Chena Hot Springs: For moose & humansTraveLog
Chena Hot Springs: For moose & humans
Get to know people in Fairbanks well, and they'll confide that one of their favorite places is Chena Hot Springs, a spot in the wilderness worth even a one-day experience.
No doubt about it. It's one of those places you want to visit again.
Chena Hot Springs is a naturally occurring Arctic anomaly. On this particular afternoon visiting the Golden Heart City, we took our first adventure into the mystique of these geothermal phenomena that draw thousands of pilgrims where they occur in Europe and the Soviet Union.
The springs are just 60 miles from downtown Fairbanks on the rolling, Chena Hot Springs Road.
Along the route, the meandering Chena River crosses the highway four times, winding through lush agricultural valleys; moose ponds along the highway; and excellent hiking, canoeing and camping spots in the Chena River Recreation Area. Grayling fishing is excellent, and there are plenty of stops for kids and others along the way.
Chena Hot Springs Resort is at the end of the road. It's a laid-back place, and even weekend kids shrieking in the swimming pool don't mar the serenity of the resort, its solid, clean cabins and a lodge that takes you back into the early 1900's.
The roundlogs that are the foundation of its venerable construction give the lodge a quiet warmth. Wooden floors creak reassuringly beneath parlor carpeting throughout. The pool table is red, and the easy chairs throughout the lobby, the hallways, and the porch invite the visitor to sink in and stay awhile. Remember grandpa's old cushion chair with the huge wooden arms? You'll find it in Chena Hot Springs Resort, blending with antiques obviously collected with care by the proprietors over the years.