Sloan Cow Camp Spring
Sloan Cow Camp Spring is a warm spring at 86 degrees Fahrenheit on US Forest Service land in the Beaverhead National Forest, Gallatin County, Montana, with open public access. At 6,574 feet elevation, reaching it requires a 2,608-meter hike from FS 1209, making it one of the more remote thermal features near West Yellowstone.
The spring sits in high, rolling parkland at 6,574 feet near the Gravelly Range, where subalpine meadows alternate with stands of lodgepole pine and whitebark pine. The Continental Divide runs through the area, and Yellowstone National Park lies 35 miles to the east. Annual snowfall reaches 95.5 inches, and average air temperatures hover at 37.5 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a short snow-free season. The surrounding landscape is open rangeland interspersed with willow-lined drainages and small creeks.
The 2.6-kilometer hike from FS 1209 crosses high-elevation terrain that is typically snow-covered from October through June. Plan visits for July and August when conditions are most reliable. At 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the water is warm but not hot, suitable for extended soaking in cool mountain air. Cliff Point Campground on Cliff Lake, 7 kilometers away, has six reservable sites with a vault toilet and drinking water. Yellowstone National Park access is roughly 35 miles east.
The spring's name references its historical use as a cattle camp, reflecting the ranching operations that have long used the high meadows of the Gravelly and Madison Ranges for summer grazing. Documentation beyond the 1980 NOAA/NCEI survey is limited. The Beaverhead National Forest designation with protection status 3 indicates the area remains open to grazing and other extractive uses alongside recreation.
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Overview Cliff Point Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shoreline of scenic Cliff Lake. It is approximately 43 miles south of Ennis and 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. Each site in the small six site campground is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. There is a centrally located vault toilet and drinking water tap. Some of the sites have partial shade. An undeveloped natural-surface boat launch is very close by and the lake has a no-wake speed limit. Visit...
Sloan Cow Camp Spring sits at 6,574 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Sloan Cow Camp Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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