Winter adventures in Montana can encompass a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from downhill skiing and boarding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, fat biking, or taking a snowy hike.

Whatever your frosty frolic includes, nothing pairs with wintertime explorations quite like an après soak in one of western Montana’s many hot springs. Each spring beneath the Big Sky has its own charm. Some destinations feel more remote and cozy, while others open up to wide mountain scenery.

Quiet your mind and rest your body at Quinn’s

One of the closest and most popular options is Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, which has been serving guests since 1885. This soaker’s paradise boasts six outdoor hot springs pools along the Clark Fork River. 

Relaxing in the pools offers a scenic escape, featuring multiple natural mineral water pools that range from hot (around 100-106 degrees) to cool, along with a cold plunge pool, all set amidst large boulders at the base of a mountain. The resort also features various lodging options, including cabins and lodges, the award-winning Harwood House restaurant, and a tavern, providing a historic yet modern Montana experience with opportunities for relaxation and wellness.

Here's how to deserve that dip: A powder day at Lookout Pass

With an equally long-standing history, Lookout Pass has been a skiing and snowboarding tradition for over 90 years. The resort that straddles the border of Idaho and Montana provides everything for all kinds of snow lovers. Its unique location offers visitors stunning views and diverse terrain for all experience levels. 

Lookout has around 1,023 skiable acres, 59 different trails, a 1,650-foot vertical drop, three terrain parks, gladded tree runs, and averages over 450 inches of snowfall each year. The hill is well known for its strong reputation for legendary, light, fluffy powder. 

The terrain breakdown: 14% easiest, 42% intermediate, 42% advanced and expert. Their lift system includes two quad chairs, one being the newer Eagle Peak Quad, two triple chairs, and one double chair. Known for its welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and challenging terrain for seasoned skiers and riders, Lookout Pass offers something for every level of adventurer. 

Wind down at Wildhorse Hot Springs

The town of Hot Springs is a geothermal hotspot. Literally. With three different warm waters to choose from, any steaming oasis will soothe the muscles and melt away the day. Wildhorse Hot Springs, just on the outskirts of town, gives guests beautiful views of the Little Bitterroot Valley. For soaking, the facilities include stone-paved plunges as well as tubs, several of which can be temperature-controlled with manual spouts. 

Here's how to earn that dip: Cross-country skiing on the Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails

Located 8 miles above Lakeside at 5,000 feet of elevation, the 25 kilometers of varied terrain are groomed every day from December through March, maintained by volunteers of the North Shore Nordic Club. The trails are groomed for both skate and classic. Learning the basics involves a forward stride, body position, shuffling, kick and glide, double poling, diagonal striding, uphill and downhill techniques, turning, and getting up from a fall. 

Cross-country skiing, either style, is a full-body low-impact cardio workout. Making this winter activity the perfect precursor to a relaxing hot springs soak to ease sore muscles. 

The cross-country ski trails of Blacktail Mountain are fun for skiers of all ages and levels, and the views are hard to beat, set high above the west shore of Flathead Lake. You can relish views of the expansive Flathead Valley while you ski your way through the winter. From the main parking lot, you can hop onto the Alpine trail loop or the Power line trail loop. 

Remember to share the trails: classic skiers in the tracks, skate skiers in the middle, snowshoers on the other side. The North Shore Nordic Club does not require a trail pass, and they don’t charge trail fees. They are entirely funded by individual and business donations, state and local grants, and volunteer efforts.

Let Loose at Lost Trail Hot Springs

Once known as Gallogly Hot Springs since the 70’s, Lost Trail Hot Springs has long been a secluded resting point for travelers crossing the Continental Divide at Gibbons Pass. As the old Indian trail climbs about 2000 feet in just three miles, during the arduous trek, people would stop at the quiet hot springs to rest before starting the long climb over the pass. 

The main attraction is their large, beautiful, chemical-free outdoor hot springs pool. The natural, mineral hot springs bubble up from the ground at 107° year-round. Nestled down in a forested area of the Bitterroot Valley, take in stunning mountain views and breathe in the smell of pines as you soak your worries away. 

Here's how to earn that dip: Snowshoe hike along the Lake Como Loop

Lake Como, south of Hamilton, was named after Jesuit missionary Father Ravalli, for it reminded him of Lake Como in his home country of Italy. Lake Como in Montana sits in a glacial valley at the base of the Como peaks. The lake is dammed and is very popular in the summertime for fishing, boating, and swimming, but come winter, the body of water is quiet and blanketed in snow, creating a peaceful countryside for a snowshoe trek. 

Advancements in snowshoe gear have greatly evolved from the era of trappers who once tramped across Montana’s frozen countryside. Snowshoeing takes little practice, and with the addition of poles, if you’re able to walk, you can snowshoe. Finding snowshoe trails requires trailheads with easy access, even during deep snow. The Lake Como loop lends itself to this. Furthermore, you want a trail that is relatively flat and with little elevation gain. Though the loop encircles all of Como Lake, the best views are found in the first three miles of the journey, making it an option to hike in and turn back. 

Sink Low at Lolo Hot Springs

Another nostalgic soaking option, Lolo Hot Springs, is a haven of relaxation and rich in history. Some of the first recorded visitors to submerge in the healing waters were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The large property features two pools, but only the indoor pool is suitable for cold-weather soaking. During the winter, the indoor pool sits around 105 degrees, just right for easing sore muscles and washing away a Montana winter day’s adventure. 

Here's how to earn that dip: Fat biking at Marshall Mountain

Not only can fat biking extend the cycling season into the snowy winter months, but it also provides the chance to explore new terrain and experience winter in Montana from two wheels. Fat biking in winter involves riding specially designed bicycles with oversized tires 4 inches or wider at very low pressure, allowing them to "float" over soft surfaces like snow and ice, turning winter into an accessible year-round cycling season for exploring trails that would stop regular bikes. The low pressure gives the tires huge traction and a "suspension" effect, letting riders glide over packed trails, fresh powder, or even frozen lakes, offering great exercise and a unique way to enjoy snowy landscapes. 

At Marshall Mountain, riders first have to make the ascent up on their own to enjoy the groomed trails back down again. This will provide an intense calorie-burning workout. 

Bonus Trek and Soak at Jerry Johnson Hot Springs

Though technically located in Idaho, this fan favorite spring is easily accessible from the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, and is a short 1.25-mile snowy hike rated relatively easy. 

The trail starts at the parking lot off US 12, where restrooms are available. It takes you across a wooden bridge with stunning views of the Lochsa River and follows Warm Springs Creek to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. It's a great spot to soak and enjoy the serene atmosphere. 

There are several different spring-fed pools to choose from, varying in depth and temperature. This adventure combo of a winter trek up to a natural hot spring is an awesome way to spend a snowy Montana day.