Baranof Island Alaska
USA

2 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Lindblad Expeditions (2 Cruises)

Baranof Island, Alaska | Cruise Port Guide

You hear the waterfall before you see it. As the expedition ship enters Warm Springs Bay, on the east coast of Baranof Island, a waterfall tumbles down the mountainside right in the middle of a wooden hamlet clinging to the shore. A handful of cabins, a floating dock, and the Tongass rainforest climbing up toward the snowline: that's the entire setting. And beneath this mountain flow hot springs that make this bay one of the most sought-after stops in Southeast Alaska.

A Landing at the End of the World

No road leads here. Visitors arrive by boat or floatplane, and smaller ships anchor in the bay before ferrying passengers to the hamlet's dock by inflatable boat. The community counts only a handful of seasonal residents, mostly fishermen, and life unfolds along a wooden boardwalk that serves as the main street. No shops, no cell service: the place sets its own pace right away, one dictated by the tides and the weather, and passengers settle into it with obvious pleasure.

The Baths Facing the Dock

Directly above the pier, a rustic building houses baths fed by the springs: large private tubs where the water arrives naturally scalding hot, with views over the anchorage and the masts of the fishing boats. It's the more civilized version of the experience, welcome when the Tongass rain joins the party. The more adventurous instead continue on toward the natural pools, a little farther up the mountain.

The Boardwalk to the Pools

From the dock, a boardwalk about a kilometre and a half long winds between the cabins, then heads into the damp forest, among towering spruce, thick moss and ferns. The trail opens onto a series of rocky pools terraced at the top of the waterfall. You slip into water that ranges from lukewarm to very hot depending on the pool, while the river roars just below. Soaking like this out in nature, with the bay below and the forest all around, ranks among those moments no photograph quite captures. Some passengers go back twice during the same port call, unable to choose between the warmth of the water and the coolness of the scenery.

The Lake and the Wildlife

Continuing past the springs, the trail reaches Baranof Lake, a dark, still expanse tucked between rock walls, where the eye gets lost in the reflections of the peaks. The surrounding area belongs to the animals: brown bears fishing for salmon in late summer, otters and seals near the shore, bald eagles perched on the treetops. In nearby Chatham Strait, humpback whales pass through regularly, and the show sometimes starts even before you disembark, with blows and fins marking the ship's approach.

Tips for the Port Call

  • Bring a swimsuit, towel and water shoes: the areas around the pools are slippery.
  • Pack a rain jacket; the region gets heavy precipitation year-round.
  • Follow guides' instructions regarding bears, especially during the salmon run.
  • Save a little time to linger near the docks, where the fishermen are happy to talk about their season.

Leaving with Reluctance

Warm Springs Bay doesn't appear on any major circuit, and that's exactly what makes it so valuable. The port call takes only a few hours: a hot soak, a walk through the forest, a lake, conversations by the water. Heading back to the ship, skin still warm from the spring water, you watch the waterfall shrink behind you and think that true, wild Alaska looks exactly like this.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Warm Springs Bay, small ships anchor in the bay and land passengers by inflatable at the hamlet's floating dock. No road reaches here: you arrive by boat or by floatplane.
The waterfall. You hear it before you see it: a cascade tumbling down the mountain in the middle of a wooden hamlet clinging to the shore on Baranof Island's east coast.
The hot springs running beneath the mountain, which make this bay one of the most prized stops in southeast Alaska. The combination of waterfall, rainforest and hot pools exists nowhere else on the coast.
A handful of cabins, a floating dock and a boardwalk that serves as the main street. The community numbers only a few seasonal residents, mostly fishermen.
Neither. No store, no signal: the place sets its own rhythm from the first minute, the rhythm of tides and weather. Bring everything from the ship.
Walk the boardwalk to the foot of the falls, climb the trail toward the lake above, and soak in the hot springs. The Tongass rainforest climbs to the snowline above the hamlet.
It climbs sharply through rainforest, on wooden walkways that are often slippery. Shoes with real grip are recommended; this is not a waterfront stroll.
US dollars and English, the island being part of Alaska. Since there is nothing to buy ashore, the question rarely comes up.
For children comfortable in an inflatable and on a wet hike, yes. There is no service, no facility and no fallback if it rains: this is an expedition call.
June through September, the expedition window in southeast Alaska. Even then it rains often: the Tongass is a rainforest and waterproofs are not optional.