# Goddard Hot Springs, Alaska

Goddard Hot Springs in Alaska. 153°F (67°C). Backcountry. Sitka City and Borough County.

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

## Can you soak at Goddard Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 153°F, hot enough to burn skin. It sits deep in the backcountry.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 153°F (67°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.2 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 4,880 mg/L |
| Elevation | 60 ft |
| Access | Backcountry, 5.7 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Sitka City and Borough County |
| Nearest town | Sitka |
| Coordinates | 56.83600, -135.37400 |
| Best months to soak | January, February, March (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | KANGA BAY CABIN, 3.2 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 153°F, the source water at Goddard 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 Goddard Hot Springs

Goddard Hot Springs runs scalding, about twenty-eight miles from Sitka in the borough of the same name, and its water is thick with dissolved minerals by the 1962 analysis. There is no landowner or access status on file. Kanga Bay cabin, about three miles off, is as close as any shelter on file gets.

Barely above tidewater, backcountry, nearly six miles from a road the record leaves unnamed. This coast gets around fourteen feet of snow and more than eight feet of rain over a year, with an average temperature in the low forties. A photograph is on file. How people land or walk in is not described.

A USGS site record exists, sampled in December 1962.

January through March score highest for a visit. Source water will scald; it needs cooling before any soak. The chemistry is from a December 1962 sample, so treat both temperature and mineral load as old readings. Fees are not on record. Kanga Bay cabin is the place to base from if it is available.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1962-12-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 |
| Total dissolved solids | 4,880 mg/L |
| Calcium | 439 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 50 mg/L |
| Sodium | 1,390 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 90 mg/L |
| Chloride | 2,830 mg/L |

## Nearby

- State page: [Hot springs in Alaska](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska)
- [Baranof Warm Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/baranof-warm-springs): 124°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 268 mg/L, Backcountry, near Sitka, Sitka City and Borough County
- [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
- [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 Goddard Hot Springs?**
Goddard Hot Springs has a water temperature of 153°F (67°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Goddard Hot Springs located?**
Goddard Hot Springs is located in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska at 60 feet elevation, near Sitka. Coordinates: 56.8360°N, 135.3740°W.

**How do I get to Goddard Hot Springs?**
Goddard Hot Springs has Backcountry road access (5.7 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Goddard Hot Springs?**
Yes, Kanga Bay Cabin is located nearby (3.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Goddard Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.2 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 4,880 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Goddard Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Goddard Hot Springs reaches 153°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