Hot Springs Adventure

Taking advantage of a few days off of work, Elle and I decided to go on a hot springs trip. Lolo hot springs were our closest choice but because they are developed into modern warm pools we decided to avoid them. We followed Highway 93 South thought Montana and Idaho and followed many of the signs of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There are many hot springs near the Lewis and Clark trail so I could not help but wonder if they stopped and enjoyed a rest in any.

As is turns out Lewis and Clark stopped not once, but twice at Lolo hot springs. The hot springs were used by Native Americans for centuries. During their trip through, Lewis and Clark only made a quick stop at Lolo hot springs, not stopping long enough to bath.

“I found this water nearly boiling hot at the places it Spouted from the rocks ... I put my finger in the water, at first could not bare it in a Second.” – Clark: September 13, 1805 (1)

View From GoldBug Hotsprings

On the return journey the party again stopped at Lolo and this

time enjoyed a bath in the springs.

"both the Men and the indians amused themselves with the use of the bath this evening. I observe after the indians remaining in the bath as long as they could bear it run and plunge themselves into the creek the water of which is now as cold as ice can make it; after remaining here a few minits they return again to the worm bath repeeting the transision several times but always ending in the worm bath." - Clark: June 29^th, 1806 (2)

Hot springs are one of nature’s wonders and if any one gets the chance to stop at an undeveloped area, I would take it. Today Lolo is covered in concrete but there are many other natural hot springs to soak in. Elle and I took the advantage of the Gold Bug natural hot springs in Elk lodge Idaho.

Links

1. Lewis And Clark on Lolo Creek

2. Montana: Lewis and Clark

Photo. View From GoldBug Hotsprings - Curtis Huey