# Bradfield Canal Hot Springs, Alaska

Bradfield Canal Hot Springs in Alaska. 135°F (57°C). Backcountry · Public Land. Ketchikan Gateway Borough County.

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

## Can you soak at Bradfield Canal Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 135°F, hotter than any hot tub. It sits deep in the backcountry. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 135°F (57°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 485 ft |
| Access | Backcountry · Public Land, 7.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Tongass National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Ketchikan Gateway Borough County |
| Nearest town | Ketchikan |
| Coordinates | 56.23300, -131.26700 |
| Best months to soak | January, February, December (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | HARDING RIVER CABIN, 13.5 mi |

## About Bradfield Canal Hot Springs

Hot water and a very long way from town. Bradfield Canal Hot Springs lies in Tongass National Forest within Ketchikan Gateway Borough, sixty-some miles from Ketchikan. Open, per the Forest Service. Temperature-wise it is hot, above what you can sit in untouched, though short of scalding. No chemistry has been recorded.

Seven-plus miles lie between it and a road that carries no name on file, so count on a backcountry approach. It sits a few hundred feet above sea level in country that gets over forty-five feet of snow in a year, with the rain in between adding up to more than eleven feet. Harding River cabin is the closest listed overnight, thirteen and a half miles distant.

Go between December and February if you follow the record's scoring for best months. Expect to cool the water before a soak. Harding River cabin is a long haul away, so do not count on it as a base. Fees: none recorded. No campground is closer than that cabin.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Ketchikan](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/alaska/ketchikan), 23 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
- [Bell Island Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/bell-island-hot-springs): 165°F source, pH 8.4, TDS 674 mg/L, Hike, near Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough 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
- [South Stikine Spring, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/south-stikine-spring): 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 Bradfield Canal Hot Springs?**
Bradfield Canal Hot Springs has a water temperature of 135°F (57°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Bradfield Canal Hot Springs located?**
Bradfield Canal Hot Springs is located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska at 485 feet elevation, near Ketchikan. Coordinates: 56.2330°N, 131.2670°W.

**How do I get to Bradfield Canal Hot Springs?**
Bradfield Canal Hot Springs has Backcountry road access (7.2 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Bradfield Canal Hot Springs?**
Yes, Harding River Cabin is located nearby (13.5 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Bradfield Canal Hot Springs?**
With care. At 135°F Bradfield Canal Hot 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