Like the badlands of Eastern Montana, the Rocky Mountains in the West, and the glaciers blanketing the northwest corner of the state, hot springs are a Montana staple. The state is home to over 260 developed and natural geothermal sites, many of which have been natural spots used for relaxation and pain relief by Native Americans, miners, and settlers. For more than a century, hot springs have been bubbling up across Montana, in off-the-beaten-path hot spots to huge resorts drawing people in with the magical waters. Sleeping Buffalo Resort and Hot Springs is one of those places.

The story starts in the early 1900s, when a wildcat oil rigger was testing the area for oil. Imagine his shock when, at 3,100 feet, he struck a gushing well of hot water. The deluge was flowing with 500 pounds per square inch and completely changed the course of the site. Drilling was abandoned, and the well was allowed to flow for several years. Soon, the hot springs became a welcome respite for cowboys looking for a Saturday night bath. Though, not long after, it wasn’t just cowboys coming for a soak.

The story continues with a Saco rancher named Elbert Davison who was desperate to help his son who was battling polio. He built a wooden tub around the hot mineral water and began soaking his boy as often as he could. The results were remarkable. Word spread about the healing powers of the water. People flocked here to experience it for themselves. More people meant a bigger pool was needed, so a larger one was constructed of railroad ties.

Today, Sleeping Buffalo Resort and Hot Springs is the only hot spring along Montana's northern tier, right off the Highway 2 Hi-Line. Bathers from North Dakota, Saskatchewan, and all of Montana have ventured here to experience true tranquility by relaxing in the main pool, hot tub, and sauna. Come for a day or stay for more in one of the cabins or suites, or set up camp in the campground. However long you choose to say, you can guarantee you’ll leave feeling refreshed!