Renova Hot Springs and The Two Bit Saloon, Whitehall, Montana

Renova Hot Springs is one of my favorite places in Montana. Renova Hot Springs is located about 20 minutes south of Whitehall, MT. The springs themselves are glorious and allow you to adjust the temperature to your preference. There are two pools located off of the Jefferson River, one shown here enclosed by a man-made rock wall, in addition to a more natural pool downstream. Whitehall is just far enough to feel like you're getting out of town, but not so far that only going for the evening is a chore.

Renova Hot Springs is also very intimate. On a Wednesday night, we were the only soakers and saw just one other vehicle on the dirt road. At night, bring candles to set around the rock wall for light or some wood to build a fire in the pit aside the pool.

The last time I went to Renova Hot Springs was a divine experience, as always, but I did find myself in an argument with another patron. My companion and I brought a six-pack of beer to share and were very careful not to accidentally leave a bottle cap or any trash behind, as we're conscious of trying to leave such an incredible space as pristine as we found it. As we were finishing up, a man tossed his bottle cap into the Jefferson nearby.

I asked him, "Did you just throw your cap into the river?"

"No, I flicked it."

"Why are you littering in such an amazing place? Don't you want to leave it as beautiful as you found it?"

"Well have you seen this place in the daytime?"

"No, we usually come at dusk."

"If you saw it in daytime, you wouldn't care about littering either."

We departed after this exchange, but this conversation has stuck with me. His argument is a logical fallacy and a status-quo bias. It makes no more sense to litter just because other people have than it does to drive drunk because other people have or buy something because other people do.

If you're hungry on your way out of town, stop at the Two Bit Saloon and get the Montana ribeye. It's cooked on the grill right in front of you and they've got a decent draft beer offering. Their chicken tenders are "world famous," but the ribeye is a much better choice.

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