By now you probably know how much we like hot springs. About 60 miles east of Fairbanks is Chena Hot Springs. We fortunately picked a weekend; about half the road is under construction during the week. The road needs it, for sure. Lots of potholes to dodge.
The drive out goes through the Chena River State Recreation Area. Lots of RVs were boondocked along the river. Probably fishing for greyling. We thought salmon, but someone said it is a little early and not many salmon are coming back this year.
Chena Hot Springs resort has built a beautiful outdoor adults-only pool since George was there in 2003. The water is quite hot but a fountain of cool water helps bring the temperature down. Past the fountain is much hotter than the rest. The one improvement I'd like is benches or rocks to sit submerged in the water. It was wonderful! Oh, and a better layout for the locker rooms. The locker area was L-shaped and tiny, making it difficult to access your locker or change clothes when crowded. A ticket good f
or all day was $10/adults or $8/seniors 62 and up.
We soaked, had lunch in their understaffed restaurant, then got back in. Just as we were heading back outside to the rock pool, a moose came up to a little pond right in the compound for a drink. Two large dogs - Rhodesiam Ridgebacks, I think - were tied to a tree about 15 feet away from the moose but that didn't seem to make a difference. When people came out with their cameras, that did make the moose nervous and he headed back into the nearby woods. Finally a thunderstorm got rather close and the idea of lightening encouraged us to call it a day!
In addition to soaking, the resort has a number of activities plus RV parking for $20/day. You can go in the Ice Museum and drink an appletini. We decided the $15 each admission fee was not worth it. (The appletini - served in an glass made of ice - is another $15) Chena also produces its own geothermal power and is participating in research with the federal government. They offer a tour of the plant. Other activities include horseback riding, dog sled ride, flight seeing, mountain biking - and more. In other words, it is a full fledged resort.
On the way back we saw another moose feeding in the Chena River, her head totally submerged. She was undisturbed by us watching her, other than to keep an eye on us between bites.
Chena and Liard are definitely the two nicest hot springs we've been to on this trip. The drive through the Chena River State Recreation Area is very scenic too. Just watch for potholes - a fact of northern life! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
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