Elkhorn Hot Springs
Elkhorn Hot Springs surfaces at 118°F and 7,203 feet elevation in the Beaverhead National Forest, one of Montana's highest-elevation thermal features. The highly alkaline water (pH 9.2) is sodium-dominant at 46 mg/L with negligible calcium (2 mg/L) and magnesium (0.1 mg/L). Elevated iron at 200 micrograms per liter is notable. The spring sits 36 meters from Old Polaris Road.
The spring emerges in the Pioneer Mountains of southwestern Montana, surrounded by subalpine forest of lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce. Snowfall is heavy, averaging 106 inches annually, and the growing season is short at this elevation. Open meadows break the forest cover along creek drainages. The Continental Divide runs along the ridgeline to the west. Grasshopper Creek and its tributaries drain the area toward the Beaverhead River. The landscape is rugged, with peaks above 9,000 feet in the immediate vicinity.
The spring has been developed as a small resort since the early twentieth century, serving miners and ranchers in the Polaris and Grasshopper Creek mining districts. Gold was discovered at nearby Bannack in 1862, and the surrounding mountains saw extensive prospecting through the late 1800s. The current Elkhorn Hot Springs Lodge operates a rustic facility with outdoor pools fed by the thermal source. The property sits on private land within the national forest boundary.
The resort is open seasonally; confirm current hours and pool availability before driving the gravel road from Highway 278. Winter access may require chains or four-wheel drive, though snowmobilers frequently use the area. Lupine Shelter, a Forest Service warming hut 5 km away, serves as a winter staging point. Dillon, the nearest full-service town, is about 40 miles east. Altitude and rapid weather changes demand layers and cold-weather preparation even in summer.
Is Elkhorn Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
The water at Elkhorn Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.2).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Lupine Shelter is a picnicking facility open year-round, however it is most heavily visited during the winter, when it is used by snowmobilers as a warming hut. It is an excellent location to have a picnic or a family gathering any time of year.Recreation In winter, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities in the snow-covered meadow surrounding the shelter. During the spring, summer and fall, a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails can be foun...