Durfee Creek Springs
Durfee Creek Springs flows at 70°F on BLM land in Musselshell County, requiring a 3,876-meter hike from Upper Flatwillow Road. The water carries an extraordinary mineral load: 1,900 mg/L sulfate, 530 mg/L calcium, and 170 mg/L magnesium. USGS measurements confirm 18.8°C. Elevated iron at 90 micrograms per liter adds to the heavy chemistry.
The spring rises at 4,250 feet in the dissected badlands and breaks along Durfee Creek, a tributary of the Musselshell River in central Montana. The terrain is deeply eroded sedimentary rock, exposing bands of shale, sandstone, and gypsum. Sparse rangeland grasses and sagebrush dominate, with ponderosa pine on north-facing slopes at higher elevations. The landscape is open, dry, and sparsely populated. Annual precipitation averages 23 inches with 55 inches of snow. Cattle ranching is the primary land use in this remote stretch of the Bull Mountains foothills.
Plan for a hike of nearly 4 kilometers each way over open, trailless terrain. Bring GPS, ample water, and sun protection. The best window is May through October when the ground is dry and snow-free. Rattlesnakes are present in summer. The nearest services are in Roundup, roughly 20 miles to the south. No permits are required for BLM land, but inform someone of your route before heading out.
Documentation specific to this spring is minimal. The name references Durfee Creek, likely named for an early rancher or surveyor in the Musselshell country. The BLM manages the surrounding public land within the Lewistown Field Office. The spring's extreme sulfate and calcium concentrations point to dissolution of Permian-age gypsum and evaporite beds that are widely exposed in this part of central Montana.
The water at Durfee Creek Springs contains 2670 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), and sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).
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Durfee Creek Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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