Chena Hot Springs

Chena Hot Springs Review

The 57-mi paved Chena Hot Springs Road, which starts 5 mi outside Fairbanks, leads to Chena Hot Springs, a favorite playground of many Fairbanks residents. The road passes several attractions, including Chena River State Recreation Area and Chena Hot Springs Resort. If you're heading to the resort, don't skip the hiking, fishing, camping, and canoeing along the way. The chances of spotting a moose are excellent if you keep a sharp eye on the roadside.

From Mile 26 to Mile 51 the road passes through the Chena River State Recreation Area, a diverse wilderness of nearly 400 square mi. You can also stop for a picnic, take a hike for an hour or an extended backpacking trip, fish for the beautiful yet gullible arctic grayling, or rent a rustic backcountry cabin to savor a truly wild Alaskan adventure. Grayling fishing in the Chena River is catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial lure only. There are several stocked lakes along the road affording catch-and-keep fishing for rainbow trout, which are well suited for the frying pan.