Anderson Springs
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
Anderson Springs is a tepid source in Sweet Grass County, Montana, roughly 22 miles from Big Timber. Put a hand in the flow and you get gentle warmth, nothing anyone would call a soak. The USGS pulled a sample in 1981 and the pH came back close to neutral. Ownership and public access were never written down.
East Boulder Road comes within a few hundred yards, and the rest is on foot. This is high valley country where winters stack up close to ten feet of snow. Rain and snow together are generous. West Boulder Cabin, eight miles out, is where the record puts the closest camping. No land unit is attached to the point.
Winter months are listed, though heavy snowfall may make the walk from East Boulder Road a slog. Find out if the land is private before you go; nothing on file says. The 1981 chemistry is the only measurement besides temperature, and both are old enough that a fresh reading could differ.
Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Anderson Springs.
- Setting
- Hillside
- The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the south.
- Highest ground nearby
- 649 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the south
A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 31% of the springs on this site.
Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Anderson Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.7).
Overview West Boulder Cabin is open year-round, offering a variety of recreational opportunities as well as relaxation. Guests can drive to the cabin in warmer weather but should be prepared to snowshoe, ski or snowmobile up to a mile on county roads in the winter.The cabin has electric lights and an electric cook stove. A refrigerator is also provided. Rental camping equipment, such as ice chests, bear spray, campstoves, etc., are available locally in Bozeman. Guests will need to bring many...
Anderson Springs sits at 5,540 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Anderson Springs
More Springs Around 77°F
Slightly Alkaline Springs (pH ~7.7)
Hike 6 waterfalls near Anderson Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Anderson Springs, Montana.