Mountain Recreation
in northern Idaho's beautiful Silver Valley

This page offers a taste of things to do within an hour's drive from the Silver Valley... and will always be under construction. In the first four cases, the first link takes you to photos on this page, the second to a larger presentation at wallace-id.com, and the third to the corporate website, opening in a separate window. mountain biking on the The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Also see the Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails website mountain biking on the The Route of the Hiawatha Also see the Lookout Pass Hiawatha website alpine skiing on Silver Mountain Also see the Silver Mountain Resort website alpine skiing at Lookout Pass Also see the Lookout Pass Ski Area website cross-country skiing on the Idaho/Montana Border   rafting on the North Fork kayaking on the St. Joe climbing Stevens Peak exploring the St. Regis Lake Basin camping beside high mountain lakes snowmobiling and four-wheeling boating on Lake Coeur d'Alene near Harrison

current weather on Lookout Pass

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes bike path follows the Union Pacific Railroad's right-of-way 72 miles from Mullan to Plummer. This section presents some of the photos taken along the way. For more information and photos, you should also check out the large Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails website.
The smooth new path is easy traveling for those on foot, bikes, or roller blades.	All the railroad bridges have been resurfaced for bikes.
Tranquil wetlands lie between the Trail and the Coeur d'Alene River.	Sometimes the view from a railroad bridge makes you pause.
The small treasures you encounter include beaver homes.	The large panoramas are breathtaking, especially as dusk approaches.
Lake Coeur d'Alene is naturally a high point of the adventure.	Most of the trail is far away from habitation, giving you both solitude and exercise. Pack a lunch.

The Route of the Hiawatha is a scenic section of abandoned rail-bed from the Milwaukee Road that The Taft Tunnel Preservation Society and the U.S. Forest Service have turned into a world class non-motorized trail. More photos from this trip are presented as a slide show. Opening the trail map in a separate window may help visualize the adventure.
New in the 2001 season, the East Portal of the Taft Tunnel is located 2¼ miles south of Interstate 90 at Montana Exit 5 ("Taft").	The photographers, Tim and Julie, realize that "the light at the end of the tunnel" is VERY far away indeed! 1.8 miles to be exact.
After riding forever, the end appears to be close... but then everything is so disorientating... and cool. As in: 50° on an 80° day.	The Taft Tunnel is also known as The St. Paul Pass Tunnel. This West Portal is also known as Roland, Idaho: once a railroad town, now a shuttle stop.
Looking across to the Clear Creek headwaters of the North Fork of the St. Joe River, you can see the 760 foot long Clear Creek Trestle in midview.	Small Creek Trestle (515 feet long, 120 feet high) and the six other trestles on the bike trail were built at enormous expense between 1906 and 1909.
Montana lies over the Bitterroot Divide above Kelly Creek Trestle (850 feet long, 230 feet high), which is near an extinct railroad town called Adair.	Riding west from Clear Creek Trestle, it is about five miles down Loop Creek to the bottom trailhead and shuttle stop called Pearson. This is just off Forest Highway 456 that connects Wallace and Avery.
Clear Creek Trestle is really not that scary... until you decide to look 220 feet straight down to the nearest road.	However, if you look southwest from Clear Creek Trestle, you see just another reason why the Route of the Hiawatha may be the most scenic mountain bike trail in the world.

Silver Mountain Ski and Recreation Area lies above the towns of Wardner and Kellogg and is accessed by gondola from I-90, in the middle section of the Silver Valley. The resort's snow report is updated every day during ski season by 7 AM PST.
Looking down to where the gondola starts its 19 minute journey, 3 blocks from I-90 in Kellogg	Silver Mountain is characterized by deep powder, few people, and awesome views.
Silver Mountain is an ideal place to learn skiing or snowboarding because beginners and experts are separated by the terrain.	Looking north over the Silver Valley, past the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, toward the Cabinet Range and Canada.
Silver Mountain is famous for its DEEP powder, especially in the "Hike and Ski" EXPERT-ONLY area on the back side of Mt. Wardner.	Typical powder day at Silver Mountain, looking at Mt. Wardner's expert terrain... but the REALLY DEEP POWDER is on the back side! A reward for those tough enough to hike to the summit.
Looking east past Big Creek and Mt. Stevens toward Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area and Montana in the distance. Skiing and Snowboarding doesn't get better than in the Silver Valley!	Looking south from the top of Silver Mountain one can see the Saint Joe River Valley in the distance. This wild and scenic river basin is paradise to fishers and other outdoor enthusiasts from spring to fall.
Racing downhill all day long at Silver Mountain without the benefit of lift line intermissions can be exhausting as well as exhilarating. Good thing your lodging in historic Wallace is only a dozen miles away.	This view to the east shows Mt. Stevens (6838') in the distance and East Ridge to the left, with the Big Creek drainage in mid range. The proposed new quads will go from the valley floor to the top of East Ridge. Straight down is "South of the Border" (OUT OF BOUNDS... for now).

Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area lies on the Idaho-Montana border just off I-90, at the east end of the Silver Valley. A 50 acre expansion of the ski area called Buzzards Valley happened in 1998. This featured a radical Snowboard Terrain Park, now called B-52. For the 2001/02 season, a new advanced beginner run named Hoot Owl was cut into this timbered area. Selective logging has subsequently created the Lucky Friday and Last Chance Glades. A new lift serving five long intermediate and expert runs was added for the 2003/04 season. These runs face the spectacular St. Regis Lakes Basin. The resort's snow report is updated Thursday thru Monday by 7 AM PST.
The lodge at Lookout Pass straddles the border just off Interstate 90.	Lookout Pass is characterized by deep powder and few people.
Lookout Pass is an ideal place for kids to learn to ski. Their "Free Ski School" for local kids has been in operation for over 50 years.	Looking north toward Sunset Peak and the Glidden Lakes backcountry on the other side of ridge.
Lookout Pass is famous for its DEEP powder. If almost a foot of light powder falls at Silver Mountain, expect more than foot at Lookout Pass.	Typical day in March at Lookout Pass.
Looking east to Montana from Lookout Pass with Beacon Mountain on the left... a great place to cross-country ski.	Looking south from the top of Lookout Pass one can see the start of the St. Regis Lake Basin. A wondrous roadless place. Things look different now, however, as Buzzards Valley, now called Claim Jumper and featuring a radical Snowboard Terrain Park with nine huge hits, was added for the 1998/99 season.
Racing downhill toward the lodge with no fear of running into anyone is the normal experience at Lookout.	Much of the 50 acre Buzzards Valley expansion in 1998 added expert tree skiing and boarding to the area's charm. A wide beginner run, Hoot Owl, was cut through part of this area for the 2001/02 season, but the best tree ski/boarding areas remain for the adventurous.

Cross Country Skiing on the Idaho-Montana border, at the east end of the Silver Valley
The trip up Beacon Mountain begins at Lookout Pass, I-90, Exit 0, across from the ski area.	Soon Silver Mountain Ski Area can be seen in the distance.
Looking up at the untracked March powder on Beacon Mountain.	Looking back at Lookout Pass Ski Area from Beacon Mountain.
Looking across to Sunset Peak from the top of Beacon Mountain.	The Mullan weather station is at the top of Beacon Mountain. This photo was taken in 1993, before it was completely built.