North Cantung Warm Springs: Remote, Real, and Rarely Seen

Tucked Deep in the Northwest Territories

Located at 62.084432, -128.402474, the North Cantung Warm Springs are one of the most obscure geothermal features in Canada. Situated roughly 20 kilometers from the abandoned Cantung Mine site and just north of ZenChuck Creek, these warm springs lie within the vast, untamed landscape of the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories.

What’s Actually There?

Unlike the more well-known West and East Cantung springs near the mine, the North Cantung Warm Springs are not developed. There are no soaking pools, bathhouses, or road signs pointing the way. Instead, visitors will find several small, natural seeps of warm water emerging from the ground—modest in temperature and size, but geothermally significant.

These springs are rarely visited, not only because of their remoteness but because of how easily they blend into the surrounding landscape. The water is likely only lukewarm, and there are no confirmed temperature readings on record. What makes them special is not luxury or comfort, but the simple fact that they exist—untouched, unclaimed, and virtually undocumented.

Access: Only for the Well-Prepared

There are no formal trails leading to the springs, and access is limited to experienced backcountry travelers. Most approaches would involve:

• Chartered air access into the Cantung Mine airstrip (if operational or cleared)
• Multi-day overland routes by foot, river, or packraft, with high-level route finding

Conditions in the area can be harsh, with wildlife, weather, and rugged terrain presenting serious risks. Anyone attempting to reach this site must be completely self-sufficient and prepared for true wilderness travel.

The Surrounding Landscape

The region around the springs is rich with geological and ecological diversity. Towering ridgelines, alpine rivers, and glacial features dominate the terrain. Though the nearby Cantung Mine once produced tungsten, the surrounding land remains largely undeveloped.

For geologists and hot spring researchers, the existence of North Cantung Warm Springs supports the geothermal potential of the greater Mackenzie corridor. But for travelers, it remains more myth than destination—a waypoint in the middle of nowhere.

A Spring for the Record Books

North Cantung Warm Springs likely won’t show up on tourist brochures—and that’s exactly why they matter. In an era when so many natural features are cataloged, developed, and geo-tagged to death, these springs remind us that some places can still remain wild.

If you’ve made it here, you’re part of a rare group. And if you’re planning to go, remember: this isn’t a soak-and-snap kind of place. It’s one for the map, the journal, and the memory—proof that true exploration still exists in Canada’s backcountry.