Carter Bridge Warm Springs

Park County, Montana · Near Livingston
45.6080°N, 110.5710°W · 4,542 ft
82°F 36°F air · Good soaking weather 4,542 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (13.0 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Carter Bridge Warm Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Carter Bridge Warm 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.

Carter Bridge Warm Springs is four miles from Livingston in Park County, Montana. The water is on the warm side of tepid, the kind of temperature that feels pleasant in July. No chemistry has been recorded, and the file is blank on ownership and on visiting rights. No USGS site number exists for it either, so nobody has measured flow.

Location

About a thousand feet from the road, on foot; it is unnamed in the record. This is valley country at mid elevation; winters here bring something like seven feet of snow, with moderate precipitation across the year. Trail Creek Cabin sits thirteen miles off and is the camping listed; no land unit is named.

Winter, says the record. Given that the water is merely warm, a cold-day visit makes sense for the walk and little else. Treat the ground as possibly private. The short walk from the road is all the access information we have. A fee, if there is one, went unrecorded.

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 Carter Bridge Warm Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
633 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
79 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 14% 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
22°
Feb
32°
Mar
39°
Apr
49°
May
60°
Jun
69°
Jul
68°
Aug
58°
Sep
43°
Oct
30°
Nov
21°
Dec
Annual Precip: 24.9 in Annual Snow: 87.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 21°F · Water 82°F · +61° contrast
February Air 22°F · Water 82°F · +60° contrast
January Air 23°F · Water 82°F · +59° contrast
December offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
36°F
Clear WNW 16.6 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Today 68° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +14° warmer
Wednesday 68° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +14° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 49° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 33% precip
Spring is +8° warmer
Friday 69° Low 46° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 72% precip
Spring is +13° warmer
Saturday 70° Low 46° Chance Rain Showers 34% precip
Spring is +12° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Trail Creek Cabin 13.0 mi away

Overview Trail Creek Cabin, built in 1924, was the original ranger station for the Bozeman Ranger District. It is available year round, offering guests the chance to enjoy summer or winter recreation. The cabin is located in a remote area that is not accessible by car or truck. Guests must travel on foot, horseback, motorized vehicle (under 50”) or mountain bike. In winter, skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles may be used to reach the cabin. The best route for arriving on foot or horseback is about...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
82°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 82°F (28°C)
Avg Air Temp 43°F
Above Ambient +39°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Carter Bridge Warm Springs?
Carter Bridge Warm Springs has a water temperature of 82°F (28°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Carter Bridge Warm Springs located?
Carter Bridge Warm Springs is located in Park County, Montana at 4,542 feet elevation, near Livingston. Coordinates: 45.6080°N, 110.5710°W.
How do I get to Carter Bridge Warm Springs?
Carter Bridge Warm Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Carter Bridge Warm Springs?
Yes, Trail Creek Cabin is located nearby (13.0 miles away).