The One Thing to Do in Montana Before the End of the Year

What's one thing you'd like to do in Montana before the end of the year? Is it checking out a local holiday event, ice skating, snowmobiling, or skiing? If you're anything like me and would love a break from the frenetic activity that arises around the holiday season, a relaxing day trip or weekend retreat to a hot springs resort may be in order. And one place you may want to check out before the calendar page turns from 2025 to 2026 is the Elkhorn Hot Springs.

Located off the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Polaris, Montana, a small unincorporated community in Beaverhead County, is one of the most relaxing places to visit. Elkhorn Hot Springs has been open since 1918, and is the perfect spot for some self-care during the hectic holiday season. So, if you need a day or two to escape before the end of the year, make a plan to come here.

Deep within the earth, geothermal energy comes to the surface, heating the water in the hot springs pools at Elkhorn. The outdoor pools' temperatures range from 92 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, providing a warm welcome during the freezing cold winter months. Enjoy soaking in the hot springs and watch as steam from the hot waters rises into the frigid air. If you prefer to be inside, the pools of the wet sauna range between 104 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

During the winter, the hot springs pools are open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prices are $10 per adult and $7 per child. You can bring your own towel or rent one for $1.

While you can always take a day trip to Elkhorn Hot Springs, spending the night here is another fantastic choice. There are two options: the lodge and the cabins. The Lodge at Elkhorn Hot Springs was built in 1918 and features both a restaurant and dorm-style rooms. For more privacy, you'll want to reserve one of the cabins. Both the small and large cabins are rustic with no running water and access to an outhouse. The modern cabins, on the other hand, offer full or half baths, as well as fully equipped kitchens. When staying at either a cabin or the lodge, a continental breakfast, as well as unlimited access to the hot springs, is included.

Will you make your way for a relaxing day trip or overnight getaway to Elkhorn Hot Springs in Polaris, Montana, before the year ends? Visit the Elkhorn Hot Springs website for information on location and fees to use the hot springs. You can also rent a cabin or a room at the lodge through the website. If you can't make it to Elkhorn Hot Springs, check out our list of other Montana hot springs that are open throughout the winter months.

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