The Best Hot Springs of Montana Provide Relaxation & Gorgeous Views
Montana is home to over 50 hot springs and visitors flock to the area in droves to enjoy the experience and a relaxing soak in a majestic mountain setting.
Thermal springs occur naturally when rainwater and snow seep deep into the earth. The heated water runoff from the Montana mountains rises back to the surface and combines with river water or pools. This water creates what is most commonly known as a hot spring, or as I like to think of it: a luxurious natural hot tub!
With several hot springs to choose from throughout the state of Montana, there’s bound to be one that suits your needs perfectly. This list of 15 tranquil and gorgeous hot springs in Montana will help you choose your next relaxing adventure with Big Sky Country scenery as your lavish backdrop.
Bozeman Hot Springs
One of the most popular hot springs in Montana is Bozeman Hot Springs. It offers guests 12 pools ranging in temperature from 59 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The pools feature sodium, silica, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, and sulfate minerals, while the outdoor pools also are chlorinated.
These mineral spring locations aren’t just some pools out in the middle of nature; instead a whole complex has been built around these blissful pools and you’ll feel like you’re at a spa resort as you float around in the water. Bozeman Mineral Springs even offers water aerobics, morning lap swims, and birthday parties.
Bozeman Hot Springs is located eight miles west of the city of Bozeman and is an easy drive from both Big Sky Resort and West Yellowstone.
With both indoor and outdoor springs, lockers, and two types of sauna, Bozeman Mineral Springs is an ideal family destination, plus it has campsites for RVs and cabins available to rent. Guests staying overnight by the springs can enjoy a nightly campfire, live music on the weekends and complimentary breakfasts. Bozeman Hot Springs is a no-alcohol facility.
Lolo Hot Springs Resort
A fun family-friendly hot spring in Montana is located in the Lolo National Forest. Lolo Hot Springs is about a half-hour from Missoula and offers hiking, fishing, and crystal mining. With a mix of 80 tent camping and RV sites, it is the perfect family vacation destination. The natural mineral hot springs pools are a huge draw, of course, but the camping, fishing, hiking and snowmobiling trails also bring families from all over.
But back to those hot springs. At the Lolo Hot Springs Resort, you’ll find both an indoor and outdoor mineral pool. They range in temperature from 102 to 106 degrees and are available to use year-round.
Elkhorn Hotsprings
Elkhorn Hotsprings is a lodging facility in southwest Montana, located in the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest near Polaris, Montana. The year-round hot springs are on a resort property that offers two pools, a Grecian sauna, a fitness center, and an onsite restaurant.
You’ll relax in the pools, which range from 92 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, while surrounded by towering pine trees and mountain scenery.
Elkhorn Hot Springs are the perfect place to head after a day skiing, which many people do at nearby Maverick Mountain, a ski resort that offers both downhill and cross-country skiing as well as snowmobiling.
Day passes are available for the Elkhorn Hotsprings. If you choose to stay at one of the cabins or at the lodge, you’ll have access to unlimited hot springs soaking throughout the length of your stay.
The Boiling River
Near the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana, lies the Boiling River. At this unique Montana hot springs location, the hot springs intermingle with cold river water from Gardner River, thus resulting in the “boiling river.”
Visitors coming to this hot spring in Montana will find it right by the 45th parallel bridge. From there, it’s a short hike down a trail trail that leads to the Boiling River where you’ll be rewarded with a steaming soak and fun atmosphere. This is a popular local hang-out, too, so you’ll no doubt feel like you’re getting the true Montanan experience!
Norris Hot Springs
Norris Hot Springs is an affordable option for those looking for a relaxed vibe in the Madison River Valley. With temperatures that can get up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the hot mineral springs provide a year-round respite from a long day’s hike.
One unique component to the hot springs pool is the original gate valve that dates back to the late 1800s. Installed by miners, it speaks of the rich history of the region.
This eco-friendly site is a popular venue for music festivals, too, with limited RV and tent camping.
Boulder Inn and Bed & Breakfast
Boulder Hot Springs Inn is a bed & breakfast historic inn that is on the national registrar of historic sites. Boulder Hot Springs Inn is also home to a number of geothermal experiences.
The property has an outdoor mineral pool, indoor mineral plunge pools, and mineral steam rooms.
Boulder Hot Springs Inn puts an emphasis on organic food and healthy living. Because of this, no alcohol or smoking is permitted onsite.
The resort also has adjacent hiking trails, wildlife, and nature viewing as well as a spa facility offering massages and other spa treatments. Boulder hot springs is the perfect location for a couples getaway, family reunion, or wedding party. Guests wishing to soak in the pools also may do so by purchasing a day pass.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
A popular family vacation destination, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is a hit with families thanks to a massive, swirling waterslide that ends in the outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool. There are also two tranquil soaking tubs while the indoor swimming pool is ideal for inclement weather.
While this is a great resort for families with children thanks to the water features and other organized children’s activities, the an onsite spa, golf course, and delicious restaurants and bars make it ideal for all ages.
Also, some guests may appreciate that the hot springs here do not have the typical sulfur smell. Fairmont Hot Springs contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium vs. sulfur, making them less strong-smelling than their counterparts.
Chico Hot Springs
Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa is a year-round hot spring destination in Pray, Montana, located right in the heart of the beautiful Paradise Valley. It is a popular convention resort with fine dining, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, river rafting, and — of course — a day spa featuring hot springs.
The two mineral pools are free of charge to those staying at the resort and are also accessible for travelers passing through who just want a day pass.
The history of Chico Hot Springs goes back to the late 1800s when gold miners would visit the springs after a long, grimy day in the mines.
Also making Chico Hot Springs a must-visit destination for guests with varied interests and expectations is that it’s close to Yellowstone National Park’s North entrance.
Symes Hot Springs
Located in the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains just a few miles from Missoula, Montana, Symes Hot Springs Hotel has three mineral pools on site. The 31-room hotel and 15 nearby cabins and apartments allow guests access to all three spring-fed pools. Day passes are also available.
Massages can be booked at the day spa and guests can enjoy hiking trails and activities in town. These hot springs were even mentioned in the book Healing Springs: the Ultimate Guide to Taking the Waters.
Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort
Paradise, Montana is home to Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. With six hot springs pools to enjoy, guests will enjoy the many options for taking advantage of some thermal water therapy. Whether staying in one of the cabins or in the historic lodge, guests will have access to a casino, tavern, and upscale restaurant.
Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort is nestled in a canyon with majestic mountain views on the banks of the Clark Fork River. It’s a great spot for couples and friends.
If just visiting for the day, it is advised to call ahead to make a swim appointment as space is limited.
Spa Hot Springs Motel
White Sulphur Springs is home to Spa Hot Springs Motel. Unassuming accommodations provide a relaxing, understated environment. Guests are able to simply enjoy nature and the two outdoor mineral pools while the indoor pool is perfect in winter. The outdoor pools are framed by beautifully painted murals.
Spa Hot Springs Motel is a budget-friendly lodging for travelers seeking a no-fuss, peaceful hot springs experience.
Enjoy the Therapeutic Qualities of Montana’s Hot Springs
For years, Montana hot springs have been utilized for healing and pain relief. Native Americans, miners, and early homesteaders in Montana used the springs as a welcomed respite from difficult physical work. Today, visitors from all over the world come to the hot springs to experience their healing powers and relish in the beauty of Big Sky Country — and now you can, too, at one of these best hot springs in Montana. Include one (or several!) in your Montana trip itinerary for a relaxing break in your Big Sky explorations.
