Norris Hot Springs

What to expect

Norris Hot Springs is a one-pool place with a lot of character. It sits beside Montana Highway 84 at the edge of Norris, a ranching town of a few dozen people in Madison County, and the owners call it “Water of the Gods.” There are no high-rise slides or spa rooms. What you get is a square wooden pool, open sky, the hills of the Madison Valley and a small grill and saloon on the deck.

The pool is the interesting part. Early miners built it the way they would build a box over a lode, with fir planks laid straight over the springs and wooden sides around them. The resort describes it as a spring box without a lid. Hot water rises through gaps in the floor boards, so the water around your feet is often the warmest in the pool. The website gives the pool as 40 by 40 feet, about 4 feet deep and holding over 38,000 gallons.

The source water is far too hot to sit in. The resort says the spring averages about 129°F54°C, and sprayers and jets cool it before it reaches the pool. In summer it is kept below 100°F38°C. In winter, when cold air pulls heat off the surface, it can run as warm as 106°F41°C. The pool is emptied every night through a gate valve that dates back to the miners, then refilled fresh.

History

The town of Norris is named for Alexander Norris, who founded it in 1865 after gold strikes drew miners to nearby Alder Gulch. The Northern Pacific ran a spur line here in 1890. Norris left much of his land to the Wilson family, who ranched and mined it. They fenced the pool, built a small bathhouse and left the key at the local hotel and bar so that neighboring families could use it.

Doris and Mike Zankowski bought 21 acres including the springs in 1972. Doris sold part of the property in the late 1980s and later took it back, then sold it again in 2004 to Holly Heinzmann. Today the resort runs a music dome, a grill with an organic, locally sourced menu and its own garden alongside the old pool.

Getting there

Norris is at the junction of US Highway 287 and Montana Highway 84. The springs are at 42 Montana Highway 84, right on the highway on the edge of town.

• From Bozeman: Drive west on MT-84 for about 35 miles. The road passes the Madison River at Bear Trap Canyon on the way.
• From Ennis or Virginia City: Head north on US-287 to Norris, then turn onto MT-84.
• From Butte or Helena: Reach US-287 via I-90 and drive south to Norris.

Both highways are paved. MT-84 is a two-lane road with curves along the river, and it can be icy in winter. Parking is beside the pool.

When to go

Norris is open year-round, but only Thursday to Monday. Tuesday is always a cleaning day, and Wednesday is reserved for private groups who book ahead.

• Winter is when the pool is hottest and the steam is thickest. A night soak with snow on the deck is the classic Norris visit.
• Summer water is kept below 100°F38°C, which suits long, lazy soaks and kids. Afternoons can be very hot in the sun, so evenings are better.
• Music nights: local acoustic musicians play in the geodesic dome on weekends, usually from about 7 to 9:30 p.m. The Southwest Montana tourism office notes that spring water runs under the stage floor to keep it warm. Live music nights draw more people.

Prices and booking

The resort website lists these prices for 2026:

• Adults: $12
• Seniors: $5
• Children 12 and under: $5
• Babies in swim diapers: free
• Towel rental: $5

No reservation is needed during public hours, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Monday. Private soaks on Wednesday are booked through the resort’s online scheduler. For questions, call 406-685-3303 or email [email protected]. The website has been known to lag behind changes, so a quick call before a long drive is wise.

Rules and etiquette

• No outside alcohol. The resort confiscates it and will not serve a group that brings its own. Beer and wine are sold on site.
• No outside food. The 50 Mile Grill serves food made from local ingredients, and the snack bar covers the gaps.
• Bring a towel if you do not want to rent one.
• Share the space. On music nights the pool gets full. Keep voices down while the band plays and leave room by the hottest spots for others.

Where to stay nearby

The on-site campground is closed until 2027. The resort says there is no overnight camping or parking until it reopens for the May 1 to September 30, 2027 season, when it lists full-hookup RV sites at $50 a night and tent sites at $40.

Until then:

• Red Mountain Campground (BLM) at Bear Trap Canyon is about 5 miles away off MT-84. It has 19 sites, 11 of them reservable, with toilets and drinking water.
• Ennis, south on US-287, has roadside inns. The resort itself points guests to the Red Bear Inn and the McCallister Inn.
• Bozeman, about 35 miles east, has the widest choice of hotels.

Safety notes

• Heat: the winter pool can reach 106°F41°C. Take breaks on the deck and drink water.
• Hot spots: water is hottest where it rises through the floor. Move slowly until you find a comfortable spot.
• Slick wood: the deck and pool floor are wet wood. Walk carefully, especially when it is icy in winter.
• Driving at night: MT-84 and US-287 are dark, rural roads with deer and cattle. Do not drink and drive after a night at the saloon.

Nearby stops worth adding

Bear Trap Canyon, a few miles east on MT-84, is the start of the roadless Bear Trap Canyon section of the Madison River, known for Class IV and V rapids, with a riverside trail and camping. If you want a bigger, family-style pool complex on the same trip, Bozeman Hot Springs is on the way back into Bozeman, and Boulder Hot Springs is farther northwest toward Helena.