SE Alaska: Baranof Warm Springs affordable accommodation
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Aug 29, 2012 8:20 PM Last Post By: Squirral02
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SE Alaska: Baranof Warm Springs affordable accommodation
Hi there,My boyfriend and I are a couple of weeks away from a very exciting 3 week trip in SE Alaska. We are taking the ferry from Haines, to Juneau, Sitka and then flying out from Petersburg. It's my birthday while we are away, so we are really keen to stay by some hot springs during the trip. Baranof Warm Springs community, a short flight from the main city of Sitka is looking like our best bet. However, aside from an extremely expensive lodge (over $1,000 for 3 nights!). I can't find anything online that offers insight into accommodation possibilities. I have seen the Cabins USFS, but can't work out how isolated they are (as we not are not experienced in these setting!) and we obviously want to be able to reach the hot springs easily enough (within a short hike).
Has anyone visited the lake and the springs who can offer some ideas? We are travelling on a small budget, we will have a tent and cooking equipment, but I am not overly confident to be in an extremely isolated cabin.
Any ideas or insight would be really helpful.
Many thanks
Faye
1
I looked into that cabin a bit when I was going to Sitka for work (hoped for a side trip). I never made it, but if I recall it is a ~3 mile walk from the cabin to the warm spring. I think that lodge is the only accommodations in the immediate area.Did you look into Tenakee Spring as an alternative? I've never been but I've heard it is a nice village with a hot spring, and it is served by the ferry.
2
It is confusing though about access from the cabin to the springs. Some sites say you it is not possible to hike between them (http://www.alaska.gov/kids/learn/hotsprings.htm) but others suggest it is possible. The USFS site says the cabin is fly in access (no mention of hiking), so I tend to think it's not possible to hike from the cabin to the springs. One site indicated the terrain was simply too extreme. Tenakee would be a more affordable and more easily accessible alternative.3
Thanks so much for your responses. It is confusing isn't it! We had initially considered Tenakee springs, but since we are a couple travelling and the hot springs were a birthday treat, we were put off by the separate bath times for men and women. The guide book states the principle spring is enclosed, does that mean that there are other springs? Have you visited them and can offer some insight? I'd love to go Baranof warm springs, but it does appear that cheap accommodation could be tricky...thanks for the feedback.
best wishes
Faye
