Elkhorn Hot Springs Resort

This rustic mountain resort and hot springs, located in the heart of the Pioneer Mountains, is the kind of place where moose wander through the grounds. You can watch them from the pools!This time of year, cross-country skiers converge here. There are 25 miles of cross-country trails managed by the resort, plenty of informal trails to explore, and the promise of a good hot soak afterwards. Elkhorn sits at an elevation of 7,385 feet. It’s affordable, remote, and relaxing. Maverick Mountain is only three miles away.

The resort’s two outdoor pools are perfect for relaxing. Inside the bathhouse next to the pool is a “Grecian wet sauna.” The two mineral water pools are more than 100 years old, as are the remodeled cabins. The cozy, old-fashioned cabins are in the woods and have electricity and wood stoves, but no running water. Since you share an outhouse and the place can be very dark, bringing a flashlight is a good idea. The rustic 1920’s lodge has a restaurant, an old fireplace surrounded by couches, and basic rooms upstairs.Just down the road is the pretty Forest Service Grasshopper Creek Campground (June–mid-Sept., $8). Nearby there are plenty of other campgrounds and trail heads.To get there, head south through the Bitterroot Valley, turn east into the Big Hole Valley. Turn left onto the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway.