For privacy, the tubs each have their own deck and are located 200 feet from each other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Northern Lights are best seen in clear dark skies which is abundant in the Fairbanks area. The interior family pool uses salt water. Dont believe the snacks/games thing they tell you. When I do make it to Alaska, I certainly will not include Chena Hot Springs on my list of things to do. We lasted about 15 minutes before checking out the indoor pools (too hot for us), and eventually went to enjoy the outdoor hot tub. I know the limits of this place, but like the springs and had family visiting so thought we would try the activities. 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. We fortunately opted for the viewing tour later that evening and were thrilled beyond belief that we were able to see the lights without obstruction at the top of the hill. We werent the only ones shocked either. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Chena Hot Springs - Worth It? - Unravel Your Travels In 5 days on Kauai, this itinerary takes you to every corner of Hawaiis Garden Island. Going to be in Fairbanks in September to drive the Denali road lottery. Their website says Verizon gets service out therebut my Verizon plan didnt receive anything remotely considered reliable. We tried the restaurant to try and salvage something for the hour plus drive, but that too was unpleasant. 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. Healing Waters - Chena Hot Springs Resort And when we dont have a strategy around a long-term energy portfolio, its really difficult for anyone to make those kind of investment decisionscertainly not the private sector.. I'd say so. And the hot springs? The lockerrooms were small and dirty and had not appeared to have been cleaned in a while. Share your experience and photos below! There were only five chairs to sit in for a parent and monitor their child and overall it was unwelcoming. 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. Kids under 18 are not allowed in the hot spring, but that didn't stop the parents with their undiapered children. Reddit, Inc. 2023. I think I'm finally getting pushed out of my own hometown. The person filming grumbles its stupid to a nearby visitor. more. More people have been injured or killed in the parks hot springs than any other natural feature, rangers say. Alaska is home to 79 natural hot springs. Expect to pay $12 per device for 48 hours. I guess I'm trying to figure out if going out to the hot springs is worth the current (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thats enough power to run all of Unalaska, and progress on the project is well underway. Great drive, bad reward at the end. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! The drive out is nice, but unless you LOVE north country, you dont have to see that stretch, especially if you can save on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. Go for a nice soak and leave. Mount Spurr is what we keep coming back to decade in and decade out, says DNRs Peterson. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The lockerrooms were small and dirty and had not appeared to have been cleaned in a while. The PureCycle system was then tailored to fit the hot spring at Chena, and together the companies demonstrated that off-the-shelf refrigeration equipment could be used to generate power. It feels run down and the showers feel dirty. With the exception of perforated floor mats, perhaps a new paint job, insulated panels over the windows, and the conversion of the hot pool into a Koi pond, the pool house hasnt changed. Youll drive through the Chena State Park, roughly 50 miles of protected wilderness where you can spot moose and other wildlife. Cheesy. If being deep in the wilderness with limited internet and no cell service makes you uneasy, Chena might not be for you. So, lets break down the good, the bad, and the ugly. Im a local and hate writing bad reviews. I just wish they made the effort worthwhile by serving decent food. The water was murky and smelly. FYI: This isnt a pro or con, but its worth noting that Chena Hot Springs Resort isnt a luxury resort. Alas, we embarked on the code hallways before approaching the outdoor hot springs. 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. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The aurora tour started late. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112591373', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car rental is also going to pricey, and there's a few sights I'd be happy to see in Fairbanks while I'm there (museum of the north, pioneer park, visitor center). The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. A tourist ignored another visitors warning and dipped her fingers into a deadly boiling spring in Yellowstone National Park, video shows. Many of them are accessible only by a hike, boat, or plane; this makes them a lot more remote than most hot springs you might find elsewhere in the country, and they dont tend to be overly crowded unless you opt for one of the most popular springs like Chena or Tolovana. Where to chase the midnight sun this summer. Frankly, the simple fact that Chena shuttled us to and from Fairbanks made it a good deal. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Chena Hot Springs is in a really gorgeous setting. I recently left an incredibly high-stress job in the cannabis industry down in Oregon. Key to realizing this grand vision is securing the proper financing, an overarching challenge facing renewable energy projects worldwide. Chena Hot Springs, first discovered by settlers in 1905, is renowned for its healing waters as well as the resorts outdoor activities. Guests can enjoy a wide array of lodging options along with hot springs bathing, aurora viewing, dog sledding, and an on-site ice museum. Its remote enough that aurora viewing would be great. Ounalashka Corporation, which owns 51 percent of OCCP, issued the joint venture more than 7,000 acres of land to move the project forward. Read our. Booked a snowmobile trip and drove two hours from downtown Fairbanks (horrible road conditions). Water was very warm and nice to be in. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions, Interest in Alaskas Geothermal Resources Is Heating Up. At 56 miles from Fairbanks the only reason to go to the China Hot Springs Resort is the drive. The Little Known Hot Springs in Alaska That's Worth The Winter Trek They packed us into a snow coach (snow utility vehicle) and it was loud, bumpy, hot and no one was masked. Give it to me straight, r/Fairbanks. It also has the world's largest year-round ice environment - The Aurora Ice Museum. She flinches backward and scrambles to get up away from the spring. However, its super easy to recreate our Chena Hot Springs experience on your own. Remember to keep all chemicals and soap out of this water! Treat yourself at Chena Hot Springs Resort to natural hot springs, an awesome ice museum, aurora viewing & our geothermal-powered facilities. But the activities were terrible. We love Manley Hot Springs, which is settled in an old mining town 150 miles from Fairbanks. It would begin with the construction of a 30 megawatt plant at the base of the volcano, fueled by Makushins 397F temperatures. 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. Screen grab from @TouronsofYellowstone Instagram video. 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. Kids under 18 are not allowed in the hot spring, but that didn't stop the parents with their undiapered children. We paid $1340 for our double package, or $670 per person. 16 Reviews Fairbanks, United States 10 hours (approx.) Visiting Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks Alaska By doing that, its created this whole renaissance in the industry of using low temperature energy for power generation, Holdmann says proudly, though also stressing the crucial importance of having a year-round cold water resource readily available. They could definately use an update! Chena Hot Springs Day Trip 2023 - Fairbanks - Viator My bucket list included seeing the Northern Lights. 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. 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. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Staff was nowhere in sight except at the front desk taking your money. Searching for your next Alaskan winter adventure? During its lease sale in 2008, the DNR issued 36,000 acres of Mount Spurrs southern flanks to a company called Ormat Technologies. When compared to China Hot Springs, one would be better off finding a hotel with a pool and spending the afternoon there. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. If you dont like travel surprises and are willing to pay a little more for convenience, I definitely recommend going the package route if possible. The recreation area is home to some of the best hiking, canoeing, public-use cabins, and fishing in the area. The (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Do notI mean seriouslydo not expect much if you do the aurora tour or ice museum. It's expensive for what you get. She runs back toward the boardwalk while yelling its hot! Does it get crowded? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. We tried the restaurant to try and salvage something for the hour plus drive, but that too was unpleasant. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We went outside and sat in a snowbank in an effort not to breathe the gross air in the yurt. I've read some mixed reviews of the hot springs, and I'd love to hear some additional advice. So I just started asking: Why?. Shes lived in three countries and has visited all 50 states. **This review is solely for the Chena Hot Springs as that is the only place we visited at this resort**We drove from Fairbanks on a snowy, cold day.