Avon Warm Spring
Avon Warm Spring flows at 79°F in Powell County, Montana, at 4,876 feet elevation near Deer Lodge. At just 3.3 feet from the road, it may be the most road-accessible thermal spring in the state — essentially surfacing at pavement's edge. The water runs 39 degrees above the local annual air temperature of 40°F.
The spring sits in the Avon Valley, a broad intermountain basin between the Garnet Range to the north and the Flint Creek Range to the south. Open ranch meadows and irrigated hayfields characterize the valley floor, with ponderosa pine and Douglas fir climbing the surrounding slopes. The Clark Fork River drainage shapes the regional hydrology. Annual precipitation totals 21 inches, and snowfall averages 72 inches, producing cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers typical of western Montana's mountain valleys.
Avon is a small unincorporated community along Montana Highway 12 between Helena and Deer Lodge. The warm spring has been a known local feature, though detailed historical documentation is scarce. Powell County, established in 1901, developed around mining, timber, and ranching. No resort or bathhouse appears to have been built at this spring.
The spring is accessible year-round due to its immediate roadside location, though winter conditions bring icy roads and sub-zero temperatures. At 79°F, the water is tepid — comfortable for a foot soak but not a traditional hot-spring experience. Quigley Group Use Site, a reservable campground at 6,300 feet on MacDonald Pass along the Continental Divide, lies about 20 km away. Deer Lodge provides the nearest services.
Is Avon Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Quigley Group Use Site sits in forested mountain terrain on the top of MacDonald Pass about 15 miles west of Helena, Montana. Quigley is on public land managed by the Helena Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and is adjacent to the Continental Divide National Scenic (CDNST) trail. Located right on the Continental Divide at 6,300 feet elevation, there are spectacular views of surrounding country encompassing meadows, timbered slopes, and mountains. The site...