Bask in the Midnight sun
Whether you come to Pilgrim hot Springs just for the day or you make it a full week adventure, there are plenty of things to make you trip well worth it.
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Soaking in the Hotsprings
Stay the Night!
The hot waters of the this land have been bringing people to the site for generations. Soaking in the healing waters with the quiet song of birds from all over the world while sipping on a delicious beverage all while looking at the beautiful Kigluaik mountains. I mean come on it doesn't get better than that!!!
The Hot Springs are naturally heated with the water coming out of our artisanal well at around 180 degrees F. The pool is normally at around 105 degrees F and has a shallow section that tends to be a little cooler. This makes for a perfect soaking experince!
It is important to remember that like everything in nature the temperature of the hot springs cannot be controlled perfectly and is only monitored in the summer while there is an onsite caretaker. The pool and tub temperature is dependent on many things and cannot always be changed.
What better way to get to know Pilgrim Hot springs than to spend the night there? With cabins and campsites available to rent there's an option for everyone! renting a cabin can be perfect getaway for the weekend allowing you to get back to nature and grow closer to the ones you love. Camping at Pilgrim can also be the key to connecting back to nature and help to melt away the stress of life.
Check out our Cabins and Tent page for more information and avalability!
PHS History
In order to truly understand a place one must understand its past. Pilgrim Hot Springs has a rich history that has impacted the people of Nome and surrounding areas for centuries.
Once used a catholic mission and orphanage PHS still has the old church building, dormitory, nunnery, cannery, machine shed, barn, and roadhouse. All of which take you back in time and provide a valuable insight into what life looked like all those years ago.
The buildings on the historic part of the property are wonderful to look at and guests are encouraged to do so. However, No guest is permitted in any of the historic buildings due to the potential of structural collapse.
Cedar hot tubs
Our lovely cedar tubs are a new addition as of summer 2024. It took lots of love, sweat, and tears to get them operational but they are an amazing new addition to Pilgrim Hot Springs. There are three cedar tubs that all look out onto the majestic Kigluaik Mountains.
Before hoping into the tubs be sure to change at our brand new changing shack!! New as of June 2024.
Hiking
The beautiful thing about hiking and backpacking in Alaska is the freedom to go wherever you want! Spending a couple days wondering through the Kigluaiks or trekking out past the end of the Kougarak road. There is always something around the next hill.
It is important to know where you are going and who owns the land you are on. Check to see if where you want to go is public or privatly owned and if you needs permits to access it.
Bikepacking
Bike packing in Nome?? YUP! Nome is one of the best places to bike pack out of and Pilgrim Hot Springs is the best place to stop on your grand adventure. The Kougarok road will take you through some of the most beautiful, untouched, and raw parts of the Seward Peninsula. Seeing moose, rabbits, musk ox and even bears are all a very real possibility. It is crucial to be prepared for adventures like this as it is not for the faint of heart, however, it is one of the most rewarding adventures one can have.
Disc Golf Course
Got frisbees to throw? Discs to putt? Bring them out to PHS! Our disc golf course has 9 holes to practice on while you're out on site. It is free of charge as long as you provide an ID to the caretaker and bring all discs back. Otherwise, it is $10 per disc that is NOT brought back. Bringing your own discs? Then don't worry about all that and enjoy the course.
Walking Trails
There are many trails in the works out at PHS. One leads from the orphanage to the hot springs pool and tubs. But some trails many don't know about are the ones that lead to behind the orphanage and the farm, that allow you to cross one of the many slough bridges into the cotton wood and alder forest! There you can gather many types of edible/medicinal mushrooms and berries! Another trail is the one that leads to the Pilgrim River, that is about half a mile long and leads to our water pump that feeds the farm. Check them out and find some goodies to bring home!
Harvesting & Gathering
Depending on the time of year you come out, you can always grab some snacks on the way in & out! Whether it's picking wildflowers (which we have a guide on!) for some tea or grabbing some blue berries as a refresher! We have high bush cranberries to pick during fall, rose root, mint, fireweed, wild celery, nagoon berries if you can find them;) and more! Come find out for yourself what you can do with the plants at PHS!
Birding
Nome is already known for the many birds that migrate here from across the world but what you didn't know is they love it here with the wet lands and cottonwood trees! For all you birders that come to Nome you would love the drive and the site itself! Imagine seeing 12 different species you've never seen before while soaking in the hot tubs!
