Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort is a resort hot spring listed near Saco, Montana. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Montana Hi-Line's only hot springs resort, just off US-2 near Saco: three indoor mineral pools (main ~95°F, hot ~106°F, cold plunge ~45°F) + sauna fed by a 3,200-ft artesian well (108°F, 900 gpm), all drained and refilled nightly; open year-round 9am-8pm daily; day-use fee ~$15, pool included with cabins/RV/tent stays (cabin guests get 24-hr access).
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Missouri River Country (official regional DMO) — Sleeping Buffalo (900 gpm/108°F well, nightly drain & refill).
- Cost: Fees reported — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°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 — day-use fee at office; lodging via phone/Spot2Nite.
- Best time to go: Year-round — indoor pools make winter a draw; weekdays quietest. Holiday weekends (e.g., Labor Day) fill the campground.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuit required (indoor public pools). Customary: suits. Legal: venue rule on private property.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Indoor pool hall, level developed resort — among the more accessible natural hot springs; confirm lift/entry specifics by phone.
- Day-use pool hours end at 8pm — only cabin/hotel guests get extended/24-hr pool access
- Day-use price uncertain: ~$15 recent visitor reports vs $8.50-9.50 older listings; campers reportedly get ~$2 off — confirm at office 406-527-3320
- Weekend stays require 2-night minimum; minimum age 21 to rent a cabin/suite
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- Mineral water can stain light-colored swimwear — wear dark/old suits
- Spot2Nite bookings require payment in full at booking
- Mosquitoes fierce at dusk in summer around the campground/Nelson Reservoir
- Hazard: Sauna has a concrete floor that gets very hot — footwear advised
- Hazard: Remote Hi-Line location; winter driving on US-2 can be severe (wind, ice, drifting)
- Hazard: 108°F source — pools are tempered but the hot pool runs ~106°F; limit soak time
About this spring
The only hot springs resort on Montana's Hi-Line (US-2) northern tier, drawing bathers since the 1920s — a 3,200-ft artesian well delivers 108°F chemical-free mineral water to three indoor pools (main, hot tub, cold plunge) drained and refilled nightly; cabins, suites, RV park beside Nelson Reservoir. Fee: Paid day-use; call 406-527-3320 for current rates. Remote — nearest services in Malta or Saco; call for day-use rates.
Sleeping Buffalo is the only hot springs resort on Montana's Hi-Line, and it exists because of a failed oil well: in the early 1920s the Bowdoin Oil and Gas Company, drilling on the benchlands north of the Milk River near the Bureau of Reclamation's Nelson Reservoir, struck not oil but 'a flow of warm sulphur water' estimated at 24,000 barrels a day. Rancher Elbert Davison built a small pool after the mineral water relieved his son's polio symptoms, and the Saco American Legion post took up the cause — the well was protected as Public Water Reserve No. 141 by a 1931 executive order from President Hoover and transferred to the Legion in 1932 for recreation development. New Deal programs funded the American Legion Health Pool and a stone pergola, built by mason Bruno Partzsch, that still stands beside the enlarged modern pool building. Later private owners renamed it for the sacred Sleeping Buffalo Rock down on US-2. The 108°F artesian water feeds indoor pools drained and refilled nightly; after years of abandonment the resort was revived in the 2010s, though it was again offered for sale in fall 2025.
Directions & trailhead access
669 Buffalo Trail, Saco — just off US-2, 17 mi east of Malta.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Missouri River Country (official regional DMO) — Sleeping Buffalo (900 gpm/108°F well, nightly drain & refill) |
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort FAQ
Is Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort open right now?
Montana Hi-Line's only hot springs resort, just off US-2 near Saco: three indoor mineral pools (main ~95°F, hot ~106°F, cold plunge ~45°F) + sauna fed by a 3,200-ft artesian well (108°F, 900 gpm), all drained and refilled nightly; open year-round 9am-8pm daily; day-use fee ~$15, pool included with cabins/RV/tent stays (cabin guests get 24-hr access). (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort free?
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort is listed with reported fees near Saco. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort?
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort clothing optional?
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort?
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Saco
Saco is a US-2 base for Sleeping Buffalo. Book the resort’s soaking session or on-site accommodation directly; these are separate town and area rentals.
Check overnight options with the operator
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Discovering Montana — Sleeping Buffalo listing (year-round, 9am-8pm, lodging ranges) — community · 2025
- Missouri River Country (official regional DMO) — Sleeping Buffalo (900 gpm/108°F well, nightly drain & refill) — official · 2025
- Spot2Nite — Sleeping Buffalo reservation policies (2-night weekend min, age 21 to rent) — operator · 2026
- The Dyrt — Sleeping Buffalo campground reviews (pool temps, $15 day fee, 8pm cutoff, staining) — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Sleeping Buffalo (3 indoor pools, day use) — community · 2026-04
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- montanahistoriclandscape.com/2014/06/13/new-deal-transformations-a-hot-springs-in-phillips-county-montana
- montanahistoriclandscape.com/2025/11/09/changes-at-sleeping-buffalo-hit-springs
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
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