Chief Shakes Hot Springs
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
122°F — very hot — mix with cold to soak.
The details
- Soak
- Very hot — mix with cold to soak
- Area
- Petersburg
- Coordinates
- 56.7236, -132.04
About Chief Shakes Hot Springs
Chief Shakes Hot Springs is a natural hot spring in Alaska, reaching about 122°F (50°C).
At that temperature it's very hot — mix with cold to soak — check current conditions and always test the water before getting in.
Plungeworthy rates Chief Shakes Hot Springs 8.1/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Two redwood tubs — one screened in, one open to the rainforest — up a slough of the Stikine River, 28 jetboat miles from Wrangell. Free, first-come, and freshly rebuilt: the deck was redone in 2025 with a new tub following.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- 0.3-mile boardwalk from the dock
- Road
- None — jetboat or floatplane; Wrangell charters run day trips
- Hike
- 0.6 mi round trip (easy)
- Heads up
- Tidal slough navigation wants local knowledge — go guided unless you know the river.
When to go
May–September for reasonable river conditions; verify tub status while construction finishes.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Free — Tongass NF
- Camping
- None at the springs
- Warnings
- Don't confuse with the Chief Shakes tribal house in Wrangell proper.
Researched from USFS — Chief Shakes Hot Springs. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Chief Shakes Hot Springs recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Chief Shakes Hot Springs doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How hot is Chief Shakes Hot Springs?
Chief Shakes Hot Springs reaches about 122°F (50°C) — very hot — mix with cold to soak.
Where is Chief Shakes Hot Springs?
Chief Shakes Hot Springs is a hot spring in Alaska, at 56.7236, -132.04.
Is Chief Shakes Hot Springs worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 8.1/10.
Gear for the trip
As an Amazon Associate, Plungeworthy earns from qualifying purchases.