Entry No. 39 — the Butte file — filed under: soak
Boulder Hot Springs Inn & Spa
A historic mission-style hot springs hotel and B&B set between Butte and Helena, with indoor mineral plunges, natural steam rooms, and an outdoor pool kept seasonally in the low-to-high 90s. The current Spanish/Mission-style building dates to a 1910s rebuild of an 1880s resort, and it's still run as a quiet, alcohol- and smoke-free inn with a faintly time-warped, old-world feel — a slower alternative to the big modern resorts.
The story
If you’re expecting a slick Montana mega-resort with poolside cocktail service and ambient music, you’re in the wrong valley. Tucked into Peace Valley on nearly 300 acres bordering the Deer Lodge National Forest, Boulder Hot Springs operates at a distinctly different, time-warped tempo. Geothermal soaking on this ground stretches back to the 1860s, though the sprawling Spanish-Mission-style hotel standing today dates to a 1910s rebuild of an earlier 1880s resort. It feels less like a modern wellness hotel and more like a living artifact that simply refused to shut down when the rest of the 20th century moved on.
The whole operation runs on quiet restraint. It's an alcohol- and smoke-free sanctuary where the main draw is raw thermal water rather than a loud aprés-ski scene. Inside the historic structure, natural geothermal heat powers indoor mineral plunge baths and natural steam rooms. Outside, an open-air soaking pool rests against the valley floor, kept in the low-to-high 90s depending on the season. It’s creaky, faintly eerie, and deeply quiet—a place where ghost stories and geothermal geology share equal billing.
What it's like
Step through the front entrance and you're immediately met by the damp smell of mineral steam and the creak of century-old flooring. The crowd leans local and intensely quiet, making it ideal if you want to soak without dodging loud tour groups. Aim for an evening visit just before the 8 PM shutoff so you can float in the lamp-lit outdoor pool as twilight settles over the Deer Lodge woods, then take a slow walk through the historic hallways. Just be sure to double-check their current operating hours before driving out.
The move: Drive up before the 8 PM closing for a twilight soak in the lamp-lit outdoor pool, then explore the creaky historic hotel.
- 📍 Boulder
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 31 S Hot Springs Rd, Boulder, MT 59632
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Elkhorn State Park (Elkhorn Ghost Town) — Follow up a low-key thermal soak in Peace Valley with a dirt-road detour into the mountains to inspect the standing 1890s halls of this silver boomtown remnant.
- Our Lady of the Rockies — Balance the secluded, earth-bound steam of the valley floor with a trek up to Butte to gaze up at the 90-foot statue overlooking the Continental Divide.
- Granite Mountain / Speculator Mine Memorial — Contrast the serene, alcohol-free quiet of Boulder with a sobering look over the mineyards at the site of Butte's historic 1917 shaft disaster.
Good to know
Where is Boulder Hot Springs located?
It sits at 31 S Hot Springs Rd in Boulder, Montana, set in Peace Valley between Butte and Helena along the edge of the Deer Lodge National Forest.
What soaking facilities are available?
The venue offers an outdoor soaking pool maintained seasonally in the low-to-high 90s, alongside indoor mineral plunges and natural geothermal steam rooms inside the historic inn.
Can you bring alcohol or smoke on the property?
No, Boulder Hot Springs is strictly maintained as an alcohol-free and smoke-free facility.
Is Boulder Hot Springs suitable for a day trip from Butte?
Yes, it is located roughly 15 to 20 miles northeast of Butte off the highway, making it an easy drive for an evening soak.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · historicmt.org · southwestmt.com · Tripadvisor · sosmt.gov
last checked: 2026-06-24