Apr. 30 miles west of the Yukon River Bridge – Dalton Highway
US Survey 12473  -  apr. 160 acres
Apr. GPS coordinates:    Lat. 65° 57' 30.65" N and Long. 150° 54' 49.62" W

This Narrative Was Prepared By The Owner:

"Keep in mind that this area is undeveloped, hence there are no distinct 'pools' or 'buildings' in the actual hot springs area, which is on federal land, nor are there any buildings or structures on my property. There are more than one hot spring seeps in this upper section of the Ray River, which most people are unaware of. There are minor hot spring seeps all throughout this section of the river, which is why the river itself is not frozen solid during most of the winter months. If you look closely at the left end of the Ray River in Photo #4 you will see a smaller creek flowing into the main river. The head of this creek is the actual hot springs, and so you can see how close the survey line is to this creek - I'm guessing less than 100 yards. My property is to the right of the survey line and the Federal parcel is to the left. You can also see the larger spruce trees that are on my property in this area. These larger trees are indicators of well drained, drier soils in this area. This is certainly the area where I would build a cabin; i.e., larger trees and closer to the hot springs. Naturally, due to all of the permafrost in the northern half of Alaska, the property also has some wetter areas. I understand the lower section of the Ray River has some grayling in it, but due to the abundance of hot springs on the upper section, the heavier concentrations of minerals in the water prevent them from moving all the way up to the headwaters. The Ray River is float-able, although as you can see from the photos the water is pretty skinny this far up and pack rafts would be needed. I have read stories of rafters flying in to the head waters, stopping off at the hot springs, and then floating down all the way to the Yukon River. There is a lot of game in the area, and a really good amount of fur if you are into trapping. 

Back in 2007 I obtained an official Right of Way access trail thru the Dalton Highway Corridor, working through the BLM. Working with them was difficult, and there were fees of a couple thousand dollars associated with the ROW. I started from a pull-out off the Dalton Highway at Mile Post 70, and then worked my way westerly. Due to a fire having been in that area several years prior, trying to go overland at that time became extremely difficult through the charred and down trees. That ROW has since expired, and if I were to do it over again, I would try to follow the Ray River up as far as I could first before going overland, as it would end up being easier and quicker.

This is raw land, with no buildings and there is no airstrip on this property. When flying over this country with a competent pilot friend, he felt that the northern survey line could be brushed out, widened and then packed down with a snowmachine for a decent winter strip. There is a seldom used supercub strip up in the hills a mile or two to the south of the Ray River Hot Springs. So yes, year round access is not for the meek.

Legal Description:  Beginning at a point on the south bank of the Ray River at approximate Latitude 65 degrees 57' 37" north, Longitude 150 degrees 54'32" west, thence northwest 22 chains to corner 2, thence northeast 40 chains to corner 3, thence southeast 40 chains to corner 4, thence southwest 40 chains to corner 5, thence northwest 18 chains to the point of beginning. Contains 160 acres located in sections 10 and 15; T 13 N; R 16 W; F.M. (1 chain = 66')

	Overall view of the area looking Westerly and showing the Ray Mountains in the background and the Ray River running through the center of the photo. The birch/aspen grove along the hill side is where the hot springs begin.
	Another view looking up the Ray River area towards the property and the hot springs.
	A view looking directly at the birch/aspen grove as well as the hot springs. The smallcreek coming out of the hill side in the right hand side of the photo is the actual source of the hot springs. And yes, the Ray River at this point (running left to right) is not very big.
	This is right above the common survey line separating my parcel from the Federal parcel. So this is my Western survey line. Notice the hot springs creek, just to the left of the photo under the wing strut. You can see how close to my property the confluence of the hot springs creek and the Ray River is.....just a stone's throw away (with a good tail wind)! This survey line runs approximately North to South. The Feds own the actual hot springs. This is the part of the property where I would build a cabin
	Looking West toward the property again, as we were coming in from the Dalton Hwy. Notice the birch/aspen grove on the hill side. These trees exist due to the warmer soil. The Ray River Hot Springs emerge out at the base of this hill and flow in to the Ray River. The Ray River flows easterly towards the Dalton Hwy, and then just before the road it turns and flows southerly and dumps in to the Yukon River down stream of the bridge. You can see my Northern (to the right) and Eastern survey boundary lines under the wing struts.
	Looking easterly from on top of the birch/aspen grove. Notice the two survey lines running parallel to each other. These are the North (left) and South (right) survey lines. Both Lots #1 and 2 were surveyed at the same time, and they are side x side parcels that share a common boarder (my Western boarder on Lot #2, and the Eastern boarder on the Federal parcel - Lot #1). This common boarder was seen in photo #4. Also note the tiny stream coming out of the birch grove that is dumping in to the Ray River. This is the head of the main hot spring.
	A view from right above the hot springs area. My property is just off the photo to the right. You can barely see the northern property survey line in this photo.
	Quad map showing the approximate location of the property with the Ray River flowing through it.

The Price for such a nice size parcel is only $275,000.-

Click on images to enlarge

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