Chena Hot Springs Resort Winter Review: Visiting Interior Alaska

For my first trip of 2023, I traveled 70 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, to Chena Hot Springs Resort located within the Chena River Valley. Situated within the Auroral Oval, this destination boasts incredible auroral displays all winter long. We stayed at Chena Hot Springs Resort for 3 nights/4 days, and it was one of the most incredible trips I’d ever been on in my life! In this blog post, I will give my full Chena Hot Springs Resort winter review and share how you, too, can visit Alaska in the winter!

This blog post also details some key things to know before you visit. If you’re thinking about visiting Chena Hot Springs Resort, keep reading to learn more about what to expect and prepare for!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission.

Why Visit Chena Hot Springs Resort?

In August of 1905, two brothers named Robert and Thomas Swan set out to discover a hot spring located within the Chena River valley that they’d heard about from a prediction made by a 1904 U.S. Geological Survey crew. Over the next several years, the brothers built up the property surrounding the hot spring to include cabins, a bathhouse, and a stable. The property today is known as Chena Hot Springs Resort, and it has been a staple retreat among residents and visitors to interior Alaska ever since. 

Many visitors to Chena Hot Springs usually come for one of two things: enjoying the hot spring (obviously!), or attempting to spot the Northern Lights. Honestly, that’s also what brought me 2,000 miles from my cozy apartment in downtown Seattle into the depths of interior Alaska in the dead of winter. Chena Hot Springs seemed to hold the promise of a winter wonderland escape against the backdrop of scenic, wild Alaska. And, boy, did it deliver on that promise.

The excitement and enchantment of interior Alaska did not end with the Aurora or the hot springs, though. I also went dog sledding through a snow-covered forest, and did a fair amount of scenic hiking on two incredibly scenic trails in the Chena River State Recreation Area. All while enjoying moments in between exploring around the property and learning about the unique history that led to its discovery. 

When is the best time of year to visit Chena Hot Springs?

We stayed at Chena Hot Springs for 4 days during the first week of January. As one can imagine, interior Alaska is cold in the dead of winter. So cold that it will knock the wind out of you as you leave the warmth of the Fairbanks Airport. That’s what happened to me, at least! 

Personally, I loved experiencing the colder weather. It was fun to play in the snow and warm up in the hot spring. But don’t get me wrong when I emphasize how cold it was. Bone-chilling cold. If that’s not your vibe, it might be better to visit in the shoulder seasons or during the summer months. You still have a decent chance of viewing the Aurora Borealis during the late summer, fall, and early spring. Though, winter provides the best chance of seeing the lights at a reasonable hour due to the shortened length of daylight and long periods of darkness that follow. 

If you do decide to visit Chena Hot Springs Resort in the winter, you might even have a chance of viewing the Aurora overhead while soaking in the hot spring! There are lights surrounding the hot spring area, so visibility might be lowered but there is still a possibility of witnessing the phenomenon from the comfort of warm waters! 

I loved my trip to Chena Hot Springs so much that I decided to visit in the late summer/early fall of 2023 (later this year!). I anticipate that it’ll be a much different experience visiting without snow on the ground, and I intend to explore more of the wilderness areas nearby!

How much does it cost to visit Chena Hot Springs?

To visit the pool house and hot spring at Chena Hot Springs Resort, it costs $20 USD per adult. Children under 5 are free, but entrance for children ages 6-17 costs $17. Similarly, for seniors (60+) it costs $18 to use the pool house and hot springs area. If you want to stow your things in a locker during your time at the pool house, I recommend you bring quarters because you will need to pay $0.50 per locker to use it while you swim.

• Adults: $20
• Children (under 5): Free
• Children (6-17): $17
• Seniors: $18

If you are staying in a room at the resort, your passes are included in your stay. You will still need to bring quarters if you intend to use a locker in the pool house. There are also bathing suits and snacks available–the snacks and beverages cannot be taken into the pool house area near bathers.

To stay at Chena Hot Springs Resort, nightly rates fluctuate based on seasonality and dates but we paid roughly $195 per night for a room in the Moose Lodge. I believe we booked under a promotion near the end of October for our stay in early January. Based on their website, it appears that current rates for that room type are $279.99 (plus taxes and fees) per night. There are also cabins available for as few as 2 people ranging all the way up to 8 people. The cabins are “dry cabins”, meaning there is no running water access. Showers are available in the pool house, though. Prices for the cabins vary widely based on seasonality, cabin type, cabin size, and other factors.

For our trip in the fall of this year, we will be staying in one of the cabins. Stay tuned for my thoughts on that specific accommodation style after my trip!

If you’re trying to plan a trip to Chena Hot Springs Resort, I recommend checking out their website for the most accurate pricing details based on your desired room type!

What are the best things to do at Chena Hot Springs Resort?

The main attraction of Chena Hot Springs Resort is, not surprisingly, its natural hot springs. The hot springs are heated by geothermal energy and provide a relaxing soak in warm water even during the coldest winter months. It’s an awesome experience to soak in 100 degree Fahrenheit temperature waters while the air around you is in the single digits! Visitors can also take a dip in an outdoor hot tub that overlooks the surrounding mountains, or the indoor pool and hot tub for those looking to escape the cold, brisk air. 

In addition to soaking in the hot springs, there are plenty of other activities for visitors to enjoy at Chena Hot Springs Resort in the winter. Some activities visitors might enjoy at Chena Hot Springs Resort in the winter include snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dog sledding. 

During summer months, guests can go hiking or mountain biking on nearby trails in the Chena River State Recreation Area. Visitors can also take a guided ATV tour through the wilderness and experience the beauty of wild Alaska first-hand. 

