Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa

Chico Hot Springs has been welcoming soakers since 1900, when it opened as a rustic retreat for miners and travelers. It sits in the foothills of Paradise Valley, with the Absaroka Range rising to the east and the Yellowstone River flowing nearby. Two large outdoor pools are fed by natural mineral water, one kept warm and the other hotter, and locals and visitors alike drift between them in all seasons. Snow falling on a steaming pool on a January evening is one of the great Montana experiences.\n\nThe main lodge is a long, white, historic building with a creaky charm. It houses the Chico Dining Room, a restaurant with a long reputation for local meat, trout and creative cooking, and the Saloon, where live music and conversation fill the evenings. Visitors can stay overnight in the lodge, in cabins or in newer lodging, or simply pay for a day soak, a massage or a meal. The spa offers treatments, and a range of outdoor activities from horseback riding to winter sleigh rides is available on the property.

Chico is about eighty miles from Bozeman, and the drive over Bozeman Pass and down the Paradise Valley road takes around an hour and a half. It is a natural stop between Bozeman and the north entrance of Yellowstone at Gardiner, about an hour further south, and many visitors combine a soak with a Yellowstone day.

In winter, check road conditions, since snow and ice can make the pass tricky.\n\nBring a swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel, or rent one on site. The mineral water has a mild smell and a milky feel that locals say is good for the skin.

Visit early in the day for quiet, and stay for sunset when the light turns the Absarokas gold. In summer the pool deck is busy, so arrive before midday if you want a lounge chair. Day passes are available to non-guests, and reservations for the dining room are strongly recommended.\n\nFamilies are welcome, and children enjoy the larger pool and the lawn. The property has a certain rustic quality, so those who prefer sleek modern spas may find it casual, but that is part of the charm.

The Saloon tends to be lively on weekends, and rooms in the main lodge can pick up noise from the bar, so ask for a quieter location if that matters.\n\nChico also has a long list of things to do beyond soaking. You can take a horseback ride, hike in the surrounding hills, join a guided fishing trip on the Yellowstone River or relax with a book in the lodge. Pair it with an evening in the dining room and you have a full day in Paradise Valley.

Check seasonal hours, as pool and activity schedules change through the year. \n\nSpend a little time in the lodge itself. The corridors are lined with historic photographs, the porch looks over the valley and the guests range from ranchers to Yellowstone-bound families. Rooms vary widely from simple to upscale, so read the descriptions carefully if you decide to stay. Even a day visitor can feel the long history of the place, which has hosted generations of travelers who came to rest between stagecoach rides, mine work and railroad journeys.