# Potosi Hot Springs, Montana

Potosi Hot Springs in Montana. 122°F (50°C). Roadside. Madison County.

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

## Can you soak at Potosi Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 122°F, hotter than any hot tub. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.3 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,069 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 56 ft from the nearest road (Willow Meadow Road) |
| County | Madison County |
| Nearest town | Virginia City |
| Coordinates | 45.59000, -111.89900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Red Mountain (MT), 16.0 mi |

## About Potosi Hot Springs

Beside Willow Meadow Road in Madison County, Montana, Potosi Hot Springs comes up hot, past comfortable soaking temperature at the source. Virginia City is about twenty miles away. A USGS sample from January 1977 found it alkaline with iron. Neither the landowner nor the access status is on record, so plan on asking.

Fairly high country, with a wet year and a solid snowpack, around sixty-five inches in a normal winter. The spring is roadside, under sixty feet from Willow Meadow Road. No land unit appears on the record, and no designation either, which leaves the question of who you would ask.

Hot water, so test before you get in. Camping: Red Mountain, about sixteen miles away. Winter is the season on record, and the snow is on the heavy side, so a midwinter drive up Willow Meadow Road is not something to assume. The reading is from 1977. Access unknown.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1977-01-15 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.3 |
| Calcium | 10 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 88 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 98 mg/L |
| Chloride | 4.5 mg/L |
| Iron | 60 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Virginia City](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/montana/virginia-city), 61 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Montana](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana)
- [Potosi Warm Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/potosi-warm-springs): 124°F source, pH 8.3, Short Walk, near Virginia City, Madison County
- [Norris Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/norris-hot-springs): 127°F source, pH 7.8, Roadside, near Three Forks, Gallatin County
- [Ennis Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/ennis-hot-springs): 181°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Virginia City, Madison County
- [Renova Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/renova-hot-springs): 122°F source, pH 7.5, Roadside, near Whitehall, Jefferson County
- [Silver Star Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/silver-star-hot-springs): 163°F source, pH 7.6, Short Walk, near Whitehall, Jefferson County
- [Pipestone Hot Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/pipestone-hot-springs): 135°F source, pH 8.1, Roadside, near Whitehall, Jefferson County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Potosi Hot Springs?**
Potosi Hot Springs has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Potosi Hot Springs located?**
Potosi Hot Springs is located in Madison County, Montana at 6,069 feet elevation, near Virginia City. Coordinates: 45.5900°N, 111.8990°W.

**How do I get to Potosi Hot Springs?**
Potosi Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Willow Meadow Road (56 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Potosi Hot Springs?**
Yes, Red Mountain (Mt) is located nearby (16.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Potosi Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.3 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Potosi Hot Springs?**
With care. At 122°F Potosi 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