Trudau Warm Springs
Trudau Warm Springs flows at 73 degrees Fahrenheit in the mountains of Madison County, Montana, at 5,679 feet elevation. The spring runs just 33 degrees above ambient air temperature, making it one of the cooler thermal features in the region. Access requires a 1,124-meter walk from Garden Creek Road, classified as short-walk access near Virginia City.
The spring emerges in the rolling foothills between the Gravelly and Snowcrest Ranges at 5,679 feet, surrounded by sagebrush grassland and scattered conifers. The terrain is open rangeland used for cattle grazing, with wider views across the Madison and Ruby Valleys. Annual precipitation averages 16.3 inches with 53.4 inches of snow, typical of the semi-arid valleys of southwestern Montana. Garden Creek Road provides the nearest vehicle access through a landscape of gentle ridges and intermittent drainages.
The 1,124-meter walk from Garden Creek Road crosses open rangeland; no formal trail marks the route. A GPS device or detailed map is recommended. At 73 degrees Fahrenheit, the water is barely warm, more comfortable for soaking on hot summer days than in cool weather. Visit between June and September when road access is most reliable. Axolotl Cabin, 20.6 kilometers away at 7,000 feet elevation, is a reservable BLM cabin overlooking the Madison Valley.
Records for Trudau Warm Springs are minimal beyond its inclusion in the 1980 NOAA/NCEI thermal springs catalog. The name likely derives from a local ranching or homesteading family in the Virginia City area. Madison County experienced rapid settlement during the 1863 Alder Gulch gold rush, and many geographic features carry the surnames of early settlers. No documented development or commercial use of this spring exists.
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Overview The Dillon Field Office is unable to make reservations for you. Please call Recreation.gov (877-444-6777) to book a reservation or book online. Axolotl Cabin is located approximately 14 miles southwest of Ennis, Montana, in the foothills of the Gravelly Range. The cabin provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities and breathtaking views as it peers over the Madison Valley. The cabin is at an elevation of about 7,000 feet and is adjacent to Axolotl Lakes Wildernes...
Trudau Warm Springs sits at 5,679 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 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Trudau Warm Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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