Surrounded by the Selkirk Mountains, the creek is a tributary of Lake Revelstoke, part of the Columbia River.

[13] In fall 1984, flooding of the Revelstoke Dam reservoir began,[14] which would submerge the former creek mouth and community.

The gradual creation of the 8-kilometre (5 mi) arm eroded some of the sandy and silty material making up the creek banks.

[16] During the Big Bend Gold Rush, steamboats ran from Little Dalles to Downie Creek or LaPorte.

[22] South of the creek, only a rough trail extending 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Revelstoke existed by 1891.

[23] When warranted, freight was carried by boat from Revelstoke and reloaded at the creek for the northward leg using George LaForme's pack train,[24] which operated 1889–1905.

[2] By 1908, Five-Mile Landing was the departure point,[27] while Downie Creek remained the northern terminus[28] until 1915.

[30] The gravelled Big Bend Highway northward from Revelstoke reached the creek in 1930[31] and the Goldstream River in 1931.

[32] Downie Creek was one of the few places along this highway where a break in the trees provided views of the mountains and the Columbia, which was 150 metres (500 ft) across at this location.

[40] Months later, high water cut into the north bank, requiring rock fill and additional piles to prevent the loss of the bridge.

[53] About this time, the expectation was that a townsite would soon develop, because the place was the northern terminus of steamer navigation on the Columbia.

[64] The excellent soil was expected to produce root vegetables to competitively supply the Revelstoke market.

[72] In 1896, the province built a trail from Albert Canyon to the headwaters of Downie Creek to access several claims, including the Waverley.

[74] A 3-kilometre (2 mi) trail linked to the Tangier claim, but a narrow-gauge railway line from Albert Canyon was under consideration.

[76] A revised railway route was north from Albert Canyon, northwest along Downie Creek, and south to Revelstoke.

[84] However, when Walters Investment Co. purchased the mine properties in 1921, the company built 13 kilometres (8 mi) of wagon road to Albert Canyon.