Wild Horse Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Wild Horse Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Hot Springs, Montana. Reported soak temperature: 101°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Rustic off-grid geothermal resort at 175 Camp Aqua Rd, ~2.5 mi outside the town of Hot Springs on the Flathead Reservation — chemical-free communal outdoor plunges (95-104F) fed by the Mother Dragon artesian geyser (~120-128F, 1,200 gpm), plus dry cabins, tipis, RV and tent sites; day use is walk-in, and the operator is actively expanding with 6 more tubs and a new accessible bathhouse.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in the mineral-springs town.
Hot Springs is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via US EPA — NPDES Permit & Statement of Basis, Wild Horse Hot Springs MT0000005.
- Cost: Reported $18 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 101°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — pay day-use fee on site; overnight stays first-come or by phone reservation
- Best time to go: Shoulder seasons (spring/fall) and weekdays; overnight cabin/tipi guests get unlimited soaking incl. star-gazer soaks and sunrise dips
- Clothing reality: Swimsuits customary in the communal outdoor plunges; community reports describe clothing-optional private tubs — verify on site. Private property, so house rules govern.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Rough outdoor concrete plunges on rural ground — historically poor accessibility, but a new accessible bathroom/shower facility is under construction per operator
- Cash preferred — card acceptance unreliable per community reports; no ATM on site
- Very limited/no cell service — save directions and phone number (406-741-3777) before leaving town
- Rustic/off-grid: bring your own towel, drinking water, snacks; minimal facilities
- Pools are untreated flow-through mineral water — no chlorine; some visitors love it, some find it murky
- 2-hour soak limit can apply when busy
- Construction underway (6 new tubs + accessible bathroom/shower) — expect work zones
- Variable hours reported ~10am-10pm; call ahead to confirm
- Roaming horses/livestock on open range — drive slowly on Camp Aqua Rd
- Hazard: Source water 120-128F — only blended pool water is safe
- Hazard: No lifeguard; remote location ~1.5 hr from Missoula
- Hazard: Unfenced geothermal plumbing/valves — some tubs have user valves to add hotter water
- Hazard: Open-range livestock on approach road
About this spring
Off-grid communal outdoor plunges fed by the 'Mother Dragon' artesian geyser — billed as among the world's highest natural lithium-content mineral waters; chemical-free plunge pools with big-sky views and roaming horses, plus cabins, tipis and RV sites. Fee: $18 adult day use; suits required by day, clothing-optional evenings. Rustic/off-grid — minimal facilities; clothing-optional evenings.
Wild Horse Hot Springs draws on the Mother Dragon artesian geyser, struck accidentally about 1912–1913 when homesteader Molly Bartlett — a daughter of Montana governor Robert B. Smith — was drilling a domestic well and hit 128°F water. In 1941 Bartlett raised funds for the Montana Warm Water Project for Crippled Children, building the Camp Aqua polio-treatment bathhouse; a public resort followed in the early 1980s through a Montana renewable-energy grant, and the property took the Wild Horse name when it shifted to private ownership in the early 1990s. Flathead Electric Cooperative piloted a geothermal power turbine on the flow in 2012.
The geyser discharges roughly 1,200 gallons a minute of mineral water — bicarbonate, sulfate, silica and notable lithium among its constituents — cooling toward about 104°F in communal outdoor plunges. Cabins, tipis and RV sites round out the rustic, off-grid property, which is currently adding more tubs.
Wild Horse Hot Springs is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) outside of the town of Hot Springs, in Lake County, Montana, United States. Wild Horse was developed in 1913 when a well driller hit 128 °F (53 °C) hot water, and has "private plunges, but little else." Wild Horse was originally known as Camp Aqua Bath House.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Wild Horse Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
~6-7 mi southeast of Hot Springs town on the Flathead Reservation.
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 | 101°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 101°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $18 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | US EPA — NPDES Permit & Statement of Basis, Wild Horse Hot Springs MT0000005 |
Wild Horse Hot Springs FAQ
Is Wild Horse Hot Springs open right now?
Rustic off-grid geothermal resort at 175 Camp Aqua Rd, ~2.5 mi outside the town of Hot Springs on the Flathead Reservation — chemical-free communal outdoor plunges (95-104F) fed by the Mother Dragon artesian geyser (~120-128F, 1,200 gpm), plus dry cabins, tipis, RV and tent sites; day use is walk-in, and the operator is actively expanding with 6 more tubs and a new accessible bathhouse. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Wild Horse Hot Springs free?
Wild Horse Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Hot Springs. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Wild Horse Hot Springs?
Wild Horse Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 101°F and a historical source temperature of 101°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Wild Horse Hot Springs clothing optional?
Wild Horse Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Wild Horse Hot Springs?
Wild Horse Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Hot Springs
Stay in the mineral-springs town. Pool access depends on the property or day-use pass you choose.
Hot Springs is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- US EPA — NPDES Permit & Statement of Basis, Wild Horse Hot Springs MT0000005 — official · 2024-03
- Wild Horse Hot Springs — official site — operator · 2026-09
- Wikipedia — Wild Horse Hot Springs — community · 2025
- Roaming Montana — Wild Horse Hot Springs guide — community · 2026-06
- Hot Springs Guides — Camp Aqua/Wild Horse Hot Springs — community · 2025
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.