Surrounded by endless ranges of coniferous trees, and nestled at the heart of the Tobacco Root Mountains of Montana, Potosi Hot Springs is a destination as remote as it gets, oozing beauty, peace, and absolute detachment from the outside hustles.
This geothermal delight is absolutely gorgeous no matter the season and gives off the kind of vibe that you only see in movies and always think: “I wonder if it’s real or just a film set?”
As one of the best hot springs in Montana, it boasts beautiful interior and exterior, many hiking opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, several mineral-rich natural baths, and a carefully thought out goal – disconnection and isolation from the outside world – Potosi Hot Springs will not leave anyone disappointed.
| Address | 354 Potosi Rd. Pony, MT 59747 |
| Location | 12.7 miles from Harisson, Montana |
| Open | May-September |
| Clothing | Optional |
| Temperature | 93°F-102°F |
| Road Access | Easy. Any vehicle. |
| Admission | Required |
All You Need To Know
Potosi Hot Springs provides its guests with numerous soaking and accommodation options. This WiFi and the technology-free zone are available only through advanced reservations. If you want to book your stay you can either call them at (406) 595-0488 or email the resort at [email protected]
Potosi Hot Springs boasts 2 outdoor and 1 indoor soaking pool (all of them are private) and 4 cabins for a comfortable stay. You can also take advantage of their wood-burning sauna that’s situated right next to one of the pools.
The cabins are scattered along South Willow Creek, making the creek accessible right outside the door, which is perfect for those who love fishing.
The whole facility is burrowed in the center of Gallatin National Forest, surrounded by greenery, creek water scent, and an infinite number of pine trees. All the pools have a proper commercialized look, with concrete floors and ladders to get into them.
The biggest pool – the one with the sauna nestled next to it – is perched on a bushy cliff and into a hill that makes for one hell of a view. It is big enough to accommodate dozens of people, deep enough to swim, and boasts a water temperature of 93°F.
The rest of the pools are located within a short walking distance of ‘The Sauna Pool’ and from each other. They’re also big enough to seat a dozen people. Their temperature ranges around 102°F.
If you are an outdoor lover and are into hiking, camping, and rock climbing, make sure you plan a visit to Potosi Hot Springs because
- It offers countless opportunities to indulge yourself in exactly those types of activities
- Having a minerally rich soak right after completing all those energy-consuming exercises will do wonders for both your body and mind.
Accommodation Rates
Potosi Hot Springs boasts specific themed, stunning, and homely cabins that are especially wonderful during winter months (but this is a subjective matter). Each one is named after a specific theme: Bear Cabin, Trout Cabin, Elk Cabin, and Moose Cabin. All of them are perfectly secluded and fully equipped with the necessary amenities, making for a comfortable stay for visitors.
Considering their encirclement of green trees, hills, and lovely creeks, Potosi stays true to its word and makes its guests feel isolated and disengaged from capitalistic responsibilities. Here you can just breathe and take in all of the opportunities on offer.
All the cabins are priced at $350 per night, with a maximum occupancy of 4 people. However, you can bring 2 extra guests but each will be charged $25 on top.
The use of the hot springs is included in these rates.
Day Use Rates
If you want to soak in the springs without renting a cabin, you can make a reservation and visit from Wednesday through Saturday between noon and 2 pm – when the pools are available for day use.
Reservation of the area is $200 plus $15 for each extra guest that accompanies you. Remember, this $200 covers 80 acres of land ready for your exploration, 3 pools to soak in, and a sauna.
What To Bring
- Bring food because the resort does not serve meals at the moment.
- Bring appropriate clothes. It gets considerably cold on summer nights which means that it’s very cold during the winter. This is important to be mindful of.
- Bring a flashlight if you decide to use the spring at night.
What To Take Into Consideration
- A walk from the main house to the springs is a quarter mile
- For the sake of complete detachment from our corporate world, there is no WiFi and TV available in the cabins
- Smoking is not allowed in cabins and other common areas
- Unfortunately, Potosi Hot Springs is not wheelchair-accessible
- Check-in is from 3 pm – 7 pm
- Check-out is at 11 am
- You can leave the keys on the coffee table in your cabin. You don’t have to drop it off.
