On the Trail of Ghosts and Hot Springs in Southwest Montana
Jul 27, 2026, 9:00 AM
Northwest Travel Life
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life.
History and mystery abound in southwest Montana where spirits of the past float through small towns and for centuries steaming waters have attracted travelers seeking healing and refuge.
Day One
Start your weekend exploration of Montana’s southwestern landscape with a morning soak at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. With four pools to choose from (two indoors and two outdoors), there is ample space to secure a private spot. Water temperatures range from a warm bath to a steaming hot tub. The resort is undergoing extensive renovations to be completed this summer, so check their website for any temporary pool closures.
After breakfast, take a short drive east to Butte. Just about every Montana town can claim some historical significance, but Butte reigns supreme with the entire town listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Begin your history lesson at World Museum of Mining. Learn why Butte was once dubbed “the richest hill on earth” due to its plentiful copper and silver deposits. Follow your tour guide 100 feet below ground on the Orphan Girl Underground Tour to glimpse what life was like for those toiling away in these dark dank mineshafts. You might also glimpse (or hear) a Tommyknocker, benevolent spirits of former miners who legends say are prone to knock on the rock walls warning their present-day brethren of impending danger.
Dive into a darker side of Butte on the Spooks and Spirits Tour led by local historians Chris Fisk and Tony Hoffman. Stops include the Cabbage Patch, Butte’s once infamous shanty town, and the Dumas Brothel, which operated from 1890 to 1982. Even staunch skeptics begin to believe as Chris and Tony communicate with spirits and tell tragic and harrowing tales of Butte’s notorious past.
Before retiring for the night at the historic Miner’s Hotel, calm your nerves at Fifty-One Below Speakeasy in the hotel’s basement. A couple of dry martinis are guaranteed to chase away those pesky ghosts and send you off to dreamland.
Day Two
Wakeup refreshed and continue 6o miles southeast for a late morning soak at Norris Hot Springs tucked against the rolling hills of Gallatin Valley. Norris lies on the opposite end of the hot springs spectrum from Fairmont as it features only one large wooden tub. Instead of feeling constricted, the laid-back atmosphere makes you feel part of an exclusive gathering of locals. Enjoy lunch poolside at their 50 Mile Café, so named as most ingredients are sourced within 50 miles with much of it grown in Norris’ onsite garden.
The ghosts are feeling left out so head north to Elkhorn State Park, a once thriving 19th-century mining town. You could call it a ghost town, but people still live in this remote enclave accessed only by driving several miles along a bumpy dirt road. Wander in and among stately yet eerie buildings frozen in time and you just may encounter one of Elkhorn’s former residents.
Combine spirits and hot springs at the day’s final stop, historic Boulder Hot Springs. Book a comfortable and cozy room in the striking Spanish-style inn, then wrap up the day with a soak in their outdoor pool watching the sun set over the Elkhorn Mountains.
Day Three
After a hearty housemade breakfast, head north to Helena, Montana’s capital city and a close second to Butte in terms of its rough and wild history. The Red-Light Rendezvous Walking Tour led by a guide with The Foundation for Montana History gives you an education into this illicit past from dance hall girls to “Big Dorothy” Baker, owner of Helena’s last brothel that shuttered its doors in 1973.
Extend your walking tour of Helena’s historic Last Chance Gulch neighborhood stopping for lunch at Old Salt Outpost. Montana boasts countless burger joints, but this has to be one of the best serving up perfectly seasoned burgers that you can actually wrap your mouth around, accompanied by wedges of potatoes fried in beef fat. Work off that burger with some retail therapy at the cavernous General Mercantile full of candy, coffee and whimsy, and Birds & Beasley’s, full of avian-related gifts crafted by local artisans.
Rest your tired feet in your room at Great Northern Hotel before heading to The Union for a Montana-sized steak. Owned by the same people as Old Salt Outpost, the proprietors take pride in being good stewards of the land and supporting Montana ranchers. Choose from the curated list of daily features then watch as your selection is fired on the grill in the open kitchen.
End your time in southwest Montana at Broadwater Hot Springs. Open late into the evening, colorful lights shimmer on the steam rising from the water to give the illusion of ghostly specters joining you for one last soak.
When You Go:
To forge your trail through Southwest Montana, visit southwestmt.com.
