# Baranof Warm Springs, Alaska

Baranof Warm Springs in Alaska. 124°F (51°C). Backcountry. Sitka City and Borough County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/baranof-warm-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Baranof Warm Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 124°F, hotter than any hot tub. It sits deep in the backcountry. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 124°F (51°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.4 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 268 mg/L |
| Elevation | 75 ft |
| Access | Backcountry, 12.3 mi from the nearest road (Old Mine Road) |
| County | Sitka City and Borough County |
| Nearest town | Sitka |
| Coordinates | 57.08500, -134.83900 |
| Best months to soak | January, February, March (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BARANOF LAKE CABIN, 2.5 mi |

## About Baranof Warm Springs

Ten geothermal springs come up next to the small settlement of Baranof Warm Springs, on the eastern side of Baranof Island and about twenty miles from Sitka. The water arrives too hot for a straight soak, and it is strongly alkaline. Tongass National Forest wraps the community. Nothing says who holds the ground beneath the springs, and public access has not been recorded either.

There is no road to Baranof Island and no air service. You get there by boat. Something called Old Mine Road is the nearest road the record can find, twelve miles distant, which tells you how far this is from anywhere drivable. The settlement sits almost at sea level on a wet coast where winter snow stacks up deep and rain falls most of the year. Baranof Lake cabin is two and a half miles away.

Wikipedia describes the site as a series of ten geothermal mineral springs inside a small seasonal community that shares their name, with Tongass National Forest on every side and no way in except by water. The USGS sampled the water in March 1972.

January through March rate highest for a visit. The water was sampled once, in 1972, and came out hot enough to need care, so test it before committing. Sort out a boat before anything else. No fee is noted, and the cabin at Baranof Lake is the nearest place to stay that the record knows about.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1972-03-23 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.4 |
| Total dissolved solids | 268 mg/L |
| Calcium | 1.4 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 48 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 28 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5.8 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most alkaline of Alaska's 20 springs with a pH reading: pH 9.4
- Tied for softest water of Alaska's 32 springs with calcium and magnesium readings: 3.9 mg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Juneau](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/alaska/juneau), 98 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Alaska](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska)
- [Baranof Warm Springs, Alaska, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/baranof-warm-springs-alaska): pH 9.4, TDS 268 mg/L, Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [Goddard Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/goddard-hot-springs): 153°F source, pH 7.2, TDS 4,880 mg/L, Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [Hot Spring Near Fish Bay, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/hot-spring-near-fish-bay): 117°F source, TDS 345 mg/L, Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [Nylen Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/nylen-hot-springs): Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [Tenakee Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/tenakee-hot-springs): pH 7.7, Short Walk, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [Hot Spring North Arm Peril Strait, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/hot-spring-north-arm-peril-strait): 100°F source, TDS 786 mg/L, Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Baranof Warm Springs?**
Baranof Warm Springs has a water temperature of 124°F (51°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Baranof Warm Springs located?**
Baranof Warm Springs is located in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska at 75 feet elevation, near Sitka. Coordinates: 57.0850°N, 134.8390°W.

**How do I get to Baranof Warm Springs?**
Baranof Warm Springs has Backcountry road access, with the nearest road being Old Mine Road (12.3 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Baranof Warm Springs?**
Yes, Baranof Lake Cabin is located nearby (2.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Baranof Warm Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.4 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 268 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Baranof Warm Springs?**
With care. At 124°F Baranof Warm Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baranof_Warm_Springs_(thermal_mineral_springs)