# Bell Island Hot Springs, Alaska

Bell Island Hot Springs in Alaska. 165°F (74°C). Hike · Public Land. Ketchikan Gateway Borough County.

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

## Can you soak at Bell Island Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 165°F, hot enough to burn skin. Reaching it takes a hike. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 165°F (74°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.4 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 674 mg/L |
| Elevation | 50 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 4.4 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Tongass National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Ketchikan Gateway Borough County |
| Nearest town | Ketchikan |
| Coordinates | 55.93300, -131.55900 |
| Best months to soak | February, January, December (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BLIND PASS CABIN, 4.5 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 165°F, the source water at Bell Island Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Bell Island Hot Springs

Scalding water at tidewater. Bell Island Hot Springs, on the Tongass, comes out of the ground well past the point where skin can stand it. Ketchikan is the closest town, a bit over forty miles off, and there is no road connection to the spring itself. Public access is listed as open.

The spring sits at sea level on Forest Service land. From where the nearest road ends it is a walk of about four and a half miles. This corner of Southeast Alaska stays wet most of the year, with rainfall above a hundred inches, and the climate record shows a large snow figure too. Blind Pass Cabin, a Forest Service cabin, is about as far away as the road is.

The USGS has Bell Island on its books as a sampling site. The water sample, taken in July 1976, came back mildly alkaline with a moderate load of dissolved solids.

The record flags December through February as the best months, which in this climate means short days and rain with snow mixed in. Dress for a wet hike. The water was measured hot enough to burn, so stay away from the source and look for where it has cooled, testing before you touch it. Chemistry on file dates from a 1976 sample and may have drifted since.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-07-06 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.4 |
| Total dissolved solids | 674 mg/L |
| Calcium | 10 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 200 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 130 mg/L |
| Chloride | 200 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Ketchikan](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/alaska/ketchikan), 5 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Alaska](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska)
- [Bailey Hot Spring, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/bailey-hot-spring): 198°F source, pH 8.2, TDS 413 mg/L, Backcountry, near Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough County
- [Bradfield Canal Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/bradfield-canal-hot-springs): 135°F source, Backcountry, near Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough County
- [South Stikine Spring, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/south-stikine-spring): Backcountry, near Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell County
- [Barnes Lake Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/barnes-lake-hot-springs): 79°F source, Backcountry, near Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell County
- [Chief Shakes Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/chief-shakes-hot-springs): 122°F source, pH 7.1, TDS 409 mg/L, Backcountry, near Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell County
- [Twin Lakes Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/twin-lakes-hot-springs): Backcountry, near Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Bell Island Hot Springs?**
Bell Island Hot Springs has a water temperature of 165°F (74°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Bell Island Hot Springs located?**
Bell Island Hot Springs is located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska at 50 feet elevation, near Ketchikan. Coordinates: 55.9330°N, 131.5590°W.

**How do I get to Bell Island Hot Springs?**
Bell Island Hot Springs has Hike road access (4.4 mi from the road).

**Is Bell Island Hot Springs free to visit?**
Bell Island Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Bell Island Hot Springs?**
Yes, Blind Pass Cabin is located nearby (4.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Bell Island Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.4 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 674 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Bell Island Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Bell Island Hot Springs reaches 165°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals