Mcmenomey Ranch Spring
McMenomey Ranch Spring flows at 68°F, placing it below the standard hot spring threshold and into the warm spring category. Located at 5,420 feet elevation in Beaverhead County near Dillon, Montana, the spring sits 94 meters from Pipe Organ Road with roadside access. No water chemistry data has been reported.
The spring occupies the broad, semi-arid valleys south of Dillon where ranching operations spread across wide bottomlands. Annual precipitation is just 13.9 inches with roughly 46 inches of snow, leaving the uplands dry and dominated by sagebrush and native grasses. Pipe Organ Road crosses terrain shaped by eroded volcanic formations that give the area its name. Irrigated hay fields and pastures line the valley floors, while the surrounding hills remain open range.
The McMenomey name ties this spring to a ranching family that operated in Beaverhead County, consistent with the homestead-era settlement pattern of southwestern Montana. Beyond the name, documented history for this specific spring is minimal. The broader area around Dillon was settled in the 1860s during Montana's gold rush, and ranching became the dominant land use by the late 1800s.
Roadside access along Pipe Organ Road keeps the approach simple in dry months. Winter travel requires caution, as the 5,420-foot elevation brings freezing temperatures and snow from November through March. The 68°F water temperature provides little contrast with summer air. Henneberry House, a reservable 1905 BLM cabin about 7 km away on the Beaverhead River, pairs well for an overnight trip.
Is Mcmenomey Ranch Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview The Dillon Field Office is unable to make reservations for you. Please call Recreation.gov (877-444-6777) to book a reservation or book online. This historic cabin, built in 1905, is located approximately 14 miles south of Dillon, Montana, on the banks of the Beaverhead River. The cabin provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities on adjacent public lands. The cabin and surrounding lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Recreation Recreation opportu...