Quinn's Hot Springs Resort
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort is a resort hot spring listed near Paradise, Montana. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Year-round resort on MT-135 in Paradise (Clark Fork canyon, ~1 hr NW of Missoula): five natural flow-through pools 100-106F, a 55F cold plunge, and two salt-treated pools in the upper 90s; day-use is by ADVANCE ONLINE RESERVATION ONLY since May 2026 — three 4-hour sessions daily (8-noon, noon-4, 4-8pm) at $20/person Mon-Thu / $22 Fri-Sun (rising to $21/$23 Oct 1, 2026), every person pays regardless of age; lodging guests soak free 7am-11pm with adults-only hours 7-8am & 10-11pm; per-pool age tiers range from all-ages to 14+.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Day Use Swimming page (reservation requirement, rates, Oct 1 price change).
- Cost: Reported $20 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 103°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — online day-use swim session reservation or lodging booking
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday morning session (8am-noon) is calmest; lodging guests get the best deal — pools included plus exclusive adults-only hours at 7-8am & 10-11pm; weekends book out ahead in summer and fall color season
- Clothing reality: Official: swimwear required — family resort, no clothing-optional areas.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Developed resort; pool decks have steps/edges — contact resort for mobility specifics
- Day-use REQUIRES advance online reservation — no walk-ins; all visitors pay regardless of age (new rule effective May 28, 2026 — under-5s no longer free)
- Price bump Oct 1, 2026: $21 weekday / $23 weekend per person per 4-hr session
- Full session price charged to card at 10pm THREE DAYS before visit — cancellation window effectively closes then
- Day-use towels NOT provided — bring your own or buy in gift shop
- Per-pool age tiers: 1 pool all ages, 1 pool 3+, 2 pools 5+, 3 pools 14+; kids under 5 may not enter water over 100F — check which pools suit your kids
- No outside food/beverage anywhere on grounds (no picnics, no BBQs, no campfires — borders Lolo NF); only resort-purchased F&B allowed in pool area; empty water bottles OK (filling station in changing rooms)
- Mineral water tarnishes non-gold jewelry
- Lodging check-in 4pm guaranteed only until 11pm — call ahead for late arrival; soak from 2pm arrival day to 1pm departure day
- Adults-only pool hours for lodging guests: 7-8am and 10-11pm
- No RV sites anymore — nearest camping is Cascade NF campground 3 mi away
- Closes about a week each spring for cleaning projects
- Harwood House dinner reservations recommended (Tavern is walk-in, 9am-midnight)
- Hazard: Hottest pools 106F — limit soak time; 55F cold plunge is a genuine shock
- Hazard: Remote canyon location — fuel/services sparse between St. Regis and Plains
- Hazard: Winter ice on MT-135 along the Clark Fork
About this spring
Canyon resort on the Clark Fork River operating since 1885 — five natural flow-through pools at 100-106°F plus a cold plunge and two salt-treated pools; lodges, cabins, dining and tavern. Fee: $20-22/person day sessions — online reservation required. Day use must be booked online in advance — no walk-ins.
Quinn's Hot Springs occupies a canyon site on the Clark Fork River named for Martin Quinn, an Irish immigrant and miner who, per resort history, noticed bands of Native Americans gathered near a steaming mountainside outcrop during mining transports along the river in the early 1880s and staked his claim. A prospector seeking a wagon route for his Iron Mountain ore, Quinn built a bridge across the Clark Fork, erected bathhouses and sleeping quarters, and collected guests by horse-drawn wagon from the nearest rail stop; the water's reputation for easing rheumatism and 'mine poisons' earned him the nickname 'Dr. Quinn.' The resort has operated since 1885. Notably, today's pools are no longer fed by Quinn's original surface spring — a geothermal exploration project killed the surface flow, and the resort drilled a 130-foot well that now supplies each soaking pool independently. The property pairs its flow-through hot pools and cold plunge with lodges, riverside cabins, and the Harwood House restaurant, housed in a 1948 building named for Quinn's daughter Minnie.
Directions & trailhead access
190 Hwy 135 (Quinn's Canyon Rd), Paradise — ~75 mi NW of Missoula.
Montana geothermal context
Montana's springs cluster around Yellowstone's northern margin and along basin-range faults in the western half of the state. A large share of named sites sit on private ranch land or have limited legal access, which is why status notes matter here. Cold winters and heavy spring runoff reshuffle riverside pools every year.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Montana. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 103°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $20 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Day Use Swimming page (reservation requirement, rates, Oct 1 price change) |
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort FAQ
Is Quinn's Hot Springs Resort open right now?
Year-round resort on MT-135 in Paradise (Clark Fork canyon, ~1 hr NW of Missoula): five natural flow-through pools 100-106F, a 55F cold plunge, and two salt-treated pools in the upper 90s; day-use is by ADVANCE ONLINE RESERVATION ONLY since May 2026 — three 4-hour sessions daily (8-noon, noon-4, 4-8pm) at $20/person Mon-Thu / $22 Fri-Sun (rising to $21/$23 Oct 1, 2026), every person pays regardless of age; lodging guests soak free 7am-11pm with adults-only hours 7-8am & 10-11pm; per-pool age tiers range from all-ages to 14+. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Quinn's Hot Springs Resort free?
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort is listed with reported fees near Paradise. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Quinn's Hot Springs Resort?
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort has a reported soak temperature of 103°F and a historical source temperature of 103°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Quinn's Hot Springs Resort clothing optional?
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Quinn's Hot Springs Resort?
Quinn's Hot Springs Resort is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Overnight options and spring admission
Book rooms, cabins or soaking times directly with the operator.
Check overnight options with the operatorSources & references
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Day Use Swimming page (reservation requirement, rates, Oct 1 price change) — operator · 2026-09
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Pool Info (hours, session windows, water chemistry) — operator · 2026-09
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — FAQ (age tiers per pool, food/pet/lodging policies) — operator · 2026-09
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — Swim Reservation Terms (3-day charge window, card types) — operator · 2026-09
- Quinn's Hot Springs Resort — homepage (pool temps 100-106F, cold plunge 55F) — operator · 2026-09
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.quinnshotsprings.com/history
- www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/nov/18/take-a-trip-to-quinns-for-whatever-ails-you
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.