Shoshone County: Silver Valley, Mining History and Outdoor Experiences
Accommodation in Shoshone County
Shoshone County combines the distinctive mining history of Silver Valley with a variety of experiences in the mountains. The Interstate 90 corridor is also known as Silver Valley, providing a clearly recognizable thematic setting for a trip combining winter sports, historic places, museums and long trails through the landscape.
Winter Sports and Mountain Experiences
An important destination is Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg. It is located directly on Interstate 90. Skiing is offered there during the winter months, while lift-assisted mountain biking is available in summer. The gondola travels 3.1 miles from Kellogg to Mountain House, making the ride itself a notable part of the resort experience.
Lookout Pass is also among the region’s documented winter sports offerings. Group and private lessons in skiing or snowboarding are available there for all ages and skill levels. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between a stay focused on skiing, summer mountain biking, or a combination of mountain activities and culture.
Church History and Mining as Special Excursion Destinations
Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park presents Idaho’s oldest building. The Mission of the Sacred Heart was built between 1850 and 1853 by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The park includes the Sacred Heart Mission Church, a restored Parish House and a historic cemetery. Rangers offer tours of the historic church. The visitor center also features the exhibition “Sacred Encounters: Father De Smet & the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West.”
The mining history can be experienced in several different ways. At the Sierra Silver Mine Tour, a retired miner leads visitors through a real silver mine. The tour includes transportation to and from the mine in a classic streetcar as well as a narrated tour of Historic Wallace. In Kellogg, the Crystal Gold Mine lies 900 feet underground. The guided underground tour explains historic hand-drilling methods and the exploration of quartz veins using methods from the 1880s. Gold panning and the tools required for it are also offered.
Museums and Historic Places in Mullan and Wallace
The Captain John Mullan Museum is located in the former Liberty Theater in Mullan. It displays historic furnishings, clothing, photographs, newspapers and mining artifacts, as well as memorabilia from local schools, sports, fire departments and drugstores. The museum also includes a section of the tree into which John Mullan carved an inscription at Fourth of July Pass.
In Wallace, several independent discoveries are concentrated in one place: the Historic Wallace Photo Museum presents exhibition modules on snow avalanches, famous women, parade cars and floats, underground mining and portraits. The Wallace District Mining Museum and the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum are additional visitor attractions. The Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum presents the Bunker Hill Mine & Smelter complex. The Center of the Universe is located at the corner of Bank Street and Sixth Street.
Trails, Tunnels and Landscapes
Those who want to add activity to their trip will find a variety of routes with distinctly different characteristics. The 73-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes crosses the Idaho Panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. Its central section follows the Coeur d’Alene River and passes fifteen small lakes and wetlands.
The Route of the Hiawatha is a former railway line that has been converted into a 15-mile downhill cycling and hiking trail. It includes ten tunnels, including the 1.6-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel, as well as seven high trestle bridges. Shuttle buses take users and their bicycles back up to the starting point. The two-mile Pulaski Tunnel Trail leads to a viewpoint opposite the Nicholson mine adit on the other side of the creek.
Further Regional Discoveries
Silver Valley provides access points to more than 1,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, from Kingston to Mullan. During the warmer months, many of these trails provide access to backcountry hikes, camping and fishing. The mountains along the trails are home to 40 alpine lakes. In addition, Silver Streak Zip Line in Wallace offers a 1,200-foot tandem zip line for riding in parallel.
Smaller historic destinations also add to the picture of the region: Burke Ghost Town and Historical Mine Site is located north of Wallace in Silver Valley. Historic Avery Train Depot Museum and Community Center is a historic visitor attraction in Avery. The Sprag Pole Museum in Murray was established in 1933, when Walt Almquist purchased the Murray building.
It is therefore worthwhile to first determine the type of trip you want when choosing your accommodation. A vacation rental in Shoshone County can be a suitable starting point if you want to combine mountain activities, museums, historic places and trails in one trip. Then check whether Kellogg, Mullan or Wallace is the most interesting location for your plans.
For the overarching travel overview: Idaho.
More Destinations
More places within the same destination:
