of thermal mineral springs located within the Yukon-Tanana Plateau near the town of Chena Hot Springs, approximately 50 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. I use this travel blog to provide practical, no-nonsense travel tips and itineraries for both domestic and international travels. Transport from Fairbanks train station to Fairbanks airport, Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center. A Park Service web page about Silex Spring encourages visitors to consider how the hot water arrived at the surface to begin with. Theres no extra cost to you. I used my own money to pay for my stay at Chena Hot Springs Resort and havent received any compensation for this post. The Northern Lights are best seen in clear dark skies which is abundant in the Fairbanks area. I would definitely return, if only to do some more hiking/snowshoeing in the mountains and make another trip up to Chena Dome to try to catch the northern lights. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. No light pollution nearby from anything except the resort itself. I dont even want to think about the nasty foot fungus you could get from there. There is always the most famous hot springs resort around here, the Chena Hot Springs, as well as the wonderful springs we discussed in the article above (TolovanaHot Springs). By now, most of the states residents have probably heard that their home is one of the most geothermally active regions in the world, with the Ring of Fire and countless hot springs decorating the landscape. Alaska is home to 79 natural hot springs. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Take a moment to take in these lovely winter scenes. I hear you're expensive, too; but aren't you worth it? Chena Hot Springs Resort 803 Reviews #1 of 2 things to do in Chena Hot Springs Nature & Parks, Hot Springs & Geysers 56.5 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road, Chena Hot Springs, AK 99712 Open today: 7:00 AM - 12:00 AM Save Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour from Fairbanks 632 Book in advance from $220.00 per adult Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Wifi was down for an unknown period of time and there is zero service for miles. The medicinal powers of the hot springs are also a high point. The shower heads are in disrepair and the showers do not feel clean. Its a bunch of half asleep people and some boiling water and a bit like being in a really uncomfortable airplane but with bad snacks, no running water, and no entertainment. Part of that is probably due to the difficulty of maintaining the facilities in such a remote area, and bringing in ingredients. You can watch them while soaking in the hot springs lake, surrounded by snow, or from the resorts heated glass-walled aurorium lodge, just a short hike up the mountain, or you can join a group on a snow cat tractor that will take you far into the wilderness to see them. We went with our family for the hot springs and pool and found an old overpriced and dirty place that does nothing to live up to its advertisements. Located 45 air miles north of Fairbanks, the Tolovana Hot Springs are very remote, but worth every second of the trip it takes to get there! However, the entire womens locker room was covered in at least two inches of sitting water, while lights overhead were broken, flickering, or straight up had open wires handing down. It would begin with the construction of a 30 megawatt plant at the base of the volcano, fueled by Makushins 397F temperatures. While I found the resort amenities somewhat underwhelming, I loved the gorgeous mountain valley setting. But theres no denying that the states geothermal engine is revving, perhaps fueled by the concern of a warming climate and a cooling oil industry. We tried the restaurant to try and salvage something for the hour plus drive, but that too was unpleasant. Drive back to Taste of Alaska and stay there, dog sledding with Paws and a great local meal at The Turtle Club! CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT - 951 Photos & 306 Reviews - 17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, Alaska - Resorts - Phone Number - Yelp Chena Hot Springs Resort 306 reviews Claimed $$$ Resorts, Hot Springs Edit Open Open 24 hours See hours See all 962 photos Hotels & Travel Resorts Chena Hot Springs Resort Write a review Add photo It does not store any personal data. I decided to give it a try for two nights. The water was EXTREMELY HOT. That project is going to need a source of local energy and if its location is in close proximity to a geothermal resource, then geothermal could be a solution.. Chena Hot Springs (thermal mineral springs) - Wikipedia Call the resort to confirm what activites will be available during your stay. Chena Hot Springs Resort doesnt appear to be offering the Best of Aurora package at the moment. There should have