Bell Island Hot Springs
The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
Scalding water at tidewater. Bell Island Hot Springs, on the Tongass, comes out of the ground well past the point where skin can stand it. Ketchikan is the closest town, a bit over forty miles off, and there is no road connection to the spring itself. Public access is listed as open.
The spring sits at sea level on Forest Service land. From where the nearest road ends it is a walk of about four and a half miles. This corner of Southeast Alaska stays wet most of the year, with rainfall above a hundred inches, and the climate record shows a large snow figure too. Blind Pass Cabin, a Forest Service cabin, is about as far away as the road is.
The record flags December through February as the best months, which in this climate means short days and rain with snow mixed in. Dress for a wet hike. The water was measured hot enough to burn, so stay away from the source and look for where it has cooled, testing before you touch it. Chemistry on file dates from a 1976 sample and may have drifted since.
The USGS has Bell Island on its books as a sampling site. The water sample, taken in July 1976, came back mildly alkaline with a moderate load of dissolved solids.
USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.
- Setting
- Canyon floor
- Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
- Highest ground nearby
- 1,194 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
The water at Bell Island Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.4) with 674 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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Overview Blind Pass Cabin sits on the northwest shore of Hassler Island, on Blind Pass. This secluded retreat is open year-round and makes an ideal base camp for exploring the various bays and inlets in the northern Behm Canal area. The site can be accessed by float plane, boat or kayak, depending on conditions. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.Recreation The area is noted for king salmon runs into the Unuk R...
Bell Island Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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