Boulder Hot Springs
Water at Boulder Hot Springs arrives scalding, hot enough to blister skin, a few miles outside the town of Boulder in Jefferson County. Sitting in it straight from the source is out of the question until it cools. Ownership of the ground and the rules for using it are both missing. A 1976 USGS sample came back alkaline, carrying iron along with calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulfate.
The spring sits a tenth of a mile from the nearest road, a short walk, at valley elevation close to town. Winters bring a moderate snowpack and the year is middling for rain. Being this close to Boulder, it is an easy drive, assuming access is allowed.
Do not touch the source. At this temperature the water scalds in seconds. Any soaking would need cooled water, and nothing on file says if that exists. Winter is the listed season, and the snow is manageable. Sheepshead Picnic Area is the closest camp, around eighteen miles out. Access is not recorded, so confirm before visiting.
USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.
The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
- Setting
- Hillside
- The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southwest.
- Highest ground nearby
- 344 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 75% 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 Boulder Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 8.8).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Sheepshead Pavilion is available for reservations for private gatherings from mid-June through Labor Day weekend. The pavilion will accommodate about 200 people. It includes picnic tables, barbecue grills and water. There is no electricity to the pavilion, if electricity is needed please bring a generator. Fees are based on group size: $75 per day for groups 1-50 $125 per day for groups 51-100 $200 per day for groups 101-200 With a 2+ day reservation, overnight use may be granted,...
Boulder Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Boulder Hot Springs
More Springs Around 169°F
Alkaline Springs (pH ~8.8)
Hike 3 waterfalls near Boulder Hot Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Boulder Hot Springs, Montana.