been access and parking next to the building in order to make the accommodation more family friendly.The pool facilities have not substantially changed since I stayed at this resort since the early 90s. Silex Spring is in the Fountain Paint Pot Area, which runs along various hydrothermal features along Yellowstones still active volcano.. Its also important to remember that theres a certain degree of risk associated with situating a power plant next to (or on top of) an active volcano. This historic, off-the-grid resort is located about an hours drive outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. It certainly would have been appropriate to keep a transaction fee, but the whole amount is certainly a bad business practice. Reddit, Inc. 2023. I guess I'm trying to figure out if going out to the hot springs is worth the current (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Many of things included in our package, like the hot springs pool pass and geothermal tour, are available to all Chena guests free of charge. If you have the time and money, its a unique experience. You can book your massage at our pool house desk. This drastically cut his resorts electricity rates, from $0.30 to $0.05 per kilowatt hour. If you want to experience the hot springs, just make it a day tripand escape with your precious vacation time and money. The aurora tour started late. I'm going to be in Fairbanks for a day before a backcountry trip. Propane is provided for all of the cabins. Spectators stand and watch from the boardwalk as the tourist crouches down on her hands and knees right at the edge of the spring and reaches her hand out to touch the steam boiling from its surface. Although its not life changing, its pretty interesting and a great way to see some of the Chena behind the scenes.. Booked a snowmobile trip and drove two hours from downtown Fairbanks (horrible road conditions). Liked some things but expected more in some areas. For the kids, the indoor pool is a nice size and not too deep. The only really wonderful thing about Chena are the hot springs. Each time, we emerged feeling relaxed and refreshed after the days winter activities. The DNRs March press release announcing Rasers exploration permit states that the Utah-based firm approached the state on the heels of renewed interest in geothermal, along with advances in exploration technology and techniques.. There is a 10.1-mile hiking trail, a 26-mile snow machine, dog mushing, or winter biking access trail. The month before, a 19-year-old had third-degree burns over 5% of her body after visiting the Old Faithful geyser. Bathing in a hot spring lake surrounded by frost-covered trees in the moonlight? Where to chase the midnight sun this summer. Ask cowdungit2 about Chena Hot Springs Resort, Place doesn't deserve the "benefit of the doubt", Ask aurorahunter about Chena Hot Springs Resort. If thats how the main attraction is kept up, I cant imagine the rooms and lesser viewed facilities. It says something about a business when they keep money for a service never rendered. For background, I have been a student at the University of Fairbanks and a resident of Fairbanks from 1989 to 1994 and have fond memories of visiting Chena Hot Springs at that time. Today, Chena Hot Springs is the highest-capacity geothermal power plant in the state, fueled by the lowest temperature water used for commercial production in the world. Where the hot water can escape the grounds surface, a hot spring is formed.. In December 2019, I spent three days (two nights) at the well-known Alaska wilderness lodge, Chena Hot Springs Resort. I'm going to be in Fairbanks for a day before a backcountry trip. Staff was nowhere in sight except at the front desk taking your money. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. During winter, Chena Hot Springs is also one of the better places to view the Northern Lights, being so far away from any competing city lights. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ounalashka Corporation, which owns 51 percent of OCCP, issued the joint venture more than 7,000 acres of land to move the project forward. Initially, Karl tasked a young engineer with designing a system that would produce hydroelectricity from a nearby creek. Some springs are quite the oddity; theres a carbonated spring in a remote area of Alaska only accessible by plane or boat, and its called Trocadero Soda Springs. Much like the ice hoteltoday operating as the Aurora Ice Museum, despite early skepticismgeothermal wasnt always the obvious answer. They put us in a different cabin than we booked (it wasnt nearly as nice), the locker rooms are gross and crowded, the restaurant is not bad (the ranch dressing is delicious). It also has the world's largest year-round ice environment - The Aurora Ice Museum. Want more information to plan for your trip to this unique hot spring in Alaska?