Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak

Kenai Peninsula Borough County, Alaska · Near Nikiski
61.2670°N, 151.2380°W
Hot 54°F air · Good soaking weather Unknown Hike DESG
Aerial view of the ground around Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak is what the name says, a heated lake inside a crater, and the record holds almost nothing else about it. No temperature, no elevation. It sits on tribal land within the Knik Alaska Native Village Statistical Area in Kenai Peninsula Borough, with Nikiski the nearest town at about thirty-eight miles, and public access is marked unknown.

The record classes it as a hike, roughly three and a half miles off a road that goes unnamed. Snow on file comes to a bit under seven feet a year and the year averages in the mid thirties, with around three feet of precipitation. No cabin or campground appears.

Unknown access on tribal land means asking before going. Best months are not recorded. The qualifier says hot but there is no number, so assume the water could burn until you have measured it. The name puts it on a peak; how hard the approach is does not appear on file.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
44 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Monthly Climate
15°
Jan
19°
Feb
23°
Mar
34°
Apr
45°
May
54°
Jun
58°
Jul
55°
Aug
47°
Sep
36°
Oct
22°
Nov
18°
Dec
Annual Precip: 38.5 in Annual Snow: 81.5 in
Current Conditions
54°F
Cloudy S 20.7 mph 94% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 54° Low 48° Heavy Rain 100% precip
Wednesday 57° Low 45° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Thursday 53° Low 42° Chance Rain Showers 29% precip
Friday 50° Low 41° Rain Showers Likely 58% precip
Saturday 51° Low 39° Chance Rain Showers 52% precip
Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 36°F
Access
Unknown
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 3.6 mi
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation Tribal Land
Unit Knik Alaska Native Village Statistical Area
Manager TRIB
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak?
Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak located?
Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak is located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, near Nikiski. Coordinates: 61.2670°N, 151.2380°W.
How do I get to Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak?
Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak has Hike road access (3.6 mi from the road).
Is Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak free to visit?
Hot Lake In Bottom Of Crater Peak has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.