Built-in a canyon by the Clark Fork River, Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort has been serving hot springs lovers for nearly 140 years with its 100 – 106°F healing waters. Today it promises to be the ultimate experience in relaxation and comfort, offering stunning river and mountain views and the best of customer service.
This is Montana at its finest, with high-end rustic infrastructure that is almost an organic part of the mountain forest itself. Curvy turquoise hot pools edged by large rocks which the hot water cascades over, cabins overlooking the river and mountains, and cozy balconies to escape to and just… breathe. What’s more, Quinn’s is top of our list of favorites for Montana hot springs– check it out!
| Address | 190 Quinn’s Canyon Road, Route 135, Paradise, MT 59856 |
| Location | Next to Sheep Creek in Paradise, MT |
| Open | Tubs are open from 9 am to 10 pm, year-round |
| Clothing | Required |
| Road Access | Easy. All vehicles |
| Water Temperature | 90-106°F (one ice pool at 55°F) |
| Admission | $18 per person (4-hour pass) |
What To Expect
First opened in 1885, homesteader and self-styled “Dr. Quinn,” with his English wife by his side, started welcoming visitors looking to cure the pains of rheumatism, intestinal ills, and, interestingly, detoxification from mine poison, alcohol, and tobacco, by use of mineral waters that even today are packed full of calcium, fluoride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfate, and silica.
Though today’s medicine has moved on and people are not so ready to believe in miracle waters’ ability to cure such illnesses, there are undeniable blessings to be had from such water, and guests these days come for just that – to de-stress, soften their skin, breathe the fresh Montana air and enjoy the high-quality pools, lodging, restaurants, and new landscaping that Quinn’s has developed over the last decade or so.
This resort makes an ideal destination for any occasion, from birthdays and anniversaries to family vacations or couples getaways.
Quinn’s renovated, clean, and easy-to-access hot spring pools are open to those with day-use passes between 9 am and 10 pm, with extra private time hours available for overnight guests only from 7-8 am, and after hours from 10-11 pm. The early start and after-hours times are for adults only – ideal for those seeking a special kind of calm and solitude as they soak, kid-free. Day Pass swim-time lasts four hours and is divided into three sessions: 8 am-12 pm, 12 pm-4 pm, and 4 pm-8 pm. Spots should be booked online in advance due to the resort’s popularity.
Each of the seven pools at Quinn’s Hot Springs has its own age restrictions and specific properties.
Five of the curvaceous rock-decorated pools are filled with constant-flowing 100% natural hot mineral water. They range in temperature between 100 – 106°F. The “ice” and larger salt pool are cooler, coming in at 55°F and 90 – 100°F respectively.
Pool 1 is an adults-only hot mineral pool; Pool 2 is a 55°F cold plunge for those aged 14+ needing to cool off from the hot springs for a while. Pool 3 is a hot mineral pool for ages 14+, as are Pools 4 and 5, but these last also accommodate those aged 5+; Pool 6 is salt-treated and for all ages. Pool 7, the largest of them, is also salt-treated, and is designed for toilet-trained swimmers ages 3+. Clothing is required in all pools.
And if soaking and swimming aren’t enough, why not book yourself a massage too?
NOTE: You should bring your own towels and you are welcome to bring empty bottles to fill up with drinking water at the changing rooms. Free ice water is provided. You can eat food bought at the resort near the pool.
The well-maintained resort, with attentive and friendly staff, boasts over 80 rentals, from deluxe lodge rooms to individual cabins- some set in a mountain landscape just across the road, where you may just spot some bighorn sheep clambering around; others promising riverside views. Our personal favorite is Canyon View Cabin with its wrap-around porch and porch swing. Treats you can expect in this cabin, aside from the king-size bed, are fluffy robes, a French press coffee maker and beans, a complimentary bottle of wine, snacks, a claw-foot tub, and a walk-in shower with a choice of shower heads!
