Chalet in Hamilton, Mt

Downing Mountain Lodge

Downing Mountain Lodge

Photo gallery for Downing Mountain Lodge

The Living Room
The Deck below Lodge
Dawn at Downing Mountain Lodge
The Downing Mountain Lodge- January
Entry area

Overview of Downing Mountain Lodge

4.8 out of 5 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 122200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Hot Tub
  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
  • Barbecue grill
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

Hamilton, Mt
  • Popular LocationBitterroot Valley1 min walk
  • Popular LocationBitterroot River10 min drive
  • Popular LocationBitterroot Health - Daly Hospital11 min drive
  • AirportMissoula, MT (MSO-Missoula Intl.)87 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

+8
7 Twin Beds, 1 Queen Bed, 3 Double Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony

About this property

Downing Mountain Lodge

Located 2,000' above the Bitterroot Valley, the Downing Mountain Lodge is a log chalet built in the round on a single level. With one hundred mile views and end of the road privacy, the rustic lodge built in the 1970's hosts all types of recreationists, solitude seekers, and nature lovers all year round. Located in a remote mountainous setting, the lodge is for hearty folk looking for a beautiful, adventurous, and rustic base camp including a hot tub and sauna. The Downing Mountain Lodge is a 2,500 square foot, log yurt built into the Bitterroot Mountains 7 road miles west of the town of Hamilton, Montana. With total privacy, the forested mountainside, hiking, wildflowers,  huckleberry picking, backcountry skiing, amazing views, and comfortable amenities, the Downing Mountain Lodge is a one of a kind, unique mountainside retreat for all your adventure, events, and relaxation needs. With an outside barbecue deck overlooking the valley, the front lawn featuring a hot tub, a wood fired sauna in the stone hut outside the backdoor, a great room centered by a massive stone fireplace, dining tables and room for up to fifty guests for your catered event, and a foosball table, guitar and piano, bring the whole party and the dog! Located only twenty minutes from Hamilton, with complete privacy, and three miles from the nearest neighbor, you will feel relaxed and above it all during your visit. The lodge is open year round for guests with winter time backcountry skiing the main activity and summertime fishing, hiking, gatherings, and relaxing. With a mandatory drive on a three mile, dirt, forested mountain road, at times graced by carpets of wildflowers or punctuated by deer, elk, fox, grouse, moose, black bears, bobcats, and coyotes and wolves and mountain lions, the Lodge is NOT for everyone. For those seeking solitude with their group, an expansive retreat, and comfortably rustic amenities, you will love the lodge. The lodge is primarily heated by burning wood and guests will have the opportunity to split their own firewood and start and maintain the fires in the woodstove and fireplace. A well stocked utilitarian commercial kitchen is not boutique, communal bathrooms with two toilets and one inside shower, and an outside hot tub and sauna round out the lodge's amenities and  welcome you to an authentic Montana nature retreat where you will be able to live again close to Earth and with your loved ones.  The entire lodge and 100 acre property with thousands of Forest Service mountainside acres of forest, wildlife, wildflowers in May and June and huckleberries in July and August is available exclusively to our guests. Backcountry powder skiing from December through March and spring corn skiing in April and May.  Accessible via a dirt, switchbacking, mountain road, the roadway has a couple of gates along its 3 mile approach and the lodge is locked with a combination lock.  Guests are able to call on me for help with lodge facilities, recreation ideas, dining options, and guide services for backcountry skiing, fishing, horse riding, river trips, sailing trips, mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking.  We are three miles beyond the last home on Grubstake Road, 7 miles by road from downtown Hamilton. The neighborhood includes grouse, deer, elk, bear, moose, wildflowers, huckleberries, hiking trails, a forest of green trees, two spring creeks, a burnt forest, and wind and sunshine.  As a remote wilderness lodge, guests will want their own car to access the lodge and surrounding areas. The access driveway is dirt, 3 miles long, and in fairly good condition. https://youtu.be/vs7GCXQq6ek

Property manager

JLehrman

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Amenities

Hot Tub
Kitchen
Pet friendly
Outdoor Space
Barbecue grill
Mountain view

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

Events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

About the neighborhood

Hamilton

Located in Hamilton, this chalet is in a rural area. Blodgett Creek Trailhead and Sawtooth Trailhead are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Bitterroot Valley and Bitterroot River.

