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Hot Springs in Montana

15 hot springs in Montana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Madison County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs (Bortle 1).

Top hot springs

Hot Spring
Gregson Hot SpringsSilver Bow County
Hot Spring
Bear Trap Hot SpringsMadison County
Hot Spring
Bozeman Hot SpringsGallatin County
Hot Spring
Elkhorn Hot SpringsBeaverhead County
Hot Spring
Halvorson Hot SpringRosebud County
Hot Spring
Hot SpringsJefferson County
Hot Spring
Hot SpringsRavalli County
Hot Spring
Hunters Hot SpringsPark County
Hot Spring
Jackson Hot SpringsBeaverhead County
Hot Spring
Potosi Hot SpringsMadison County
Hot Spring
Puller Hot SpringsMadison County
Hot Spring
Quinns Hot SpringsSanders County

Hot Springs by county

All hot springs (15)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Gregson Hot SpringsSilver Bow County—Anaconda3
Bear Trap Hot SpringsMadison County1,472 mThree Forks1
Bozeman Hot SpringsGallatin County1,444 mFour Corners5
Elkhorn Hot SpringsBeaverhead County2,193 mDillon1
Halvorson Hot SpringRosebud County946 mForsyth1
Hot SpringsJefferson County1,385 mWhitehall2
Hot SpringsRavalli County1,502 mAnaconda1
Hunters Hot SpringsPark County1,340 mBig Timber1
Jackson Hot SpringsBeaverhead County1,977 mSalmon1
Potosi Hot SpringsMadison County1,855 mWhitehall1
Puller Hot SpringsMadison County1,673 mDillon1
Quinns Hot SpringsSanders County828 mPlains1
Sleeping Buffalo Hot SpringsPhillips County680 mMalta1
Sleeping Child Hot SpringsRavalli County1,415 mHamilton1
Wolf Creek Hot SpringMadison County1,854 mBig Sky1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph hot springs

Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.

  • Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
  • A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
  • Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
  • Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
  • Condensation forms quickly on lenses; let gear acclimate and carry a cloth.

Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.