Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa

What to expect

Chico is the classic Paradise Valley soak: an old white lodge at the foot of Emigrant Peak, two open-air pools out back, and a saloon a few steps from the water. It has been taking guests since 1900, and parts of the main lodge still keep the old layout, with some rooms sharing a bathroom down the hall. People come for an evening swim, a steak in the dining room, and a night under the same roof.

There are two pools, both fed by a natural geothermal spring on the property:

• The large pool is big enough to swim in and averages about 96°F36°C. It is the one with the open sky above it.
• The small pool is the hot one, averaging about 103°F39°C, and it fills up first on cold nights.

The resort says the water gets no added chemicals and has no sulfur smell. Temperatures move around with natural conditions, and in summer staff mix in cool spring water so the pools stay pleasant. Lockers, changing rooms and showers are right at the pool. The large pool and the restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and Guest Services can help if you need assistance getting in.

There is no lifeguard. Pool toys are allowed, and the Poolside Grille and gift shop sell them along with food and drinks.

History

The springs show up in writing early. A miner named John S. Hackney noted in his diary on January 16, 1865, that he went to the hot springs to wash his clothes. By the late 1890s two wooden tubs sat in a small shed over the water. In 1900 Bill and Percie Knowles opened the Chico Warm Springs Hotel with a round plunge 44 feet across.

The pools grew into two ovals inside a wooden natatorium in 1902, then into one large rectangular pool between 1917 and 1919. After Bill died in 1910, Percie ran the hotel and, with a doctor’s help, marketed the water for its supposed healing powers; a hospital wing was added around 1916 and pulled down in the early 1930s. The family sold in 1948, and the property spent years as a guest ranch, a roadhouse and a church camp.

In May 1957 the curved roof over the natatorium fell in on about 70 swimmers. Only two had minor injuries, and the roof was never rebuilt, which is why the big pool is outdoors today. Mike and Eve Art bought Chico in 1973 and turned it into a year-round resort, and they sold it to Colin Davis in 2015. The resort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Getting there

Chico is in the hamlet of Pray, on the east side of the Yellowstone River.

• From Livingston: Take US-89 south through Paradise Valley to Emigrant, roughly 25 miles. At Emigrant turn east onto Murphy Lane and cross the river, turn right on East River Road, then turn left onto Chico Road and follow it uphill to the lodge.
• From Bozeman: Take I-90 east over Bozeman Pass to Livingston, then follow the directions above.
• From Yellowstone: Leave the park at the North Entrance in Gardiner and drive north on US-89. The resort is about 30 miles from the entrance. Turn right at Emigrant and follow the same route.

Parking is at the lodge. In winter, check Montana road reports before you set out, since snow and wind can slow the drive through the valley.

When to go

Chico is open every day of the year. Winter is the most popular time to soak: snow on the deck, and steam rising off the hot pool. Summer brings Yellowstone traffic, weddings and families, and the pools can be crowded by afternoon.

For space, come on a weekday morning soon after the pools open to day guests at 8 a.m. Late evenings after the dinner rush are also calmer. The resort notes that day pass availability can vary, so call ahead if you are driving a long way.

Prices and booking

The resort lists these day pass prices for 2026:

Guest	Price
Adults and children 7+	$14
Children 3-6	$8
Seniors 65+	$8

Towels are free for resort guests and $2.50 for day guests. Overnight guests get pool access as part of their room. The same day pass also covers the 18-hole disc golf course on the resort’s Ranch 635 land.

Pool rules are short. Glass, outside food, drinks and coolers are not allowed on the pool deck. Children must be with an adult at all times. Wear a swimsuit; this is a family pool.

Spa treatments at the Chico Day Spa are booked separately and are open to day visitors as well as guests. Yoga classes run some mornings for $20.

Where to stay nearby

Staying on site is the main draw. Options include:

• Historic Main Lodge rooms connected to the pools on the second floor, some with private baths and some sharing a hall bath.
• Warren’s Wing, Lower Lodge and Fisherman’s Lodge rooms with private bathrooms.
• Camp Conestoga, a set of covered wagons with power, air conditioning and a nearby bathhouse.
• Cabins, including a restored caboose and 1970s log cabins.
• Chalets and houses that sleep up to 12, booked by phone at 406-333-4933.

Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out at 11 a.m. Breakfast is not included, but a buffet is sold in the dining room. Pets are allowed in pet-friendly rooms for a $50 fee per stay.

Off site, Livingston has the largest choice of motels and restaurants, and Gardiner has lodging at the park gate. Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds lie in the side canyons of the Absaroka Range along East River Road; check Recreation.gov for current sites.

Safety notes

• Heat: The small pool runs near 103°F39°C. Keep your first soak short and drink water, especially if you are having drinks from the saloon.
• Small children: The resort advises against taking children under 2 into the water.
• No lifeguard: Watch kids closely in the large pool, which is deep enough to swim.
• Wildlife on the road: Deer and elk cross US-89 and East River Road at dusk. Drive slowly after dark.

Nearby stops worth adding

The resort has a trout pond you can fish with your own rod, a short walk from the lodge, plus guided horseback rides through Rockin’ HK Outfitters. Further south, Yellowstone Hot Springs at Corwin Springs, on the site of the old Corwin Hot Springs resort, makes a good second soak on the way to the park. In Helena, Broadwater Hot Springs is a modern city alternative.