Nimrod Hot Springs

What to expect

Nimrod Hot Springs, also listed as Nimrod Warm Spring, is a small spring-fed pool right beside Interstate 90 in the Clark Fork valley, about half an hour east of Missoula. It takes its name from Nimrod, a ghost town in Granite County that had a post office from 1915 to 1962. There is nothing left of the town to see. What draws people is a clear, emerald-green pool where warm spring water pours over a rock face and collects in a shallow basin.

Be clear about what kind of place this is. It is a warm spring. A 2020 Missoulian story, reprinted by the Mining Journal, put the water at 82°F28°C all year, and a 2023 podcast described it as around 70°F21°C. That is pleasant swimming water on a hot July afternoon and chilly in a Montana winter. If you want to sit in 100°F38°C water, this is the wrong stop.

A dive-site listing gives the maximum depth as about 4 feet. Local dive shops and scout groups use it for shallow practice and cleanups, and in summer it is popular with college students and local families looking for a swim.

There are no facilities of any kind: no toilets, no changing rooms, no bins, no lifeguard. Bring what you need and take everything back out.

Private land, public courtesy

The spring is on private land. Federal land records show no public agency at this spot. The Czorny family has owned it since 1978, and for decades they left it unfenced and without “no trespassing” signs so people could come and go.

That arrangement came close to ending in 2020. Andrew Czorny told the Missoulian that visitors had left broken glass, beer bottles, cans and even dive lights in the pool, and that his family had filled trucks with trash on a single cleanup. He said he had considered fencing it off and enforcing trespass. A Missoula scuba diver, Seth Liston, spent many weekends pulling glass out of the pool with help from local kids, and the family kept it open.

A 2023 podcast reported that the owners were still allowing use as long as visitors stay respectful. We found no report of a closure since then, but that is the deal here. If you arrive and find a fence, a gate or a sign, the owners have changed their minds and you should leave.

Getting there

The spring is next to I-90 east of Missoula, between Clinton and Drummond. Directions in a 2023 podcast describe this approach:

1. From Missoula, drive east on I-90 for roughly 30 miles, or from Drummond drive west.
2. Take exit 138 (Bearmouth).
3. Head north to the Drummond Frontage Road, which runs along the river beside the interstate.
4. Park at the fishing access site and walk to the pool.

The exact walk from the parking area is not well documented, so allow a few minutes to find the path. Do not park on the I-90 shoulder or try to reach the pool directly from the interstate. It is illegal and dangerous.

When to go

Summer is the season. On a hot afternoon the warm water feels close to a heated pool, and the clear water is at its best in bright light. It is also when it is busiest, especially on weekends and when university students are in town.

Weekday mornings are the quietest time.

Spring and fall work if the weather is warm. Cool air makes 70-82°F21-28°C water feel colder than you expect once you get out.

Winter visits are possible, since the 2020 report says the temperature holds all year, but the air will often be below freezing and there is nowhere to warm up or change. Few people bother.

Rules and etiquette

There are no posted rules from a land agency, because this is not public land. The owners have made their expectations clear through the press:

• Pack out everything. Trash is the reason the spring almost closed.
• No glass. Broken glass in a shallow pool cuts feet. Bring cans or plastic, or better, nothing at all.
• No camping. The spring is for day visits only.
• No soap or shampoo in the water. It is a small pool with slow turnover.
• Keep the noise down. The owners live with the consequences of what visitors do.
• Leave it better. If you see a bottle or wrapper, pick it up. That is how locals have kept it open.

Where to stay nearby

Camping is not allowed at the spring, so plan your night elsewhere:

• Missoula, about half an hour west, has the full range of hotels, food and gas.
• Drummond, east on I-90, is the nearest town in that direction.
• National forest camping: if you camp on any national forest land in Montana, the Northern Region order R1-2025-01 (to July 31, 2030) limits stays to 16 consecutive days at one site and 32 days per calendar year.

Safety notes

• Shallow water: at about 4 feet deep, the pool is not safe for diving or jumping. Enter feet first.
• Broken glass: despite the cleanups, wear water shoes in case someone has left glass behind.
• No lifeguard: watch children closely. The water is clear but the bottom can be uneven.
• Cool water: in spring and fall, get dry and dressed quickly after a swim. A 70°F21°C pool on a cold day can chill you faster than you think.
• Traffic: the interstate is right there. Keep kids and dogs away from the highway side.
• Trespass: respect any change in access. Years of open use do not make private land public.

Nearby stops worth adding

If you want hot water on the same trip, the developed resorts of western Montana are within a couple of hours. Lolo Hot Springs is southwest of Missoula on US-12, with a 103-106°F39-41°C indoor pool and a cooler outdoor pool. Heading east, the Clark Fork valley continues toward Drummond, Deer Lodge and Butte.