Bedford Hot Springs
Bedford Hot Springs discharges at 74°F with alkaline water (pH 8.2) in Broadwater County, Montana, at 3,966 feet elevation. USGS analysis confirms sulfate-dominant chemistry at 110 mg/L alongside 49 mg/L calcium and 17 mg/L magnesium. Roadside access is just 55 meters from the road near Townsend.
The spring emerges near the southern shore of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, a 25-mile-long impoundment on the Missouri River northeast of Helena. The surrounding terrain consists of dry grassland hills and irrigated bottomland at the northern edge of the Townsend Valley. Annual precipitation averages 20.7 inches with 45 inches of snow. The Big Belt Mountains rise to the east and the Elkhorn Mountains to the southwest, framing a broad, wind-swept valley that channels cold air drainage in winter.
Visit between May and October for the most reliable weather and full access to Canyon Ferry Reservoir recreation. Indian Road Group Use Shelter, 3.7 km away, accommodates up to 75 people and is reservable. The reservoir supports walleye, rainbow trout, and perch fishing. At 74°F the water is warm but not hot enough for a traditional thermal soak. Wind can be fierce in the Townsend Valley -- bring layers. Townsend offers basic supplies and fuel.
Bedford Hot Springs takes its name from the nearby Bedford community in the Townsend Valley. The spring appears in the 1980 NOAA/NCEI inventory. Canyon Ferry Dam, completed in 1954 by the Bureau of Reclamation, transformed the valley by flooding portions of the old Missouri River bottomland. Whether the spring's flow or chemistry changed after reservoir construction is not documented. Indian Road Campground, 3.7 km away on the reservoir shore, indicates the area's long recreational use.
The water at Bedford Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2).
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Overview Indian Road Group Use Shelter is located at the southern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, just north of Townsend. It can accommodate up to 75 people and is attached to Indian Road campground. This 33’ X44’ shelter offers 8 picnic tables and 2 grills. Two vault toilets are located just across the parking lot. There is also a small fishing pond for kids and individuals with disabilities. This area is open to the public on a first come first serve baisis. Recreation Canyon Ferry Reservoir...
Bedford Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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Slightly Alkaline Springs (pH ~8.2)
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