# Chief Shakes Hot Springs, Alaska

Chief Shakes Hot Springs in Alaska. 122°F (50°C). Backcountry · Public Land. City and Borough of Wrangell County.

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

## Can you soak at Chief Shakes Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 122°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 | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.1 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 409 mg/L |
| Elevation | 50 ft |
| Access | Backcountry · Public Land, 16.0 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Tongass National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | City and Borough of Wrangell County |
| Nearest town | Wrangell |
| Coordinates | 56.71700, -132.00500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | SHAKES SLOUGH 2 CABIN, 3.8 mi |

## About Chief Shakes Hot Springs

Hot, and a long way from anything with wheels. Chief Shakes Hot Springs lies in Tongass National Forest within the City and Borough of Wrangell; the town of Wrangell is the nearest community, a fair distance off. The water comes up hot enough that you would want cooler water mixed in before sitting down in it. Access is open. Sixteen miles separate the spring from the closest road.

Low, wet country near sea level. The Forest Service cabin at Shakes Slough 2 is under four miles from the spring and is the closest lodging on record. Rain falls heavily through the year and the snowfall total in the record is very large. There is no route information on file, so the approach is by whatever means you can arrange.

The USGS logged this spring as a sampling site and drew water from it in July 1976. That sample showed a near neutral pH.

December into February is the stretch the climate favors. Heat here runs past the range people sit in comfortably, so test it and count on wanting some cooler water mixed in. You plan around camping or the Shakes Slough cabin. The chemistry sample is decades old, and worth reading with that in mind.

## Water chemistry

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

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.1 |
| Total dissolved solids | 409 mg/L |
| Calcium | 15 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 73 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 140 mg/L |
| Chloride | 6.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Wrangell](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/alaska/wrangell), 5 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Alaska](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska)
- [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
- [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
- [South Stikine Spring, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/south-stikine-spring): Backcountry, near Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell 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
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Chief Shakes Hot Springs?**
Chief Shakes Hot Springs has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Chief Shakes Hot Springs located?**
Chief Shakes Hot Springs is located in City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska at 50 feet elevation, near Wrangell. Coordinates: 56.7170°N, 132.0050°W.

**How do I get to Chief Shakes Hot Springs?**
Chief Shakes Hot Springs has Backcountry road access (16.0 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Chief Shakes Hot Springs?**
Yes, Shakes Slough 2 Cabin is located nearby (3.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Chief Shakes Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.1 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 409 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Chief Shakes Hot Springs?**
With care. At 122°F Chief Shakes 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