Silver Mountain’s base village is located 1/4 mile off I-90 at Exit 49. The world’s longest gondola operates summer and winter. It stretches 3.1 miles and rises 3,400 feet to the upper terminal where you can access views from Kellogg Peak into Canada, Montana and Washington. Recent expansions surrounding the year ’round recreation at Silver Mountain includes upscale condominiums, a golf course and indoor water park.
Also located in Kellogg (population 2,236) is Dave Smith Motors, one of the largest GM dealers in the world.
The Silver Valley
“Silver Valley” refers to the mining communities, 14 in all, tucked neatly in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains between Fourth of July Pass, just east of Coeur d’Alene and Lookout Pass on the Idaho/Montana border. Shoshone County is commonly referred to as the Silver Valley due to its mining history. The Silver Valley is the most famous producing silver mining area in the world with 1.2 billion ounces mined since 1884. Gold, copper, lead, zinc and rare crystal found under ground are also mined. The timber industry is also an important part of the livelihood and history of Shoshone County.
Kellogg is intersected by I-90 and lies just 11 miles west of Wallace. These two towns are the foundation of a collection of tough and ready communities that trace their genesis to the boom days of mining in Idaho.