Wild Horse Hot Springs
- From $18
- 2 hr 2 min from Missoula
- Walk-in OK
A rustic, off-grid soaking site outside the town of Hot Springs with communal outdoor plunges fed by the Mother Dragon artesian well. The plunges are chemical-free and continuously refreshed, and soakers can open hot-water valves to adjust the temperature. Rustic cabins and tipis share a bathhouse; there is no restaurant, so bring food and water.
Expansion under way: 6 more tubs and an accessible bathroom/shower building.
- Price
- From $18
- Nearest town
- Hot Springs
- From Missoula
- 2 hr 2 min
- Reservations
- Walk-in OK
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours | Daily 10am-10pm |
|---|---|
| Season |
|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Day pass, walk-ins welcome |
| Booking |
|
Rules
| Swimwear |
|
|---|---|
| Ages | Children must stay in the same pool as their guardian |
| Dogs | No |
On site
| Lodging | Yes |
|---|
Not stated by the venue: camping nearby.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
421 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)
- pH
- 8.3
- Temp at source
- 120°F
- Lithium
- 0.09 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 3.9 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.65 mg/L
- Iron
- 0.05 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “22n23w29acb 01”, sampled 1975–1984 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
Facilities
- Continuous flow of artesian mineral water
- Venue says the plunges are chemical-free
- Showers: yes
- Food on site: no
- Massage: yes
- Restrooms: yes
| Glass containers | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Good to know |
|
What's here
- communal outdoor plunges
- adjustable hot-water valves at each soak
- rustic cabins and tipis
- shared bathhouse
- massage by appointment
- roaming horses and valley views
Getting there
- From Missoula2 hr 2 min80 mi
- From Kalispell1 hr 36 min63 mi
- From Kalispell (FCA)1 hr 51 min72 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 2,757 ft |
|---|---|
| Road | Outside the town of Hot Springs (175 Camp Aqua Rd) |
Things to do near Hot Springs
Nearby springs
Alameda's Hot Springs Retreat
A 1930s spa-motel in the town of Hot Springs whose suites have private in-room hot mineral baths, kitchens and sun porches. Soaking is for overnight guests only, and the retreat says outdoor soaking is not currently available on site. Same-day bookings are taken by phone rather than online.
Symes Hot Springs Hotel & Mineral Baths
A historic 1928 hotel in the town of Hot Springs with 48 rooms, cabins, apartments and RV sites. Outdoor mineral pools run from about 103F to 110F, with a waterfall between two of them and a 20 x 40 ft swimming pool, and the bath wing still has original clawfoot tubs in private stalls. The hotel also rents a jetted tub and steam room by the hour and offers massage.
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort
A resort on the Clark Fork River near Paradise with two lodges, more than 25 cabins, a restaurant and tavern. Its pool complex mixes 118F well water to temperatures from the upper 90s to 106F, with a 55F cold plunge and pools zoned by age, including an adults-only pool. Day visitors must book one of three 4-hour swim sessions online in advance.
Alameda's Hot Springs Retreat: 5 mi · Symes Hot Springs Hotel & Mineral Baths: 5 mi · Quinn's Hot Springs Resort: 24 mi
Sources (3)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.