Shelokum Hot Springs (Bailey Bay Hot Springs)

What to expect

Shelokum Hot Springs, also called Bailey Bay Hot Springs, is a wild spring on the Cleveland Peninsula about 50 air miles north of Ketchikan, inside the Tongass National Forest. It sits near the west inlet of Lake Shelokum, a long lake in a steep, forested valley above Bailey Bay. The Forest Service keeps a free three-sided shelter here, and local residents from Ketchikan use it as a weekend trip.

Set your expectations before you go. The springs are undeveloped. Travel listings describe the source water at about 198°F92°C, which is close to boiling, and note that the springs are undisturbed and support an unusual population of algae. The Forest Service describes the shelter as simply near a hot spring and says nothing about a soaking pool. We could not confirm a built tub, a rock pool or a safe mixing spot from any official source. Plan this as a hike, a night in the shelter and a look at a remote thermal area, and count any soak as a bonus.

The shelter itself is basic: three walls and a roof facing the lake. There are no sleeping platforms, no stove, no running water, no electricity and no toilet.

Getting there

There is no road. Everyone arrives by water or air.

• By boat: Bailey Bay is about 48 miles from Ketchikan by water, or about 37 miles from Knudson Cove north of town. Most visitors charter a water taxi or use their own boat. A mooring buoy sits at the trailhead, just south of where Shelokum Creek enters the bay.
• By floatplane: Floatplane charters fly from Ketchikan to Bailey Bay. Ask the operator about landing conditions and a pickup time, and agree on a backup plan for weather.
• The trail: The Shelokum Lake Trail runs about 2.2 to 2.3 miles from Bailey Bay to the shelter, climbing steadily through spruce and hemlock with roughly 350 feet of gain. It is rated moderate but described as challenging. A landslide has covered part of the trail, and you have to scramble over rock on a steep sidehill there. You also have to ford Maude Creek, which has no bridge. In high water the creek cannot be safely forded, and the shelter may be cut off.

Wear rubber boots or sturdy waterproof boots, and carry trekking poles for the ford.

When to go

The shelter and trail are open all year on a first-come basis, but the weather of Southeast Alaska decides whether you can go. Ketchikan is one of the wettest towns in the country, and heavy rain quickly raises Maude Creek. The best window is a settled spell in summer, usually June to August, when days are long, boats run more often and the creek is lower. Fall storms bring high water and rough crossings, and winter adds snow and short days on the trail.

Because the shelter is free and popular with locals, summer weekends are the most likely time to find it occupied. Go midweek, or carry a tent.

Rules and etiquette

• Free, first come, first served. No reservations and no fee for the shelter. Share it if others arrive after dark in bad weather.
• Leave the springs alone. The algae and mineral deposits are what make this place unusual. Do not dig, dam or reroute the hot water.
• No soap in the springs, the creek or the lake.
• Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. There is no outhouse, so bury human waste well away from water.
• Clothing: There are no posted rules. If you do find a place to sit in warm water, use your judgment about who else is around.

Alaska Region orders on Tongass and Chugach land ban possessing or drinking alcohol in violation of Alaska state law (which sets the drinking age at 21) and ban possession of marijuana.

Where to stay nearby

The Lake Shelokum Shelter is the only structure at the springs. It is free and first come, first served, with no reservations on Recreation.gov. Bring a full camping setup: sleeping pad, bag, stove, food, water treatment, rain gear and a tent or tarp in case the shelter is taken. Potable water is not available, so treat lake or stream water.

Otherwise, the nearest lodging is in Ketchikan, which has hotels, fishing lodges, and the charter and floatplane operators you will need. Knudson Cove, north of town, is a common departure point for boats.

Safety notes

• Scalding water: The source runs near boiling. Keep hands, feet and dogs out of the hot channels, and be careful with children. Test any water with your hand before you trust it.
• Creek crossing: Do not attempt the Maude Creek ford in high, fast water. Wait it out or turn back, and remember the creek can rise while you are at the lake.
• Landslide section: Move carefully across the rocky sidehill, especially when it is wet or you are carrying a heavy pack.
• Bears: Black and brown bears live in this part of the Tongass. Carry bear spray, cook away from the shelter and store food properly.
• No signal: There is no cell service on any carrier. Leave a trip plan with someone in Ketchikan, set a firm pickup time with your boat or plane, and carry extra food in case weather delays it.
• Hypothermia: Cold rain is normal even in summer. Carry warm layers and a dry set of clothes for the shelter.

Nearby stops worth adding

Bailey Bay itself rewards a slow look at low tide, when the intertidal zone shows mussels, barnacles and seaweed. If you are building a Southeast Alaska hot springs trip, Chief Shakes Hot Springs on the Stikine River near Wrangell is the next soak north. Further north, Tenakee Hot Springs has a historic town bathhouse you can reach by state ferry.