# Medicine Hot Springs, Montana

Medicine Hot Springs in Montana. 117°F (47°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Ravalli County.

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

## Can you soak at Medicine Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 117°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. 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 | 117°F (47°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.6 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,884 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Bitterroot National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Ravalli County |
| Nearest town | Hamilton |
| Coordinates | 45.84100, -114.03800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Warm Springs Campground, 0.1 mi |

## About Medicine Hot Springs

Hot water surfaces at Medicine Hot Springs in the Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, Montana, about twenty-nine miles from Hamilton. It comes out above the range most people soak in directly, and a 1976 sample showed alkaline water with iron present. Access is open, the land is Forest Service, and a campground sits practically beside it, so the practical pieces are in place.

Mid elevation in the Bitterroot country, with heavy snow, close to a hundred inches a year, and a wet climate. The nearest road is a tenth-mile off and unnamed on the record. Warm Springs Campground is essentially on top of it. National forest, no fee listed.

Put a hand in before a foot; it runs hot. Warm Springs Campground is right there, which settles where to stay. The record flags December through February as best, but this much snow makes summer the easier bet. Access is open. Chemistry dates to 1976.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-07-23 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.6 |
| Calcium | 1.9 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.4 mg/L |
| Sodium | 80 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 36 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7.8 mg/L |
| Iron | 20 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hamilton](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/montana/hamilton), 19 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Montana](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana)
- [Gallogly Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/gallogly-spring): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Sleeping Child Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/sleeping-child-hot-springs): 122°F source, pH 8.1, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Blue Joint Hot Springs 2, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-springs-2): 84°F source, Roadside, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Blue Joint Hot Spring 1, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-spring-1): 84°F source, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Horse Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/horse-creek-hot-springs): 109°F source, pH 6.4, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools
- [Big Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-creek-hot-springs): 199°F source, pH 7.6, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, free, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Medicine Hot Springs?**
Medicine Hot Springs has a water temperature of 117°F (47°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Medicine Hot Springs located?**
Medicine Hot Springs is located in Ravalli County, Montana at 4,884 feet elevation, near Hamilton. Coordinates: 45.8410°N, 114.0380°W.

**How do I get to Medicine Hot Springs?**
Medicine Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Medicine Hot Springs?**
Yes, Warm Springs Campground is located nearby (0.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Medicine Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.6 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Medicine Hot Springs?**
With care. At 117°F Medicine 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