Bearmouth Warm Spring 2
Bearmouth Warm Spring 2 flows at 68°F in Granite County, Montana, at 3,977 feet elevation -- about 170 feet higher than its companion spring roughly a mile to the west. A short walk of 155 meters from Frontage Road West provides access. The water measures 24 degrees above the annual ambient air temperature.
This spring emerges along the Clark Fork River corridor where the valley broadens slightly east of the Bearmouth townsite. Frontage Road West runs parallel to Interstate 90 through terrain dominated by dry grassland slopes, scattered ponderosa pine, and riparian cottonwood along the river. Annual precipitation is modest at 20 inches, with about 58 inches of snowfall. Exposed rock outcrops of Precambrian Belt Supergroup sediments line the valley walls, and the Clark Fork River itself flows within a few hundred meters.
Like its companion feature, Bearmouth Warm Spring 2 appears in the 1980 NOAA/NCEI thermal springs inventory. No record of commercial development or named historical use exists for this spring. The Bearmouth area functioned as a Northern Pacific Railway stop and small mining supply point in the 1880s-1890s, but attention focused on placer gold operations rather than thermal water. The spring remains in an undeveloped, apparently unmanaged state.
Access from Frontage Road West involves a 155-meter walk over uneven ground; sturdy shoes are sufficient. The spring is reachable year-round, though winter snow may complicate the short approach. At 68°F the water is tepid rather than hot. The nearest reservable lodging is Douglas Creek Cabin, 28 km away in remote forest. Philipsburg, the county seat, provides full services roughly 30 miles south and makes a practical staging point.
Is Bearmouth Warm Spring 2 worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Douglas Creek Cabin offers a great way to access the various seasonal activities available in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana. While hunting enthusiasts enjoy the cabin during bow and rifle seasons, it is popular for snowmobiling or cross-country skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. The cabin is in a very remote location, giving anyone an outdoor recreational experience they will never forget.Access to the cabin is limited by weather conditions....