Chena Hot Springs Natural Pond

I thoroughly enjoyed the hot spring itself, however, I would like to prepare other tourists for what we experienced at this resort. First of all, the staff is pretty standoffish and the directions are unclear. Obviously you have to sign a waiver, but there were a lot of nuanced things we weren't warned about. You have to go into a locker room and change (bring shoes for this such as crocs or sandals), and you will need to bring 50¢ in quarters for a locker. You also have to shower before and after the hot springs, which we were not prepared for. Towel service is $5, which basically means borrowing a towel for $5. Secondly, we chose to stick around and tour the ice museum. This was a pretty uncomfortable experience. We paid $20 each, and opted out of getting the special martini as we do not drink. It was supposedly guided, but all our guide did was tell us not to open the doors on our own, point out grim facts about each of the ice sculptures, and then basically coerced us to give him a tip to be let out. There is no obvious reason why you cannot open the doors on your own and leave, it seems to be so they HAVE to interact with you to get tips. As a former tour guide, I can confidently say a 10 minute tour that was not particularly enjoyable is worthy of a tip, and I think our guide knew that. It was really uncomfortable, and multiple other people were made to feel uncomfortable around us because of this. All and all, I loved the actual hot spring, but I could have gone without interacting with any of the staff here. They were not friendly or helpful, and I am reconsidering visiting again.

Don’t waste your valuable time and money on this resort/hot springs. Irresponsible and rude management, bad expensive food, dirty uncleaned rooms, just overall an abysmal experience. It’s not a “resort.” I’d say it’s even worse than some cheap motels I’ve been to. If you read other Google reviews and especially Reddit, you’ll find more reasons to not go here. Other specifics below: • No response from management after sending a detailed complaint with photos. • Staff were rude, unprofessional, and often on their phones. Dismissive tone during both check-in and check-out. • Jen at the front desk was particularly rude to multiple guests, creating visible discomfort for others. • Room was not ready at 4 PM; waited ~20 minutes. • Upon entering, the room was still not properly cleaned: – Bugs throughout the room, especially near the bedside and nightstands – Clumps of hair on the floor – Dusty furniture – Only decaf coffee packets provided – Smooshed/damaged cups – Thermostat not working – Fire alarm beeping sporadically • Requested re-cleaning, but the room remained uncomfortable even after staff returned. • Overall facility felt old and dirty, especially the locker rooms.

I really wanted to like Chena Hot Springs. I love the idea of spending a day relaxing in a natural hot spring. Unfortunately this hot spring and resort really missed the mark. The facilities were small, smelly, and not well kept. The indoor pools were nothing much, the main attraction is definitely the outdoor natural hot spring which was unfortunately a bit grimy. The air is filled with the smell of sulfur (which is natural) but also there was a lot of moss and scum floating around in the water. For being listed as one of the best hot springs/resorts in the US, it's really a shame as I had much higher expectations. I think the resort would have a lot of potential if it was cleaner, had better facilities and really had some time and money invested into it. As it exists today, it's worth skipping (especially being an hour drive outside of Fairbanks). People will need to have low expectations when they come here and they'll probably have a better time.

Came here for the experience, not the luxury and that’s exactly what it is. Soaking in a natural hot spring surrounded by snow is truly special and unforgettable. The setting is beautiful and very “Alaska.” That said, the facilities are basic and feel dated, so don’t expect a high-end spa vibe. This place is all about the hot springs themselves. Worth visiting at least once, especially in winter, but manage expectations if you’re used to luxury resorts. Traveler tips before you go: • Bring quarters for lockers — they cost about $0.50 per use and there’s a change machine in the lobby. • Towels cost extra (about $5), so consider bringing your own. • The indoor changing rooms and showers are basic and can feel crowded. • The hot spring lake and outdoor soak are worth it, especially if it’s cold outside and you want that warm-in-snow experience. A unique Alaskan experience and memorable for the right reasons, as long as you come prepared.

It is an amazing place. The best time of cause is when it is less busy here. Yes, the property is a bit outdated. But front desk staff was very kind. I did not find lockers rooms to be dirty as some others mentioned. Just the showers floors seem suspicious - flip flops are definitely needed. I was confused about how way to the outdoor pools will be when researching and worried that pool mught be too hot for me. So, you can walk bare feet or use something and towel is optional to get back to changing rooms. Water at entrance is not too hot, but it getting gradually hotter the further you move in a pool. Also the entrance is a low angle slope - water starts right at the end of walking tunnel / entrance to the pool ( i first walked a bit into water not realizing it is already a pool entrance ). It is a bit slippery. Overall, it is great. And it is amazing to have such an opportunity to swim in hot springs in Alaska especially in winter.