What's nearby

  • Bitterroot Valley - 1 min walk
  • Bitterroot River - 10 min drive
  • Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital - 11 min drive
  • Daly Mansion - 15 min drive
  • Blodgett Creek Trailhead - 21 min drive

Getting around

  • Missoula Intl. Airport (MSO) - 88 min drive

Restaurants

  • Higherground Brewing Company - 13 min drive
  • Brewskies - 13 min drive
  • McDonald's - 13 min drive
  • Bitter Root Brewing - 12 min drive
  • River Rising - 12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Downing Mountain Lodge pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Downing Mountain Lodge?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Downing Mountain Lodge?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Downing Mountain Lodge located?

Situated in a rural location, this chalet is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Bitterroot Valley and within 6 mi (10 km) of Bitterroot River and Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital. Blodgett Creek Trailhead and Daly Mansion are also within 9 mi (15 km).

Reviews

4.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 5 - Excellent. 34 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 3 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 3 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews" "

3.5/5

Cleanliness

5/5

Check-in

4.7/5

Communication

5/5

Location

4.5/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Richard W., ALEXANDRIA

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Great stay at the top of Montanta
Really loved the stay on Downing Mountain. The yurt has great gathering areas both in the large 'great room' or the huge deck, both of which provide excellent view of Hamilton and the valley below. It is a great launch point to enjoy hiking (either straight up the mountain or other trail heads nearby), fishing or just relaxing on the river.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

5/5 Excellent

Kara T., Stevensville, MT

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fireworks view
For the 2nd summer, we had a great time at the Lodge. We added a few people since our stay last year, and our family group loved the character/ambiance and views at DML. Of course we hope to return again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

5/5 Excellent

Ben M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fly fishing trip
Loved the location and the house. My only request because we were there when it was really hot is to get a window or wall A/C put in. The temps were really hot when we were at the property. Towels were hard and scratchy so they could maybe just upgrade to new towels. Overall I would highly recommend and loved the property. Would be interested to stay in the winter as I think it would be epic for backcountry skiing!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

5/5 Excellent

Tony K., Wayzata, Minnesota USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing property that is very unique. Not the Rotz but has a better view and much more authentic!
Downing Mountain lodge is truly a special property with a history, view, access and a setting that is in a class of its own. Feel like you’re in a James Bond film at night looking down on the lights of the valley through the large panoramic windows of the 16 sided log structure. Cooking is a breeze with the commercial stove and griddle. Pancakes, potatoes and bacon all going at once! As said it is not the Ritz. The lodge isn’t new, it gets used by enthusiasts who use it hard, and requires a little more effort than staying at a corporate chain hotel. However, it is authentic and a place we’ll remember. I would gladly return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

5/5 Excellent

Erik S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great get away and perfect Covid remote work place. Loved the view and everything about it!
From the view to chopping firewood for the fireplace, playing family music with the instruments and cooking in a restaurant kitchen, it was a great experience we will always remember fondly.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020

About the host

Hosted by JLehrman

Host profile image
I purchased the property in July 2012 after managing the lodge as a destination backcountry ski lodge since 2008 and caretaking the facility since 1998. It had always been my dream to purchase the lodge and operate it as a year round, adventure lodging and events destination. In 2012 everything came together to purchase and move forward with this dream. I studied at the University of Montana in the Forestry School for Wildlife Biology and decided to stay in Montana for the wealth of outdoor and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Why they chose this property

I chose to buy this property because it is the one-of-a-kind, unique mountain retreat in the Bitterroot Range. Located at 5,550 feet elevation it is the highest elevation home in the Bitterroot Mountains. Its proximity to great backcountry ski terrain, hiking, and to the town of Hamilton, where I live, make it the perfect year round private recreation/relaxation destination. Nowhere else nearby is there a private access road to high elevation that is adjacent to high quality, pristine, ski and hiking terrain on the Forest Service.

What makes this property unique

I fell in love with the property over the years caretaking for the owner during the winter and then opening and operating the Downing Mountain Lodge during the winter. After four successful years managing the winter lodge and meeting all the great people who come from all over the country for backcountry skiing, I knew this was a genuinely great lodge business that satisfied many different people and families and brought out the best in people in a most authentic of backcountry experiences. With the lodge accessible to wheeled vehicles during the summer, and desirable to more than backcountry skiers, I knew taking the leap into ownership and year round adventure lodging and consulting would be a great way to pursue my career goals and offer guests the year round benefits of this unique log lodge in its unique location.

Languages:

English, French, Spanish
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