Shoshone County: Mining History and Trails

The Interstate 90 corridor through Shoshone County is also known as the Silver Valley. In Kellogg, Silver Mountain Resort is located right off Interstate 90. In winter, it offers skiing; in summer, lift-served mountain biking. The gondola travels 3.1 miles from Kellogg to Mountain House. Seasonal activities change, while the same starting point remains appealing for different kinds of trip plans.

Mining and Mountain Activities

Lookout Pass also offers options for different ages and skill levels, including group and private skiing or snowboarding lessons. Programs may change, so it’s worth checking before making plans. At the Sierra Silver Mine Tour, a retired miner leads visitors through a real silver mine. The tour includes round-trip transportation to the mine in a classic streetcar and a narrated tour of Historic Wallace. Since schedules may change, check current tour times before planning your visit.

The Crystal Gold Mine is located in Kellogg, Idaho, 900 feet underground. Its guided underground tour explains historic hand-drilling methods and the exploration of quartz veins using methods from the 1880s. Gold panning is also offered, with the necessary tools provided. Since availability may change, it’s a good idea to check what’s offered before your visit. Unlike the streetcar and mine tour, the focus here is on the history of underground work.

Church History and Museums

Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park showcases 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; check availability before your visit. The visitor center features the “Sacred Encounters: Father De Smet & the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West” exhibit.

The Captain John Mullan Museum in Mullan is housed in the former Liberty Theater. Exhibits include historic furnishings and clothing, photographs, newspapers, and mining artifacts, as well as memorabilia from local schools, sports, fire departments, and drugstores. A notable artifact is a piece of the tree on which John Mullan carved an inscription at Fourth of July Pass. The Sprag Pole Museum in Murray was established in 1933, when Walt Almquist bought the Murray building.

In Wallace, the Historic Wallace Photo Museum features exhibits on subjects including snow avalanches, famous women, parade cars and floats, underground mining, and portraits. The Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum showcases the Bunker Hill Mine & Smelter complex. Other visitor attractions in Wallace include the Wallace District Mining Museum and the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum. North of Wallace in the Silver Valley is the historic Burke Ghost Town and Historical Mine Site. The Historic Avery Train Depot Museum and Community Center is located in Avery in the Silver Valley. The Center of the Universe is at the corner of Bank Street and Sixth Street in Wallace.

Trails and Seasonal Outdoor Experiences

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a 73-mile paved trail crossing 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 offers a different kind of route: the former railroad line has been converted into a 15-mile downhill biking 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 trail users and their bikes back uphill to the starting point. The two trails therefore differ in length, route, and features.

In the Silver Valley, snowmobile trails offer more than 1,000 miles of groomed routes, with access points from Kingston to Mullan. Conditions and grooming are seasonal. In warmer months, many of these routes also provide access to backcountry hiking, camping, and fishing. Choose a hotel location based on the destinations that shape your trip.

Explore more destinations: Kellogg, Wallace, Mullan, Boundary County, Benewah County, Canyon, Franklin County, Fremont.

For the broader travel overview: Idaho.