We did the dog sledding tour during our trip and, though it was a splurge for us, it was well worth every penny. The ride itself is short–likely only a couple miles on a designated trail through the forest. But you also get to explore artifacts from historic and momentous events related to dog sledding inside the on-site cabin, and also meet all of the dogs! It’s great fun, and I would love to do it again if I visit in the winter.

Another activity we enjoyed was drinking apple martinis out of an ice glass inside the Aurora Ice Museum! We paid for the tour to enter the Ice Museum, while also included two apple martini drinks served in glasses carved out of ice. The drinks were delicious, and they stayed cool and crisp the entire tour thanks to the ice glasses! Visitors can enjoy this tour year-round, not just during the winter months!

If you’re curious about the onsite greenhouse, I highly suggest you go on the free Geothermal Energy/Greenhouse Tour offered daily. Did I mention it’s free?! The coolest part about having an onsite greenhouse in the middle of interior Alaska is that the resort’s restaurant can use fresh ingredients they would otherwise have to outsource. Sustainability is key, and Chena Hot Springs really emphasizes this throughout the property and makes it a wonderful part of the guest experience.

For those seeking ultimate relaxation, Chena Hot Springs Resort has a spa, offering massages and other treatments using natural products like honey and herbs grown on-site. 

If you’re looking for things to do around Fairbanks before or after your visit to Chena Hot Springs, check out these activities offered through Viator and GetYourGuide:

• Small Group Aurora Viewing Adventure – Viator
• Arctic Circle Drive from Fairbanks – Viator
• Alaskan Heritage and Sightseeing Tour – Viator
• Moonlight Dog Sledding, Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour – GetYourGuide
• 1-Hour Dog Mushing Winter Adventure – GetYourGuide

What is the food like at Chena Hot Springs?

Despite there only being one full-service dining option at the resort, you likely won’t run out of options during your stay here. The main restaurant is called Chena Hot Springs Restaurant, and the menu is pretty impressive. There are a ton of different options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also a full bar with a huge menu of delicious cocktails available, too.

We thoroughly enjoyed the food here, and we ate all three meals at the restaurant each day of our stay. We tried a new dish each time, but my favorite meal I ate while staying at Chena Hot Springs was the “Belgian Start”. I love anything sweet, so this was a winning dish for me! For alcoholic beverages, I absolutely loved the “Aurora Margarita”!

There is also a small quick stop food option located inside the activity center called the Aurora Cafe. Here you can find some microwavable options, soups, sandwiches, ice cream, hot cocoa, and bottled water and drinks. We did frequent this cafe regularly during our stay to purchase bottled water… if you’re visiting Chena Hot Springs Resort, I recommend you bring a pallet of bottled water with you or plan to spend money on bottled water while there. There is nothing wrong with the tap water, and it is totally potable. HOWEVER… it does smell and taste pretty strongly of sulfur. If you’re anything like me and find that you’re sensitive to that type of thing, come prepared with bottled water for your trip!

Can You See the Aurora Borealis at Chena Hot Springs?

The short answer? It depends. I recommend not getting your hopes up too high, so as not to be disappointed if you don’t see it. It’s difficult to predict exactly when and where the Aurora Borealis will be visible, or whether it’ll be visible at all. Before and during your trip, you should use Northern Lights trackers online to monitor the activity over the resort area. This is the only way to determine the odds of you seeing it during your stay!

The resort staff also monitor Auroral activity, and post the conditions each day on a whiteboard in the activity center. I loved walking over to check out the forecast every morning before breakfast. See below for a photo I took of the whiteboard on one of our days during our stay.

I arrived hopeful to witness this magical occurrence, though I knew not to put all of my eggs in one basket. After all, nature is unpredictable. Auroral activity, and visibility of this activity, is never guaranteed. Weather patterns, moonlight, and other natural factors all play a role in whether auroral activity will be visible overhead. I’ll dive deeper into this later on, and explain more of what you can expect if you visit Chena Hot Springs Resort in the winter. 

We were lucky enough to experience the Aurora on our second night, and the wonder of it is difficult to describe. What I thought, at first, were oddly-shaped fast-moving clouds overhead turned out to be a diffuse Aurora—a widespread, featureless but uniform cloud-like Aurora that disperses light throughout the sky. 

This was much different from the image I had in my mind of what the Northern Lights looked like. I was expecting a more vibrant, sharply-defined narrow bolt of green light piercing the sky. That type of Aurora is known as a discrete Aurora, and it’s what’s often portrayed on social and popular media platforms, and likely what many people envision when they think of the Aurora Borealis. 

I find this difference between diffuse and discrete Auroras extraordinarily fascinating. Even more so now that I witnessed a diffuse Aurora form overhead with my own eyes. Be openminded when searching for the Aurora, because it may not appear as quickly or brightly as you expect.

---

This trip is one that, for me, embodied all that I love about traveling—immersing myself in nature, challenging my assumptions, and expanding my repertoire of knowledge about the world and it’s many wonders.

Also, if you’re headed up to Alaska on a cruise, check out my recent posts detailing the best excursions to book and items to pack along with you:

• Best Alaska Cruise Shore Excursions Worth Every Penny
• Ultimate Alaska Cruise Packing Guide (with free PDF!)
• Top 5 Items to Bring on Your Alaskan Cruise

If you’re planning a trip to Alaska in general (whether via cruise, ferry, or plane), check out my social media channels for more Alaska content! Follow me on Instagram (@sydneybrowntravels), TikTok (@sydneybrowntravels), and Twitter (@sydbrowntravels).

You can also find great items to pack for your Alaska adventure on my Amazon Storefront.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Chena Hot Springs Resort, please consider supporting me via buying me a coffee! Any funds given in support of this blog help me continue creating engaging travel content and sharing my stories and experiences with you all. I appreciate any support you can give, whether it’s a simple “share” on social media or buying me a coffee!