Chena Hot Springs Road
MP 0
| Intersection with Steese Highway MP 4.5
| Access: From Fairbanks, head north on the Steese Highway. At 4.5 miles, take the Chena Hot Springs Road exit and drive east.
| Links: Chena River State Recreation Area
Trail Reports and Park Conditions
River Guide for Chena River SRA
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MP 26.7 | Flat Creek Slough Boat Launch
| Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass. | Downloads: |
MP 27
| Rosehip Campground and Nature Trail
| Access: Turn south into a nice campground. 37 campsites, both single and double sites. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass, or camping fee.
Lat N 64⁰ 52.660’ Long W 146⁰ 45.899’ Elevation 576’
Distance: 1.1 miles to close the loop from campsite #6 to #15 Elevation Drop: 98’ Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Year-round
Interpretive trail of the Boreal forest. The trail does not make a complete loop – start either across from campsite #6 (to the right of the bathroom) or between campsites # 15 & 16. This trail does not appear to be maintained and has standing water and trees across it. Part of the trail follows the bank of the Chena River and is starting to fall into the river; it won’t be long before the trail must be re-routed. Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links:
Downloads: Rosehip Nature Trail GPS Topo Map
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MP 27.8 & 28.6 | Miles 28 & 28.6 River Accesses
| Mile 28: Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
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MP 29.5
| Compeau Trail & Colorado Creek Cabin
| Access: Parking area on the north side of the road. Daily fee or State Parks annual Pass.
Lat N 64⁰ 53.501’ Long W 146⁰ 41.211’ Elevation 689’
Distance: 18 miles to cabin Elevation Gain: 1200’ | Links:
Compeau Trail & Colorado Creek Winter Trail
Downloads: Compeau Trail & Colorado Creek Winter Trail
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MP 30
| Twin Bears Camp
| Access: North side of the road.
Lat N 64⁰ 53.663’ Long W 146⁰ 40.340’ Elevation 667’
Twin Bears Camp is a state park facility available for rent by any individual or group. The camp has twelve rustic cabins that sleep 6 to 8 people each, and two insulated handicap-accessible buildings (25'x40') with heat, lights and cooking facilities. In summer, hot and cold running water and electricity (a generator) are available, enabling a full-service kitchen, shower houses, and laundry. A five-kilometer cross-country ski trail loop is available. Call 907-452-5343 for reservations. | Links:
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| Mile 31.4 River Access
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MP 31.8
| Lower Stiles Creek and Cabin & Shooting Range
| Access: Parking area on north side of road. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 64⁰ 54.203’ Long W 146⁰ 36.927’ Elevation 641’
Distance: 8 miles to cabin, 15 miles to upper trailhead Elevation Gain: 1700’ to upper trailhead Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Best Months: Year-round | Links:
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MP 32.2
| Chena River Cabin
| Access: Watch for the Colorado/Stiles Creek trailhead on the left (north) side of the road. The turnoff to the cabin is 0.5 miles past the trailhead, on the RIGHT. It is less than 300 feet to the cabin from the locked gate at the road.
Lat N 64⁰ 54.233’ Long W 146⁰ 35.961’ Elevation 640’ | Links:
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MP 35.7
| Interpretive Sign | This sign interprets and refers to the Granite Tors and trail, but the trailhead is actually at 39.5 mile, so the sign is confusing. |
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MP 36.4
| Upper Stiles Creek
| Access: Parking area on north side of road. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 64⁰ 54.321’ Long W 146⁰ 27.478’ Elevation 700’
Distance: 7 miles to cabin, 15 miles to lower trailhead Elevation Gain: 1700’ to lower trailhead Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Best Months: Year-round | Links:
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| Miles 37.7 & 38.2 River Accesses
| Mile 37.7: Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
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MP 38.5
| Mastodon Trail & Nugget Creek Cabin
| Access: South side of the road. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 64⁰ 53.973’ Long W 146⁰ 23.467’ Elevation 738’
The trail has been constructed (and is open) to mile 8, and Alaska State Parks is hoping to finish construction to 12 mile by the end of 2019. | Links:
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MP 39.5
| Granite Tors Campground, Cabin, and Trail
| Access: On the left side of the road, a nice campground on the river with 24 campsites. The cabin is located within the campground. The trailhead parking is here; start down a footpath which crosses the bridge & takes you to the trailhead. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass, or camping fee.
Lat N 64⁰ 54.172’ Long W 146⁰ 21.661’ Elevation 698’
Distance: 15 mile loop Elevation Gain: 2900’ Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous Best Months: Year-round
This is one of the few trails in the area that is just for hiking – no motorized use or bikes. The 2-3 mile shorter loop is no longer accessible due to a bridge out. The sign says it is only until the bridge is repaired, but it appears the sign has been there a very long time. There is a lot of boardwalk; much of it has been replaced if you start counter-clockwise (be very careful on any of the old sections – it is rotted and boards are loose). At .83 mile there is a sign pointing left that says “3 mile Loop,” which is where you want to go if you wish to do the 15 mile loop trail in a clockwise direction. However, the boardwalk on the other side of the creek has not been replaced and is very slippery. I recommend doing an out-and-back in the counter-clockwise direction to take advantage of the new boardwalk. If you aren’t planning to hike to the Tors, at 1.8 miles where the trail starts to climb is a good turn-around spot. Hazard warnings: All boardwalk can be slippery when wet. The weather can come in quickly on the ridge and it’s easy to get lost, so bring a compass or GPS and emergency gear. Some route-finding skills are required on the ridge . Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links:
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| Mile 39.6 River Access
| Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass. | Downloads: |
MP 41.6
| Stiles Creek Extension and Cabin
| Access: North side of the road, unmarked.
