The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-07-14
Hot Springs Discovered
 On Stikine

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 Scouting Wrangelrs possible tourist attractions for the post wa5. period four Wrangell men headed by Mayor r. c. Hanford, lhis week investigated and develop ed some facts about the hot springs. located short way up the Stikine river. Lee Ellis and other river men knew of its existence but few act ual facts as to its possibilities were known Their rough account of the trip and what they found, which follows. reveals some interesting 
 Left Wrangell July 11th. on the boat Gypsy under charter from Che Harrington Transportation Com pany. The party consisted of Lee Ellis, as guide, Chester C. Steea1s, as maintenance man for the Blu. reau of Public Roads and advisor on roads and trails, Kenneth and Fred HanfOrd.
 Proceeded to Shakes Hot Springs, arriving at lO:OO D. III. Traveling time from Wrangell was six hours. Morning of July 12th investigated the springs. Found the water tem- perature 110 degrees emerges from the ground. Near this place is level area of ground about two acres, suitable for cabins These springs are located on Warm springs slough, about one mile from the Stikine River, and can be- reached at any time during the summer by small boat to within 100 yards of the spring. Estimated ater sufficient to fill a two-inch pipe line.
 A trail or road from the main atikIne would not be advisable, as several large sloughs would have to be crossed by bridging. Also, shakes Creek would have to bel Dridged. High water and ice in the spring would carry bridges away.
 After making this survey We pro ceeded through Warm Springs Slough, approximately eight miles, to a side slough which is nayigableI during high water, to a lake which is named Paradise Lake, which isl about one mile across, surrounded I by green meadows to the extent of about 50 acres, which forms a nal tufal breeding ground for birds and water fowl Water in the lake q q in
 We crossed this lake to creek l where we left the small boat andl proceeded by foot up the creek, which flows through a valley. OnI the left are steep cliffs, and on the right, timbered hills. Following up l this creek a distance of one mile, | we came to a clear side-stream fol- lowing through a gorge on the left hand side of the main creek. Going up this creek a distance of 100 | yards, we came to what We believe to be one of the wonders of South eastern Alaska. Five feet from this clear stream, which has a tempera- ture of 40 degrees, We found water boiling out of the rocks at tenn perature Of 17o degrees. We named these springs the Ellis Hot springs in honor of Lee Ellis, our guide, who discovered these springs in the winter of 1886.
 Estimate these springs to be a bout 100 feet elevation above the main creek leading to Paradise I nlyo A ftar takinr ram nora turps and water samples in several places we proceeded to blaze a trail back to Paradise Lake. This we found to be an easy grade, and not too expensive to build. There is no suit able ground for cabins at the Hot Springs proper, but 100 yards be- low. on main creek. is level, ground covered with a dense growth of fern brake, devil club and small bushes. This would be an area of several acres. On the right hand slope of the hill is a great deal of available timber for cabins.
 Recreation naturally, would be- trout fishing and hunting, hiking, l boating and beautiful scenery.
 The distance from the main Stik- inc River to Paradise Lake. we es- timated to be one and one-half miles, and one mile from Paradise Lake to the spring, making the en- tire distance from the river to the springs, two and one-half miles. This would be a comparatively easy trail to build. practically level toI Paradise Lake.