Circle
Hot Springs
| Chena
Hot Springs
Hotels
Before gold fever hit the Klondike, Circle was the
largest town on the Yukon River. Gold was discovered on
Birch Creek in 1893 and the town grew as a supply point,
servicing the new diggings with modern buildings and
services.
Circle is 50 miles (80 km) south of the Arctic
Circle, and was erroneously named by miners who thought
it was far closer. 162 miles from Fairbanks via
the Steese Highway (State Route 6), Circle provides a
scenic overnight side-trip with the opportunity to enjoy
two hot springs resorts, and to stand beside the
impressive Yukon River. Along the highway are old mining
camps, several excellent spots for viewing northern
wildflowers, picnic areas, and camp grounds. You'll meet
the Yukon River at the tiny village of Circle, set at the
very end of the road.
Chena Hot Springs is much closer to Fairbanks,
via the Steese Highway and then an 8.5 mile road.
Circle Hot Springs
The hot springs near Circle were discovered by
prospector William Greats in 1893. Many miners spent
their winters at the springs, using tents for bath
houses, when the creeks were too frozen to work. The
Circle Hot Springs Road junction is located 128 miles
(206 km) from the start of the Steese Highway. A side
road runs for 8.3 miles to the resort. The resort is
built around the Olympic-sized pool, and a historic hotel
which offers rooms, cabins, a hostel on the fourth floor,
and dining.
Most local residents live not in the village, but
along the river, coming to town by boat to pick up
supplies. The Yukon Trading Post houses the restaurant,
saloon, post office, a gas station, and liquor store. The
H.C. Company Store also has gas, and sells groceries and
snacks. To catch a feeling for the founding of Circle
during the 1893 gold rush, walk through the small Pioneer
Cemetery, with its old markers. You get there by walking
upriver on a gravel road, past a barricade, and to a
trail which is reached by crossing a private front yard.
Please respect this privately-owned access.
A campground is located two miles before you reach the
resort, and camping spots are also found at the end of
the road, beside the Yukon River. Here, there is a
parking area, picnic tables and toilets.
Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Resort is accessible via
Chena Hot Springs Road. Turn off the Steese Hwy. at mile
4.6 (km 7.4) and drive for 56.5 miles (91 km). This is an
easy day-trip from Fairbanks, leading you to a relaxing
time in the large, enclosed thermal pool, a 2,800
square-foot redwood deck, and a 10-person whirlpool.
There is a dining room and overnight accommodations,
including hotel rooms, cabins, and camping. The resort
has an RV park with electrical hookups and dump station.
Winter activities include cross-country skiing, guided
snowmobile rides, and warm soaking with piles of snow
outside.
The first ice hotel to be built in the United
States has been constructed during the past recent
winters at Cthw hot springs resort, 60 miles northeast of
Fairbanks in Interior Alaska. The gothic-style hotel was
bdesigned and built by 10-time World Ice Art
Championships winner Steve Brice. The 30-foot high hotel
has six rooms and an ice bar, lobby, stage, ice
chandeliers and a turret for viewing the aurora
borealis..
Other features include an ice gazebo and working ice
pipe organ for weddings, ice glasses for the bar and ice
figurines -- including jousting knights, gargoyles and
winged mythical lions -- for the entrance. Guests who
check in to the future hotel will bed down on ice beds
covered with reindeer hides and sleeping bags. The
temperature in the rooms will be kept at 28 degrees
Fahrenheit. The hotel is rebuilt each winter For more
information, go to the resort's
web site.
Yukon Trading Post
Circle AK 99733, (907) 773-1217
At the end of the Steese Highway, beside the Yukon River,
the Trading Post has several basic hotel rooms, as well
as a restaurant (great pies), a saloon and a grocery
store.
Arctic Circle Hot Springs Resort
Central AK 99730, (907) 520-5113
Located on Hot Springs Road , this is a modest resort
hotel with Olympic-sized hot springs pool, dining room,
lounge, store, and RV parking. The original hotel has
been restored and offers rooms plus a hostel on the
fourth floor. The resort is eight miles off the Steese
Highway.
Central Motor Inn and Campground
Central AK 99730, (907) 520-5228
If you're on a driving tour ending at Circle, you may
wish to stay along the Steese Highway. The village of
Central is located at Mile 127 (km 204). The motel has a
restaurant, lounge, laundry, R.V. spaces, and tent sites.
It's open year-round.
Chena Hot Springs Resort
P.O. Box 73440, Fairbanks AK 99707, (907)
452-7867
The resort is situated at the end of a 60-mile (96 km)
spur road, off the Steese Highway. The resort hotel
features rooms, suites, and cabins, with the main
attraction a hot springs pool. A restaurant and lounge
are located on the property, as is a campground with
basic sites.
