Camas’ waters bring visitors from around the world
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HOT SPRINGS – Nestled just north of the town of Hot Springs lies an artesian flowing well that boasts water with one of the highest mineral counts in the world. Visitors travel from around the world to soak for hours, or even up to a week in the warm waters. Camas “Big Medicine” offers more than supreme waters, as the 81-acre recreation area also has a challenging disc golf course, an amphitheatre, tipi and cabin rentals and full RV hookups.
Visitor Steven Guchak, who is originally from the Ukraine, and currently lives in Seattle, Wash. says the water at Big Medicine is the best he has ever experienced.
“This here is the good water, it’s so healthy,” Guchak said. “My fingers hurt yesterday, today they are no pain.”
This is Guchak’s first visit to Montana, traveling with his brother Ananiy, who has visited Montana before, and recommended his brother travel along.
“God gave us very good water here,” Guchak said. “I will be back.”
Also soaking in the pool that morning was Carsten Bockermann, who traveled from Bonn, Germany on a photography expedition to Montana. Bockermann never expected he would have spent his morning experiencing the “healing” waters until hearing about it while visiting the town.
“I really enjoyed (the water). After traveling around for three weeks, I was worn out,” Bockermann said. “ After one hour in here I am very refreshed.”
The hillside Big Medicine lies on has four basins which have flowing water. The area of Hot Springs is a very unique in structure. Water coming from the surrounding mountains go underneath the ground, is heated, then forced back to percolate through the ground.
Water is constantly flowing through the two pools at Camas Hot Springs, changing completely over every four hours. Once the water exits the pool, it is pumped to a pond where it is used for irrigation. The land is leased from the Salish and Kootenai tribes, which inspect the business monthly. Big Medicine is open year-round, except for the rare winter days that plummet 20 degrees below zero and colder.
Guests can soak in the pools for $5 for four hours, or $8 for a full day. Cabin rentals and RV hookups cost $25 per day, while tent camping costs $10 a night. Those willing to try their luck at disc golf can play for $5.