Feeling hungry? Quinn’s has its own high-end and very popular Harwood House Restaurant, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and children’s menus that combine tradition with modern experimentation using a mix of locally sourced ingredients and organic produce. Their hand-picked wine list was given an Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator magazine in 2022. Reserve your table here.
A more casual dining experience for breakfast, lunch, or dinner is Quinn’s Tavern, open equally to overnighters and passersby. Here, you can enjoy family favorites such as buffalo burgers, fish & chips, and prime rib. They have a dozen beers on tap, 30+ bottled beers, cocktails, and a fine selection of wines. To entertain you, Quinn’s Tavern offers a pool table, gaming machines, and screens sports events on TV.
Alternatively, head over to St Regis for dinner. Huck’s Grill is great for a filling budget meal with your friends and family.
Interesting History
Quinn’s Hot Springs resort is named after Martin Quinn, an Irish immigrant and miner. He spotted the land he was to homestead while traveling the river in the 1880s – he saw groups of Native Americans gathering near the steaming water on the mountainside outcrop and quickly staked his claim, going on to build a house, bathhouses, and accommodation for guests.
Martin married an English noblewoman named Fannie, who was a cousin of African explorer Cecil Rhodes. With his rough charm and her fine ways, they made an excellent team hosting visitors to the hot springs. When Fannie died of influenza in 1919, Martin, distraught, left the resort to seek out Texas oil. He did return, but the resort had lost the life and glamor his wife had brought it. He died of a stroke in 1932 and the resort was eventually taken over by Fannie’s daughter Minnie’s two boys Jack and Dick Harwood. In the 1960s, Jack was responsible for installing bridges and improving access to the resort, which until then could be reached only on foot, horseback, or by boat on the river.
For more on Quinn’s history, click here.
How To Get There
From Missoula, Quinn’s Hot Springs is just over an hour’s drive (69.1 miles). Take the I-90 W, and at Exit 96 turn off onto the MT-200 W / US Hwy 93 N.
Follow the MT-200 for 27 miles until the route splits from the US-93. Stay on the MT-200 W for another 31 miles until you pass Knowles and come to the MT-135 E. Turn left onto this and keep going until you come to Quinn’s Canyon Road. Turn left, and drive two miles. The resort is on the right.
From Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, approximately 2 hours and 113 miles away, take the I-90 E for around 92 miles. When you come to Exit 33 in St Regis, take the MT-135 left and stay on it for 20 miles until you come to Quinn’s Canyon Road. You’ll see the resort on the right.
Can I Stay There?
Yes. Featuring two stunning lodges and more than 25 mountain and river-side cabins, Quinn’s Hot Springs has something for everyone, from rustic to luxury, for families wanting fun and couples wanting romantic solitude.
The Andre J. Melief River Lodge overlooks the Clark Fork River and is for adults only. It boasts 25 beautiful rooms. Those on the riverside have private decks.
Glacier Lodge, also adults-only, offers king-sized beds and is ideal for couples looking for a comfortable but not overly pricey getaway.
Quinn’s Hot Springs’ 25 canyon cabins each offer two queen-sized beds and are perfect for families or small groups of friends.
The resort’s river-view log cabins on the bank of the Clark Fork River offer guests staying there extra privacy as they enjoy the Montana sights and sounds. If you book a cabin, you’ll get a king-sized bed, queen pull-out sofabed, a living area to relax in, a private terrace, and a furnace for cozying up your winter stay.
Check-in time is 4 pm, but you can soak from 2 pm on check-in day.
Check-out time is 11 am, but you can soak until 1 pm on your check-out day.
All accommodation is clean, and staff are on hand to help if needed.
For rates, click here – each accommodation is priced individually and prices go up on the weekends. River-side lodging varies from $250 – $390, while mountain-facing lodging is priced from $220 to $420 per night. Pet fees apply, and only some accommodations allow pets inside. Check the latest prices with the resort and book ahead – this is a popular destination and spots fill up months in advance!
On arrival, you’ll be given wristbands. You can use these to make changes to your room, such as meals in the restaurant or tavern.
