# Okpilak Springs, Alaska

Okpilak Springs in Alaska. Backcountry · Public Land. North Slope Borough County.

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

## Can you soak at Okpilak Springs?

No water temperature is on record for Okpilak Springs. Access is restricted. It sits deep in the backcountry. It's on US Fish and Wildlife Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | Unknown (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Total dissolved solids | 423 mg/L |
| Elevation | 2,550 ft |
| Access | Backcountry · Public Land, 46.9 mi from the nearest road (Tractor Trail) |
| Land | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service |
| County | North Slope Borough County |
| Nearest town | Prudhoe Bay |
| Coordinates | 69.33000, -144.04400 |

## About Okpilak Springs

Okpilak Springs is a thermal spring in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, North Slope Borough, about 47 miles from any road and 130 miles from Prudhoe Bay. Access is restricted. The USGS sampled it in August 1976 and found moderate dissolved solids. The temperature was never logged.

High in the arctic refuge, with a yearly average around twenty degrees and moderate snow. Tractor Trail is the nearest thing to a road. Backcountry in the strictest sense. The US Fish and Wildlife Service administers the ground.

The US Geological Survey maintains a site record here, with its one water sample taken on August 27, 1976.

No best months. Restricted access, so the refuge office comes first. The water was sampled once, in 1976, and nothing since. No campground is listed. Do not assume the spring is warm enough to enter.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-08-27 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total dissolved solids | 422.5 mg/L |
| Calcium | 9.8 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 120 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 200 mg/L |
| Chloride | 31 mg/L |

## Nearby

- State page: [Hot springs in Alaska](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska)
- [Red Hill Spring, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/red-hill-spring): pH 7.8, TDS 479 mg/L, Backcountry, near Prudhoe Bay, North Slope Borough County
- [Dall Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/dall-hot-springs): 129°F source, Backcountry, near Ester, Fairbanks North Star Borough County
- [Circle Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/circle-hot-springs): 135°F source, pH 7.2, TDS 809 mg/L, Roadside, near Deltana, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County
- [Kanuti Hot Springs, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/kanuti-hot-springs): Backcountry, near Healy, Denali Borough County
- [Hot Springs On Big Windy Creek, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/hot-springs-on-big-windy-creek): Hot, Backcountry, near Deltana, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County
- [Hot Spring Near Arrigetch Peaks, AK](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/alaska/hot-spring-near-arrigetch-peaks): Warm, Backcountry, near Nuiqsut, North Slope Borough County

## Questions

**Where is Okpilak Springs located?**
Okpilak Springs is located in North Slope Borough, Alaska at 2,550 feet elevation, near Prudhoe Bay. Coordinates: 69.3300°N, 144.0440°W.

**How do I get to Okpilak Springs?**
Okpilak Springs has Backcountry road access, with the nearest road being Tractor Trail (46.9 mi from the road).

**Is Okpilak Springs free to visit?**
Okpilak Springs has Restricted access. It is managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service.

**What minerals are in the water at Okpilak Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. Total dissolved solids measure 423 mg/L.

## Sources

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