Montana · Cross-country skiing

Downey's Butte

0.2 mi
round trip
77 ft
climb
6,382 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Downey's Butte open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Downey's Butte, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Bozeman Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Downey's Butte is a short, out-and-back cross-country ski route in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.1 mile, and the high point sits at 6,382 feet. The total elevation gain is 77 feet, and the round trip covers about 0.38 miles. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bozeman show January highs around 34°F with lows near 15°F and about nine snow days. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet below the butte, so temperatures up high run cooler. Several other cross-country ski routes lie within a tenth of a mile, including Montagne's Meander, Lookout Trail and Going Out. Climbers can find Lower Replica and Wolverine Bowl about 2 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Downey's Butte

    Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      34° / 15°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 17°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      46° / 24°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      54° / 30°

      13 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      63° / 39°

      15 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      72° / 46°

      15 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 52°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 50°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 42°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      57° / 32°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    11. Nov

      42° / 22°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    12. Dec

      33° / 14°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT, 14 mi away at 4,913 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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