Just want to hot spring it here but stay elsewhere? We highly recommend the Cascade National Campground, three miles away and nestled in the thick pines of the Lolo National Forest, 13 miles from Plains. There’s no need to reserve, as it’s first-come, first-serve. Drinking water and pit toilets are available, and each of the 10 campsites has a picnic table and fire ring. A simple boat ramp is available on Clark Fork River over the road from the campground – many people come here for the fishing as well as the hiking. Fee: $15 / vehicle/night.
What Else Can I Do In The Area?
Near Quinn’s, you can find a plethora of activities, whatever your taste – from casinos, dining, and karaoke in Paradise, to hiking, biking, golfing, horseback riding, nature photography, rafting trips, canoeing, fishing, and kayaking.
If you love the outdoors, head northeast on the MT-28 E to Flathead Lake, the biggest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Offering over 200 square miles of water, you can go sailing, motor boating, waterskiing, swimming, and fishing, or picnic or camp on the shore. Something not to miss if you’re there in the summer is the stands the locals set up on the eastern shore road to sell their homegrown apples, cherries, etc.
Glacier National Park, just a two-hour drive away, is definitely worth visiting for its vast natural beauty and history. Use this link to plan your time there.
We also recommend checking out at least one of Montana’s famous ghost towns. Take a step back in time and get a feel for the gold rush era in Garnet Ghost Town, a 19th-century abandoned mining town and one of Montana’s best surviving, where you can even take a tour down into the mines!
For the hikers among you, make Rattlesnake National Recreation Area your destination, with its 61,000 acres of glaciated topography and home to white-tailed deer, mountain goats, elk, and bears. Bird watchers might get to spot woodpeckers, ruffed grouse, gray owls,s and American dippers.
If you just love hot springing, though, there are numerous other Montana springs to try, all very different from Quinn’s experience. Closest by is the rustic and welcoming Wild Horse Hot Springs, with water that is jam-packed with minerals. Nestled at the heart of the Tobacco Root Mountains of Montana, Potosi Hot Springs oozes beauty, peace, and a break from the hustle and bustle. Renova Hot Springs on the Jefferson River also has a secluded and tranquil feel, a natural oasis that makes the perfect place to head for those looking for some solitude in nature. Just off the highway, the Nimrod Hot Springs lake, in a green valley opposite pine-covered hills, is the perfect stopover for a soak. Also worth trying are the Jerry Johnson Hot Springs and rock-edged Weir Creek Hot Springs. We’ll definitely be adding more Montana hot springs soon, so just type “Montana” in the search bar and see what else there is to explore!
The Dos And Don’ts Of Visiting A Hot Springs
Every hot springs has its own quirks. Visitors to Quinn’s Hot Springs, for example, should bring their own bathing suits and towels and should respect the “adult only” bathing times from 7-8 am and 10-11 pm. For more general and very important “hot springs etiquette,” we highly recommend you take a moment to check out our carefully compiled easy-to-read list of “dos and don’ts” here. And always, always respect our nature – pack out what you pack in and LEAVE NO TRACE.
Frequently Asked Questions
From Missoula, Quinn’s Hot Springs is just over an hour’s drive (69.1 miles).
From Missoula, Quinn’s Hot Springs is just over an hour’s drive (69.1 miles). Take the I-90 W, and at Exit 96 turn off onto the MT-200 W / US Hwy 93 N.
Follow the MT-200 for 27 miles until the route splits from the US-93. Stay on the MT-200 W for another 31 miles until you pass Knowles and come to the MT-135 E. Turn left onto this and keep going until you come to Quinn’s Canyon Road. Turn left, and drive two miles. The resort is on the right.
For rates, click here – each accommodation is priced individually and prices go up on the weekends. River-side lodging varies from $250 – $390, while mountain-facing lodging is priced from $220 to $420 per night. Pet fees apply, and only some accommodations allow pets inside. Check the latest prices with the resort and book ahead – this is a popular destination and spots fill up months in advance!
Check-in starts at 4 pm, but if you get there early, you can soak from 2 pm.
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!
