The Sauna Is Here — And It Was Worth the Wait!

Back in June, we shared a vision with you: to create something truly special on the mountain—a Montana wood-fired sauna that would capture the wild beauty of the Bitterroot Valley while bringing people together in warmth, restoration, and connection. That vision has officially come to life.

A Montana Wood-Fired Sauna, Built in the Bitterroot Valley

We are thrilled to unveil our new custom 8-person, wood-fired Finnish sauna at Downing Mountain Lodge. Local craftsmen built the sauna right here in the Bitterroot Valley using locally milled Bitterroot River Cottonwood. They designed it in the round, just like the lodge. Today, it sits on our new western white larch deck overlooking the valley below.

Authentic Finnish Heat at 5,500 Feet

At its heart is a Finnish IKI wood-fired sauna stove, bringing the deep, enveloping heat “Löyly” of a traditional Finnish sauna to our little piece of the Montana mountains.

It’s All in the Details

And we thought about the little details, too. A covered breezeway connects the sauna and cedar hot tub. As a result, guests have a sheltered place to transition between the two, away from the mountain snow and wind. A custom lumber sitting bench gives you a spot to kick off your Crocs, while hooks keep robes, clothes, and towels dry and protected from the elements. It’s small details that make the whole sauna experience feel that much more comfortable, especially on a snowy winter day at 5,500 feet.

Après-ski just got a major upgrade!

We are absolutely in love with how it turned out, and we can’t wait for you to fire it up!