The Perfect Silver Mountain Ski Weekend: A Kellogg Game Plan

Ski season in the Silver Valley is the best-kept secret in the Inland Northwest. Silver Mountain gets serious snow, the lift lines are shorter than at the big-name resorts, and the town at the bottom of the gondola is full of cozy bars and cheap eats. Here’s how we’d plan your weekend if you stayed with us.

Why Silver Mountain?

• Two peaks, real terrain. Silver Mountain spreads across Kellogg Peak and Wardner Peak, with around 1,600 skiable acres, groomers for the cruisers and tree skiing for the powder hounds.
• A gondola that starts in town. The 3.1-mile gondola leaves from the base village in Kellogg, so you can stay in town instead of on the mountain. From Jackass Manor it’s about a three-minute drive.
• Bonus mountain nearby. Lookout Pass sits on the Idaho–Montana line about 30 minutes east, if your crew wants to ski two resorts in one trip.

Season dates depend on Mother Nature, so check Silver Mountain’s website for opening day, lift tickets and conditions before you book.

Friday: Roll in, settle down

Check-in at the Manor is after 4 PM, and the keypad means you won’t be waiting on anybody. Drop the bags, claim beds (the kids will head straight for the bunk room and its arcade cabinet), and walk into uptown Kellogg for dinner. Radio Brewing on Main Street brews its own beer and serves a full menu, and Uphill Grill & Taphouse on McKinley is a crowd-pleaser for big groups.

Back at the house, fire up the hot tub so it’s steaming by the time the cocoa’s ready. The Keurig is stocked.

Saturday: First chair, then the hot tub

Make a quick breakfast in the chef’s kitchen, or grab a bagel and an espresso at The Beanery on Railroad Avenue. Then it’s three minutes to the gondola.

After the lifts close, the routine is sacred: boots off at the door, robes on, hot tub with seats for eight. Sore legs, cold drinks, steam rising into the dark. Every ski-trip review we get mentions this part.

“Hot tub is great after a long day on the mountain.” — Jordan, on her girls’ ski trip’s third year at the Manor

Cook a big family dinner (there’s a gas grill outside and a dining table that stretches to seat ten), or let somebody else do the dishes at a local spot.

Sunday: Waterpark or one more run

If the legs are toast, take the kids to Silver Rapids, Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark, kept at a tropical 84 degrees at the Morning Star Lodge by the gondola. Check Silver Mountain’s site for current ticket rules before you go. If the legs are fine, there’s always one more run. Check-out is 11 AM.

What to pack

• Ski gear, plus a swimsuit for the hot tub (non-negotiable)
• Layers for the gondola ride and the mountaintop
• Slippers. The house is warm, but the floors are floors.
• Snacks for the drive. Kellogg is about 45 minutes from Coeur d’Alene and about 1 hour 20 minutes from Spokane International Airport.

We supply the rest: towels, robes, linens, a fully stocked kitchen, laundry, games and wifi.

Book early for powder season

Ski weekends and holiday weeks go first. If you’ve got a crew of up to 11 and a date in mind, check availability on Airbnb or VRBO and lock it in. For more ideas, read our Silver Mountain lodging guide.