# Elkhorn Hot Springs, Montana

Elkhorn Hot Springs in Montana. 118°F (48°C). Roadside · Public Land. Beaverhead County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/elkhorn-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Elkhorn Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 118°F, hotter than any hot tub. You can drive right up to it. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 118°F (48°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.2 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 7,203 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 118 ft from the nearest road (Old Polaris Road) |
| Land | Beaverhead National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Beaverhead County |
| Nearest town | Dillon |
| Coordinates | 45.45800, -113.10900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | LUPINE SHELTER, 3.1 mi |

## About Elkhorn Hot Springs

Elkhorn Hot Springs is a hot spring high in the Beaverhead National Forest, Beaverhead County, Montana, 28 miles from Dillon. Open access on Forest Service land. The source runs hot, above comfortable soaking. The water is strongly alkaline, with some iron. At over seven thousand feet, this is cold country; the yearly average temperature is in the mid thirties.

Old Polaris Road runs past a little over a hundred feet away. Nearly nine feet of snow falls in an average winter, and snow on that road will decide when you can get in. Lupine Shelter is about three miles away for camping. The forest here is Beaverhead, and the designation is plain national forest, so this is public ground.

December to February is the listed window. Confirm Old Polaris Road is passable. The source temperature is above what most people will sit in, so whatever pool exists, if one does, needs to cool the water; nothing on file describes a pool. No fee recorded. The chemistry is from 1978.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1978-08-21 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.2 |
| Calcium | 2 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 46 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 34 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.8 mg/L |
| Iron | 200 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Dillon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/montana/dillon), 20 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Montana](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana)
- [Jardine Hot Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/jardine-hot-spring): 140°F source, pH 7.0, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County
- [Apex Warm Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/apex-warm-spring): 77°F source, Short Walk, near Dillon, Beaverhead County
- [Browns Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/browns-springs): 75°F source, Roadside, near Dillon, Beaverhead County
- [Lovells Hot Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/lovells-hot-spring): 72°F source, Roadside, near Dillon, Beaverhead County
- [New Biltmore Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/new-biltmore-hot-springs): 127°F source, pH 6.7, Roadside, near Dillon, Beaverhead County
- [Beaverhead Rock Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/beaverhead-rock-spring): 81°F source, Roadside, near Dillon, Beaverhead County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Elkhorn Hot Springs?**
Elkhorn Hot Springs has a water temperature of 118°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Elkhorn Hot Springs located?**
Elkhorn Hot Springs is located in Beaverhead County, Montana at 7,203 feet elevation, near Dillon. Coordinates: 45.4580°N, 113.1090°W.

**How do I get to Elkhorn Hot Springs?**
Elkhorn Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Old Polaris Road (118 ft from the road).

**Is Elkhorn Hot Springs free to visit?**
Elkhorn Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Elkhorn Hot Springs?**
Yes, Lupine Shelter is located nearby (3.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Elkhorn Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 9.2 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Elkhorn Hot Springs?**
With care. At 118°F Elkhorn Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals