Browns Springs

Beaverhead County, Montana · Near Dillon
45.1050°N, 112.7510°W · 5,592 ft
75°F 26°F air · Good soaking weather 5,592 ft Roadside Camping nearby (2.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Browns Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Browns Springs
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.

Browns Springs runs warm about ten miles from Dillon in Beaverhead County. Warm is generous; the water is tepid, the temperature of a pool left in the shade. The record has no owner and no access status, and it has no photo. What it does have is a roadside location, forty feet from the road, so at least nobody needs to hunt for it.

Location

It lies at moderate elevation in the dry southwest of the state, where winter snowfall is moderate and rain is scarce. The road it sits beside goes unnamed on the record. Whoever owns the ground has not been identified.

Henneberry House is the closest camp listed, under three miles away. The record picks the dead of winter as the best months, and snow here is light enough that the road may stay passable, though nobody has confirmed that. Chemistry is absent and so is a survey date. Assume private land until you know otherwise and ask before stepping off the road.

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 Browns Springs.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
154 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

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.

Heat Below
116 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 69% 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
17°
Jan
19°
Feb
29°
Mar
38°
Apr
49°
May
59°
Jun
69°
Jul
67°
Aug
57°
Sep
42°
Oct
28°
Nov
16°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.9 in Annual Snow: 41.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 16°F · Water 75°F · +59° contrast
January Air 17°F · Water 75°F · +58° contrast
February Air 19°F · Water 75°F · +56° contrast
December offers 53°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
26°F
Good soaking weather
Today 71° Low 39° Sunny
Spring is +4° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 44° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Thursday 73° Low 46° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 61% precip
Spring is +2° warmer
Friday 68° Low 43° Chance Rain Showers 52% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Saturday 70° Low 43° Sunny 14% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Henneberry House 2.7 mi away

Overview The Dillon Field Office is unable to make reservations for you. Please call Recreation.gov (877-444-6777) to book a reservation or book online. This historic cabin, built in 1905, is located approximately 14 miles south of Dillon, Montana, on the banks of the Beaverhead River. The cabin provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities on adjacent public lands. The cabin and surrounding lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Recreation Recreation opportu...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,592 ft

Browns Springs sits at 5,592 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.

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Temperature
75°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 75°F (24°C)
Avg Air Temp 41°F
Above Ambient +34°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 40 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Browns Springs?
Browns Springs has a water temperature of 75°F (24°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Browns Springs located?
Browns Springs is located in Beaverhead County, Montana at 5,592 feet elevation, near Dillon. Coordinates: 45.1050°N, 112.7510°W.
How do I get to Browns Springs?
Browns Springs has Roadside road access (40 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Browns Springs?
Yes, Henneberry House is located nearby (2.7 miles away).