Montana

Jackson Hot Spring - Hot Springs in Montana

12/12/2021

It is not often that you find a hot spring pool as quaint as this one.

The structure from the dance floor to the pool was also excellent.

Old-fashioned dance hall

If you are heading from Idaho Falls to Missoula on I- 15, you might want to take a short detour to Jackson Hot Springs.

Street 01

Facing the almost ghost town-like main street, Jackson Hot Springs was old but carefully maintained.

Exterior 02

This hot spring was one of the ones "discovered" by the Lewis and Clark expedition, as mentioned in the article for Sacajawea.

Reference:Sacajawea Hot Spring - Hot Springs in Idaho

A Native American woman, Sacajawea, was chosen as the model for the portrait on the $1 coin. This undeveloped hot spring is attributed to her honorable name. Sawtooth Lodge On Idaho State Route 21, approximately halfway between Lohman and Stanley, ...

Exterior 03

Clark, one of the first white Americans exploring overland from the East Coast to the West Coast, discovered the boiling water on his return trip in 1806.

Entrance 01

He wrote in his diary that he cooked meat in the hot water.

Registration 01

In 1884, ownership of the hot springs was first acquired; in 1950, a rancher in Jackson Hole purchased the facility and undertook extensive renovations.

Lobby 02

While management has changed in 2018, the lobby with its old-fashioned bar and fireplace is still there.

It was a lovely space, which surprised me when I stopped by for a walk-in.

Lobby 01

Walk-in for the pool was available at the hotel front desk.

The price was $10.00 per adult (as of this writing).

Changing Room 02

To access the showers and changing rooms, go upstairs.

Changing Room 01

A little further back, on the mezzanine floor, was the entrance to the pool.

Greenish water trickles down

Pool 02

The pool was said to be indoors when it was first built, but now the roof has been completely removed.

Pool 05

One simple, large pool underneath a string of electric lights.

Pool 04

It would be romantic at night.

Pool 01

It was surrounded on all sides by historic wooden walls, so I could not see outside.

Water Outlet 02

There were four outlets on the wooden box-like structure, and only one of them was working.

Pool 03

The water temp was as hot as 124 degrees F.

The hot water, which is 136 degrees F at the gushing point, seems to be piped and cooled naturally.

Water temp 01

Compared to the size of the pool, the amount of water input was small, so the overall temperature was lukewarm at about 102 degrees F.

Water Outlet 01

The pool gets deeper as you move away from the water outlet, and it shows greenish color.

I heard that it was chlorinated, but I did not smell it.

Pool 06

It would be safer to have disinfection from a hygienic point of view, since the water input was too small.

Entrance 02

Now, I remembered that there was an information board about the geothermal springs at the entrance of the building.

I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood.

Exterior 01

Behind the pool were a row of log cabin style cabins.

Cabins 01

In the back of the buildings, I saw another facility, the Jackson House Vacation Rental, which also used the thermal water.

Far beyond that, I found the source of the springs.

Source of Springs 01

Too bad I could not get any closer!

Summary

Jackson Hot Springs, Jackson, Montana, U.S.

My rating

Type: Walk-in, Lodging

Rule: Clothing required

Chemical use: Detected

Water temp: Up to 136 degrees F

Official website

  • Writer

Hot Springer Ken

A hot spring enthusiast based in Japan. Toured over 300 North American hot springs while working in Texas from 2016 to 2022. For updates, visit X or Instagram!

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