Getting to Downing Mountain Lodge is quite straightforward. From Hamilton, drive west on Main Street towards the Bitterroot Mountains. Continue across the Bitterroot River, up the hill on Canyon Creek Road passed the cemetery on the left. Make a left at the three-way intersection on the West Side Road.

After driving a mile south, bear right on Owings Creek Road just before the bridge over Sawtooth Creek. Drive up the hill, past a long row of mailboxes on your left, and into the forest and ascend another hill to a veering right hand turn onto Grubstake Road. In the summer, continue to the end of Grubstake Road to Downing Mountain Lodge another three miles.

In the winter at this flat section of road just passed the Grubstake Road sign is a good place to chain up if the road is icy. Chains are recommended, as the road is steep and often slick. Bear left through the wooden fence and up the Grubstake Road for another 1.5 miles to Switchback 11. This is the parking area available to the lodge for winter parking; along the roadway for a 100 yards before and after Switchback 11 are the only locations to park. In the winter, if you cannot reach the parking at Switchback 11, please stage your vehicle in Hamilton at the public parking one block north of the Post Office on 4th and Main. Below Switchback 11 are private residences and private property. Please stay on the roadway while accessing the lodge facilities. If you need a shuttle to the lodge during the summer or winter please call us to arrange for one.

From the staging/parking area at Switchback 11, it is a 1.5 mile and 700 vertical foot ski or walk to the lodge. You have arrived! Ski, eat, be merry! Welcome to Downing Mountain Lodge.

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