# Wolf Creek Hot Springs, Montana

Wolf Creek Hot Springs in Montana. 154°F (68°C). Hike. Gallatin County.

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

## Can you soak at Wolf Creek Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 154°F, hot enough to burn skin. Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 154°F (68°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.6 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,116 ft |
| Access | Hike, 1.3 mi from the nearest road (Sun Ranch Road) |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | Big Sky |
| Coordinates | 44.98400, -111.61300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Palisades Campground, 2.4 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 154°F, the source water at Wolf Creek Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Wolf Creek Hot Springs

Scalding water at the end of a hike: Wolf Creek Hot Springs, Gallatin County, Montana, twenty-three miles from Big Sky. The water is much too hot to enter at the source. Nobody has filled in an owner or an access status. The USGS has a site here with chemistry from August 1976. A campground is close, which helps.

Sun Ranch Road, about 1.3 miles off, is the closest road, so count on a hike. The spring sits high. Snow is heavy, nearly nine feet in a season, and precipitation is moderately high. Palisades Campground is a little over two miles away. No land unit or owner is named for the ground the route crosses.

Scalding water; stay out of it and test anything downstream before touching. The record flags winter, which with nine feet of snow and a mile-plus approach is a serious undertaking. Palisades Campground is close. Fee and access are blank; confirm ownership. The 1976 sample ran alkaline.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-08-13 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.6 |
| Calcium | 4.7 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.8 mg/L |
| Sodium | 120 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 50 mg/L |
| Chloride | 22 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Virginia City](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/montana/virginia-city), 24 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Montana](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana)
- [West Fork Swimming Hole, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/west-fork-swimming-hole): 79°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Sloan Cow Camp Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/sloan-cow-camp-spring): 86°F source, Hike, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Vigilante Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/vigilante-spring): 75°F source, Roadside, near Virginia City, Madison County
- [Staudenmeyer Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/staudenmeyer-springs): 82°F source, pH 7.4, Short Walk, near Virginia City, Madison County
- [Andersons Pasture Springs, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/andersons-pasture-springs): 82°F source, pH 7.4, Short Walk, near Virginia City, Madison 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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Wolf Creek Hot Springs?**
Wolf Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 154°F (68°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Wolf Creek Hot Springs located?**
Wolf Creek Hot Springs is located in Gallatin County, Montana at 6,116 feet elevation, near Big Sky. Coordinates: 44.9840°N, 111.6130°W.

**How do I get to Wolf Creek Hot Springs?**
Wolf Creek Hot Springs has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Sun Ranch Road (1.3 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Wolf Creek Hot Springs?**
Yes, Palisades Campground is located nearby (2.4 miles away).

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

**Is it safe to soak at Wolf Creek Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Wolf Creek Hot Springs reaches 154°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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