Neka Hot Springs
Unknown
Water temperature
Boat access
Hard access
Check
Fee may apply
Neka Hot Springs is a natural spring piped into a seven-foot wooden tub with a surrounding deck on Chichagof Island. Visitors reach Eight Fathom Bight by boat or floatplane from Hoonah, travel about nine miles on a single-lane Forest Service road, then cross a 0.2 mile boardwalk. Brown bears are common in the area.
01 · Before you go
Plan your visit
What to expect on the ground: rules, facilities and when to go.
- Camping nearbyEight Fathom Cabin (Forest Service public-use cabin) is at the road start; reservations via recreation.gov.
- Toilets
- Pools1 wooden tub, 7 feet across
- QuietA warm day, since visitors report the tub can run 5 to 7 degrees below 102 F.
- SeasonReached by boat or floatplane to Eight Fathom Bight, then single-lane Forest Road 8580 for about 9 miles (hike, bike or ski), then a 0.2 mile boardwalk.
Best time to go. A warm day, since visitors report the tub can run 5 to 7 degrees below 102 F.
02 · Live
Conditions
Access status, weather and hazards. Closure feeds are checked automatically every morning.
Access
No closures reported
No closure, fire or weather warning found in Forest Service, wildfire (NIFC) or National Weather Service feeds. That isn't confirmation it's open, so check with Tongass National Forest.
Checked 22 Oct · updated daily
Checked Oct 2026: the Forest Service page (last updated Feb 2025) and searches for Road 8580 and Neka River bridge notices showed no closure or restriction. A separate Forest Service notice reopened Road 8530 in Oct 2025, which is a different road.
Brown bears commonly use the area; make noise and carry bear spray. Remote, with a long road walk or ride and no services. The tub water can run cool. Boat or floatplane crossing depends on weather.
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03 · Route
Getting there
Nearest town: Hoonah.
- 1
From Hoonah, go about 16 miles southwest by boat or floatplane through Port Frederick to Eight Fathom Dock, then follow Forest Road 8580 roughly 9 miles to near milepost 9, where a 0.2 mile boardwalk crosses muskeg to the tub.
58.0883, −135.8479 · nearest town Hoonah, AK
04 · Where to stay
Stay nearby
Start early and stay close. Places to stay near Hoonah, from campgrounds to cabins.
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Checked against 3 sources, with closures, wildfires and weather warnings re-checked daily.Show sourcesShare your photosSuggest an update
- fs.usda.gov (access, boardwalk, facilities, bears, road)
- alaska.org (tub, temperature, access)
- recreation.gov (Eight Fathom Cabin)
