Quinns Hot Springs

Sanders County, Montana · Near Plains
47.3300°N, 114.7890°W · 2,564 ft
109°F 46°F air · Good soaking weather 2,564 ft Roadside Camping nearby (2.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Quinns Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Quinns Hot 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.

Ten miles from Plains, in Sanders County, Montana, Quinns Hot Springs runs at the top of what most people would soak in, hot but bearable for many. Owner and access are absent from the row, and there is no water chemistry on file. A campground is close by, which is more than most entries can say.

Location

The nearest road is about a hundred feet away, so this is roadside. The spring sits low for Montana. Winters bring five and a half feet of snow or so. Rain is moderate. Cascade Campground, two miles and change off, is the campground the record points to.

Season, per the record: winter. Cascade Campground is the obvious base, a couple miles off. Since nobody has recorded access or a fee, find out if the spring is open to the public before driving out. No date is attached to the temperature, so treat the soaking claim as provisional.

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 Quinns Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
689 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
114 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 65% 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
30°
Jan
29°
Feb
38°
Mar
45°
Apr
56°
May
63°
Jun
73°
Jul
73°
Aug
62°
Sep
48°
Oct
38°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 24.1 in Annual Snow: 67.3 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 30°F · Water 109°F · +80° contrast
February Air 29°F · Water 109°F · +80° contrast
December Air 30°F · Water 109°F · +79° contrast
January offers 44°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
46°F
NNW 0.0 mph 96% Good soaking weather
Today 66° Low 47° Mostly Cloudy 1% precip
Spring is +43° warmer
Wednesday 71° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +38° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 54° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Friday 73° Low 52° Slight Chance Light Rain then Sunny 17% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Saturday 75° Low 53° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Cascade Campground 2.4 mi away

Overview Scenic BywayClark Fork RiverIron Mountain TrailheadCascade FallsWildlifeDouglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and western larch treesRecreation CampingHikingFishingRaftingBoatingFacilities Cascade Campground has 11 sites plus 1 group site that are back in only and can accommodate RV's 27' to 35' in length depending on the site. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. A primitive boat ramp is available on Clark Fork River across the highway from the campground. Potable water, vault to...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
109°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 109°F (43°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +60°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 107 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Quinns Hot Springs?
Quinns Hot Springs has a water temperature of 109°F (43°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Quinns Hot Springs located?
Quinns Hot Springs is located in Sanders County, Montana at 2,564 feet elevation, near Plains. Coordinates: 47.3300°N, 114.7890°W.
How do I get to Quinns Hot Springs?
Quinns Hot Springs has Roadside road access (107 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Quinns Hot Springs?
Yes, Cascade Campground is located nearby (2.4 miles away).