- The minimum stay is 2 nights
- 8% Montana State Bed Tax is added to all reservations.
Getting There
From Harrison (along Hwy 287), take the road that leads to Pony (Pony Rd./Hwy 283). On the way to Pony, you will see a sign on the left for Potosi Road, turn left onto Potosi Rd. Drive about 3.1 miles and you will come to South Willow Creek Rd, that is where you turn right. Then drive about 3.5 miles and you will arrive at Potosi Hot Springs.
Don’t let the ‘No Trespassing’ signs scare you off, you are in the right place.
The owners are in the main house on the right.
You can park next to one of the vehicles in the lot and come to the front door.
The owners kindly ask the visitors to knock. They’ll answer the door and check you in!
Camping Options
Considering its convenient location, all kinds of outdoor activities are very popular in this area amongst travelers. The nearest camping option is Potosi Campground and Picnic Area. It is located on either side of South Willow Creek on the east side of the Tobacco Root Mountains.
There you can find 15 campsites that also offer a picnic day-use spot, vault toilets, and drinking water. There is no cleaning maintenance on the site so please, follow the Leave No Trace Policy and don’t litter. For details visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/bdnf/recarea/?recid=5712
What To Explore
The closest town to Potosi Hot Springs is Pony, Montana (6.6 miles) and the second closest is Harrison (12.7 miles). Considering that the towns themselves are also very close to one another, opportunities in terms of what you can explore are pretty much the same for both.
Of course, the most obvious way to spend your time is to explore Tobacco Root Mountain Range with different outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and camping; but if you’re looking for something else, we got you covered. Despite their seclusion, there are still some things that you can explore in the area.
- If you are looking for more thermal soak opportunities, you can visit Norris Hot Springs, located in Pony. It is a very nice budget-friendly alternative to Potosi.
- You can check out Madison River Guides, Hooked Outfitting, and Fish Tales Outfitting, all of which are fully equipped boating trips centered around catching fish. This is a good opportunity for fishing enthusiasts.
- If you’re looking to explore the outdoors some more, you can check out Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park which is one of the most popular attractions in this Montana Area, and geologic formations known as The Ringing Rocks
- And if you’re making a trip to Montana in search of some other hot springs, be sure to check out Nimrod Hot Springs as well.
The Final Take-away
If you’re willing to plan your trip based on the idea of isolation and detachment from the world (which means no internet, no TV, no news and no TV shows to binge) and think that you can handle it, be sure to check out Potosi Hot Springs. Not only is it one of the best and most beautiful thermal delights in the state of Montana, but it’s also a great place to detach as it’s entirely tech-free. This is a tremendous opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved ones and reflect on things that you probably didn’t have time to think about before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Potosi Hot Springs is open from May to September.
Potosi Hot Springs is located 6.6 from Pony, Montana, in the Tobacco Root Mountains.
From Harrison (along Hwy 287), take the road that leads to Pony (Pony Rd./Hwy 283). On the way to Pony, you will see a sign on the left for Potosi Road, turn left onto Potosi Rd. Drive about 3.1 miles and you will come to South Willow Creek Rd, that is where you turn right. Then drive about 3.5 miles and you will arrive at Potosi Hot Springs.
Yes, there are fees in Potosi Hot Springs. Day-use reservation starts at $200 and cabin rentals start at $25 per night per person. For more information scroll up or visit their official website: https://thepotosihotsprings.com/all-cabins/
Yes, Potosi Hot Springs is clothing-optional.
You explore 3 soaking options there, explore the 80-acre-territory located in the Tobacco Root Mountains. You can also rent a cabin and spend your time being tech and WiFi-free for a while.
Disclaimer
While we at Traxplorio do our very best to give you the latest information about these hot springs sites, life happens, weather happens, and property owners happen. We always recommend you go to the official hot springs’ web page and/or the relevant state authority page to check conditions, times, and prices (where relevant) before you head out. Thanks for understanding, and enjoy your soak!
