Chena Hot Springs Road
Hot springs at the end of Alaska's backcountry road
The Chena Hot Springs Road cuts a swath through 56 miles of Alaska’s raw interior, starting where the pavement ends at mile 5 and continuing deep into the Chena River State Recreation Area. What begins as a gravel road quickly becomes a journey through caribou country, with the Chena River paralleling your route and countless unnamed peaks rising from the boreal forest. The road terminates at the famous Chena Hot Springs Resort, but the real draw is the dozen-plus river crossings and the granite tors that jut from the landscape like ancient sentinels.
This isn’t technical wheeling—any stock truck with decent ground clearance can make it—but come prepared for washouts, seasonal flooding, and road conditions that change with every storm. Summer brings mosquitoes the size of small aircraft and 20-hour daylight; winter offers aurora viewing but requires winter tires and survival gear. The payoff is soaking in 106°F natural springs after a day of bouncing over frost heaves, plus some of the most reliable northern lights viewing in North America. Fuel up in Fairbanks—there’s nothing out here but wilderness.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 56 mi / 90.1 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2400 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance vehicle |
| Nearest town | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Land manager | Alaska State Parks |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
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