Blue Joint Hot Springs 2

Ravalli County, Montana · Near Hamilton
45.6970°N, 114.3650°W · 4,936 ft
84°F 33°F air · Good soaking weather 4,936 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (5.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Blue Joint Hot Springs 2
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

The second Blue Joint point, also on Bitterroot National Forest ground in Ravalli County, Montana, and at the same warm temperature as the first. It lies a touch lower. Public access is open and the Forest Service owns the ground. Hamilton is about forty miles off, which makes this a long way into the hills for water that will not quite reach body heat.

Location

Roadside, under three hundred feet from the road, which our data leaves unnamed. Over ten feet of snow per season, so the approach is a summer and fall proposition regardless of what the best-months list says. Fales Flat Campground is about five miles away, and there is no fee on record for the spring itself.

Winter is what the best months on record says. No chemistry; nobody has sampled this one either. The first Blue Joint spring needs a short walk and sits a little higher; this one you can reach from the car. Bring a thermometer if you care about the exact reading.

Terrain

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 Blue Joint Hot Springs 2.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
581 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
85 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 22% 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.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
23°
Jan
26°
Feb
33°
Mar
38°
Apr
46°
May
57°
Jun
67°
Jul
67°
Aug
57°
Sep
42°
Oct
29°
Nov
20°
Dec
Annual Precip: 27.9 in Annual Snow: 124.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 20°F · Water 84°F · +64° contrast
January Air 23°F · Water 84°F · +61° contrast
February Air 26°F · Water 84°F · +59° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
33°F
WNW 3.6 mph 95% Good soaking weather
Today 68° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +16° warmer
Wednesday 72° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +12° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 44° Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Spring is +12° warmer
Friday 67° Low 41° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 61% precip
Spring is +17° warmer
Saturday 72° Low 42° Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +12° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Fales Flat Campground 5.1 mi away

Overview Fales Flat Campground is a group facility on Nez Perce Fork of the Bitterroot River. It is also well equipped for equestrian campers. The campground provides access to a variety of hiking and horseback riding trails in the area, as well as a variety of historic sites that denote the presence of the Nez Perce many years ago.Recreation Fly fishing and wading in the Nez Perce Fork, which runs alongside the campground, are also popular activities. A variety of trails and unimproved road...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 42°F
Above Ambient +42°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 287 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Bitterroot National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Blue Joint Hot Springs 2?
Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 located?
Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 is located in Ravalli County, Montana at 4,936 feet elevation, near Hamilton. Coordinates: 45.6970°N, 114.3650°W.
How do I get to Blue Joint Hot Springs 2?
Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 has Roadside road access (287 ft from the road).
Is Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 free to visit?
Blue Joint Hot Springs 2 has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Blue Joint Hot Springs 2?
Yes, Fales Flat Campground is located nearby (5.1 miles away).