Gallogly Spring

Ravalli County, Montana · Near Hamilton
45.7500°N, 113.9380°W · 5,728 ft
100°F 5,728 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (0.9 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Gallogly Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Gallogly Spring
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.

Gallogly Spring is a soaking-temperature source on Bitterroot National Forest land, Ravalli County, Montana, 36 miles from Hamilton. Access here is open, Forest Service ground. A campground sits less than a mile away, which makes it easy to combine with a night out. The water comes out a touch above body heat, tub temperature. No sample has been taken.

Location

A short walk, around 350 yards, from the nearest road, which our data does not name. Elevation is high, and this part of the Bitterroot gets roughly nine feet of snow over a typical year. Indian Trees Campground is under a mile off. the designation on record says national forest. No fee appears in the record.

The listed months are winter. Snow that deep will bury the approach, so check the road. Camp at Indian Trees if you want to stay close. The temperature figure stands alone, with no chemistry behind it, so it may vary from what is on file; carry a thermometer.

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 Gallogly Spring.

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

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 34% 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
21°
Jan
23°
Feb
30°
Mar
35°
Apr
44°
May
54°
Jun
65°
Jul
64°
Aug
54°
Sep
40°
Oct
27°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 26.3 in Annual Snow: 109.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 19°F · Water 100°F · +81° contrast
January Air 21°F · Water 100°F · +79° contrast
February Air 23°F · Water 100°F · +78° contrast
December offers 45°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
Today 67° Low 42° Areas Of Frost then Sunny
Spring is +33° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 45° Sunny
Spring is +30° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 48° Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 62% precip
Spring is +28° warmer
Friday 65° Low 44° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Saturday 69° Low 45° Sunny 9% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Indian Trees Campground 0.9 mi away

Overview Indian Trees Campground is a quiet place to stay 3/4 miles off of Highway 93 in the mountains of southwest Montana. It provides access to a number of enjoyable recreational activities, as well as the vast scenery of the rugged Bitterroot National Forest. The area boasts wild game, high quality water and wild and scenic rivers.Recreation Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. A number of trails can be accessed ne...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,728 ft

Gallogly Spring sits at 5,728 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 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
100°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 100°F (38°C)
Avg Air Temp 40°F
Above Ambient +60°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
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 Gallogly Spring?
Gallogly Spring has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Gallogly Spring located?
Gallogly Spring is located in Ravalli County, Montana at 5,728 feet elevation, near Hamilton. Coordinates: 45.7500°N, 113.9380°W.
How do I get to Gallogly Spring?
Gallogly Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Is Gallogly Spring free to visit?
Gallogly Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Gallogly Spring?
Yes, Indian Trees Campground is located nearby (0.9 miles away).