Elkhorn Hot Springs

What to expect

Elkhorn Hot Springs is an old mountain resort high in the Pioneer Mountains of southwest Montana, at about 7,150 feet. It has been running since 1918, and the buildings have been kept much as they were built. Nothing about it is fancy. People come for the water, the snow and the quiet.

Six springs rise on the hillside at roughly 106-120°F41-49°C. The water is piped by gravity into two outdoor pools on a wide deck. The upper pool is deeper and hotter. It overflows into the lower pool, which is bigger and cooler, so you can choose your temperature by moving between them. A December 2025 report put the pools at about 92-102°F33-39°C. Next to them is a small wet sauna, sometimes called the Grecian sauna, where the water sits around 104-106°F40-41°C. The pools are drained, cleaned and refilled every week.

The resort sits inside the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Federal land records show Forest Service land under the buildings, and the trails and campground around it are all national forest. Expect pine forest, deep winter snow and very little traffic outside weekends.

Current status after the 2026 fires

Summer 2026 was hard on this corner of Montana. The Bobcat Lakes Fire started on July 31, 2026 and the Sand Creek Fire on August 1, 2026, both in Beaverhead County. National incident data in October listed them at about 10,900 and 35,500 acres, 95% and 83% contained, and neither had been declared out. The Forest Service still lists nearby Grasshopper Campground as closed because of those two fires.

In October 2026 the resort website said Elkhorn had reopened to the public for the pools only, Thursday through Sunday, and that it hoped to be fully open again soon. It thanked visitors for their support through the fire season. That means you should not count on the restaurant, the bar or a room being available yet. Call 406-834-3551 or 406-834-3434 before you make the drive, and check the resort Facebook page, where updates are posted.

Getting there

Elkhorn is about 42 miles northwest of Dillon.

• From Dillon: Take I-15 south about 3 miles to the Highway 278 exit. Drive west on Highway 278 for about 22 miles, then turn north onto the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway (Forest Road 73). Grasshopper Campground is about 13 miles up the byway, and the resort is just beyond it on Hot Springs Road, past the small settlement of Polaris and the turn for Maverick Mountain ski area.
• From Butte or the north: The northern end of the byway starts near Wise River on Highway 43. Driving south through the range is slower but scenic. Check winter road conditions with the Forest Service before you commit to it.

The resort address is 339 Hot Springs Road, Polaris, MT 59746. Parking is next to the lodge. The pools are a few steps from the car. There is no cell service up here, so download maps and note the phone number before you leave Dillon.

When to go

In a normal year Elkhorn is open year-round, with shorter winter hours. Winter is the classic season. About 12 km of cross-country ski trails are groomed near the resort from about Thanksgiving to the end of March, with routes toward Comet Mountain and the old Elkhorn Mine, and there is no trail fee. Maverick Mountain, a small local ski hill, is a few miles down the road. Snowmobilers use roughly 100 miles of groomed routes nearby, though not the ski trails.

Summer brings hikers, anglers and families driving the byway. Weekends are the busy days in every season.

For late 2026, the bigger question is what is open. The resort said pools only, Thursday through Sunday. Fire-damaged areas near the byway may also have closures or hazard trees. Look at the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest alerts page and call the resort before you go.

Prices and booking

The last published day-use rates we found, from December 2025, were $10 for adults and $7 for children, with towels for rent at $1 (or bring your own). Those prices may have changed with the reopening.

Overnight guests in normal seasons get a continental breakfast and unlimited use of the hot springs. Lodging comes in three types:

• Lodge rooms in the 1918 building, dorm-style and simple.
• Rustic cabins, small and large, with no running water. Guests use an outhouse.
• Modern cabins with full or half baths and equipped kitchens.

Book rooms through the resort website or by phone once lodging reopens. Swimsuits are required in the pools.

Where to stay nearby

If the lodge is not taking guests yet, you have a few options.

• Grasshopper Campground on the byway is the closest Forest Service campground, with 24 sites at $15 a night, vault toilets and bear boxes. It normally runs June through September, but in October 2026 it was listed as closed because of the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires.
• Dillon, about an hour away, has motels, restaurants and full services.
• Jackson Hot Springs Lodge, about 31 miles away in the Big Hole Valley, has rooms and a large hot pool. See our Jackson Hot Springs guide.

Camping on Montana national forests is limited to 16 days in a row at one site and 32 days a year in total (Northern Region order R1-2025-01).

Safety notes

• Altitude: At over 7,000 feet, hot water hits harder than at sea level. Drink water, keep soaks short and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Winter roads: The byway climbs into deep snow country. Carry chains or good winter tires, a shovel and warm layers.
• Fire country: Burned slopes shed rocks and trees, especially after rain or wind. Respect any closure signs on side roads and trails.
• Bears and food: The Beaverhead-Deerlodge food storage order (02-00-22-02) requires food and scented items to be stored in a bear-resistant way from March 1 to December 1 on national forest land. That applies at campgrounds and trailheads near the resort.
• No signal: There is no cell coverage at the resort. Tell someone your plans.

Nearby stops worth adding

Crystal Park, farther north on the byway, is a popular Forest Service stop in summer, and the old Elkhorn Mine is reachable on the ski and hiking routes from the resort. Pair Elkhorn with a soak at Jackson Hot Springs in the Big Hole for a two-spring day.