Lat N 64⁰ 55.630’ Long W 146⁰ 19.420’ Elevation 744’
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MP 42.7
| Hunt Memorial Cabin
| Access: The entrance road to the cabin is on the south side just before Red Squirrel Campground, and has a locked gate with a combination.
Lat N 64⁰ 56.032’ Long W 146⁰ 17.373’ Elevation 789’ | Links:
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MP 42.8
| Red Squirrel Campground
| Access: North side of the road. DNR says there are 12 campsites but it’s really just two small parking lots and one tent site on open grass, around a small pond. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass, or camping fee.
Lat N 64⁰ 56.072’ Long W 146⁰ 17.171’ Elevation 788’ Valerie’s Rating: ❷ | Links:
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| Miles 43 & 44 River Accesses
| Mile 44: Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
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MP 47.7
| North Fork Cabin
| Access: Watch for the small road and gate on the left side of the road (heading toward Chena Hot Springs). If you have rented the cabin you may drive in, or park and walk from the gate. Walking may be advisable during snowy weather or during breakup.
Lat N 64⁰ 59.700’ Long W 146⁰ 13.699’ Elevation 896’ | Links:
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MP 48.9
| Angel Rocks Trail
| Access: Turn right just before the bridge and follow the trail upstream from the parking lot along the North Fork of the Chena River. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 65⁰ 00.685’ Long W 146⁰ 13.162’ Elevation 896’
Distance: 3.9 mile loop trail or 8.3 miles one-way to Chena Hot Springs Elevation Gain: 1010’ (loop trail), 2000’ to Chena Hot Springs Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous Best Months: Summer-Fall
This is one of the few trails in the area that is designated for non-motorized use. You could bike the first .3 mile if you wanted, but the tread quickly becomes rock and rooty. At .77 mile, keep right at the unmarked fork in the trail to go around the loop counter-clockwise — take the boardwalk up the hill. The trail is better signed for counter-clockwise, and the grade isn’t quite as steep due to the presence of switchbacks (please don’t cut the switchbacks as it causes trail erosion). As you go through the rocks there are a lot of side trails that are indistinguishable from the main trail, some with drop-offs, so pay attention to where you are going. Another option is to continue on one-way to Chena Hot Springs on a spur trail which is well-signed, or to go out-and-back on the spur trail, hiking along an open ridge in some places. Chena Hot Springs offers a shuttle if you wish to hike one-way ($25 in 2018) -- check for availability: (907) 451-8104. Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links:
Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail
Downloads: Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail
Angel Rocks Loop GPS Trail Map
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MP 49.1
| Lower Chena Dome Trail
| Access: West (left) side of the road. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 65⁰ 00.832’ Long W 146⁰ 13.196’ Elevation 937’
Distance: 29 mile loop to Upper Chena Dome Trailhead Elevation Gain: 3421’ (the Trail Guide is incorrect, but the elevation profile is correct) Difficulty: Strenuous Best Months: Year-round
This is one of the few designated non-motorized use trails in the area. Bikes are allowed, but would not be a good choice. The 29-mile loop trail/route circles on the ridges above the entire Angel Creek drainage. Mile markers travel in a counter-clockwise direction from the upper trailhead. (A sign at the trailhead recommends starting at the trailhead at MP 50.5 and going counter-clockwise.) Each end of the trail travels through forest for about three miles up to timberline. The rest of the trail follows tundra ridge tops and is marked by rock cairns. Each trailhead offers steep but scenic day hikes, and the entire loop is a good 2-4 day trip for backpackers. | Links:
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MP 50.5
| Angel Creek Hillside Trail, Angel Creek Cabins, Upper Chena Dome Trail
| Access: West side of the road. Alaska State Parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 65⁰ 02.094’ Long W 146⁰ 12.959’ Elevation 932’
Distance: 5.1 miles to lower cabin, 10 miles to upper cabin. Elevation Gain: 600’ Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Year-round
The Angel Creek Hillside Trail provides year-round access to The Angel Creek Cabins (except during spring break-up). The trail stays high, contouring the hillside, offering many scenic views of the valley and surrounding hills.
For the Chena Dome Trail, see the MP 49.1 information. | Links:
Angel Creek Hillside Trail Conditions
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MP 56.6
| Chena Hot Springs
| Access: End of the road!
Lat N 65⁰ 23.217’ Long W 146⁰ 03.529’ Elevation 1182’
All of the trails start from the private property of Chena Hot Springs Resort. Campsites are very nice and reasonably priced. There are also Yurts, cabins, and hotel rooms. I highly recommend touring the facilities, including the Aurora Ice Museum. Valerie’s Rating: ❺ | Links:
Downloads: Chena Hot Springs Resort area trails
Chena Hot Springs Resort Information
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