Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs (a Soak and a Sunset)

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs outside of Saco Montana is an oasis in northeast Montana for two reasons:

1. There just isn’t much to do and see in northeast Montana. The area is mostly wheat fields, oil pumps, and little towns.
2. Montana is famous for its hot springs such as Bozeman or Chico Hot Springs. But if you map the hot springs you will see that all of them except Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs is located to the north and west of Yellowstone park (a volcanic hot bed – pun intended!).  Sleeping Buffalo is all by itself (cue the Eric Carmen hit “All by myself…don’t want to be…).

There are a couple other things to see within a mile of the hot springs, so this is a fun place to stop for a night or two of soaking and sunsets…

Sleeping Buffalo Rock

Sleeping Buffalo Rock

There are two old rocks, shaped like sleeping buffaloes, under protective cover.  These rocks used to sit on the top of hills and fool many-a Native American.  They even carved features of the buffalo (bison) in the rock.  At one point it was determined the carved rocks should be protected from the elements, so they were moved to the nearby town of Malta.  But the rocks were determined as “restless” so they were moved to this more appropriate place.   People leave small gifts, like cigarettes and coins, at this sacred site.  The Sleeping Buffalo Rock & marker is located in the pull off at the junction of US-2 and the road to Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs.

 Roosevelt Highway Marker

There are many historical markers along highway US-2 in Montana, but this one indicates the history of the road and why the highway is also known as Roosevelt highway.  Marker is also located in the pull off at the junction of US-2 and the road to Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs.

 Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs

The swimming pool at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs

Only one mile off Highway 2  in Montana is the Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs and Resort.

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs is A*M*A*Z*I*N*G.  Its one of the best hot springs in Montana.  There are three indoor tubs/pools at Sleeping Buffalo:

• the large one is a perfect temperature for swimming,
• the medium one is a hot tub with a perfect temperature for soaking,
• the small one, that I first though was a kiddie pool, is 46 degrees! Brrr…  If you want to play a trick on your friends or family, tell them to jump into the kiddie pool.

The Springs also include use of a lovely locker room and sauna.  There’s loads of loungers and tables around the pool so you could spend the whole day here if you want to relax.  They sell snacks and pizza at the front desk if you need a bite to eat.

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs Rates

Cost per day visit is $9.50 or included if you spend the night at the resort.

The hot tub at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs

 Nelson Reservoir

Nelson Reservoir Sunset

Only 1 mile north of the hot springs is a park and picnic area of Nelson Reservoir.  This park is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (have you heard of them?).  The dam & reservoir are a wonderful place for recreation in the summer.  But in my spring visit, most of the lake was frozen but the water birds, meadowlarks, and coyotes were singing in chorus.  Nelson Reservoir is known for it’s spectacular sunsets and I was not disappointed on my visit.  It is possible to camp for free in this small park even though signs are not posted except inside the pit toilet).

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs – Where to Stay 

There isn’t a lot of choice around here.  An obvious choice would be to stay at the newly renovated Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs Resort.  In summertime it’s also possible to stay at Sleeping Buffalo Campground.

If that’s full or if you’re heading west, it’s only 20 miles to Malta, home of the very nice Country Inn (Check Rates and Availability)

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