Silver Mountain Resort rises straight out of Kellogg, and its 3.1-mile gondola, which the resort bills as North America’s longest, starts right in town. That means you don’t have to sleep on the mountain to ski it. You can stay in uptown Kellogg, walk to dinner and brewpubs, and still be at the gondola base in about three minutes.
Jackass Manor was made for exactly that. Ski all day, drive home in less time than it takes to find your goggles, then thaw out in an eight-person hot tub with a robe waiting.
Skiing & riding at Silver Mountain
Silver Mountain spreads across two peaks, Kellogg Peak (6,297 feet) and Wardner Peak, with roughly 1,600 skiable acres, about 2,200 feet of vertical and plenty of tree skiing when the powder stacks up. The resort typically averages around 300 inches of snow a year. Crowds are refreshingly light compared to the big-name resorts, especially midweek.
Opening day depends on Mother Nature. For lift tickets, lessons, rentals and the current snow report, go straight to silvermt.com.
Silver Mountain Gondola
A 3.1-mile ride from the base village in Kellogg up to the Mountain House. Ride it with skis in winter or for the views in summer.
610 Bunker Ave, Kellogg, ID 83837
Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark
Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark, a tropical 84 degrees year-round with a lazy river, slides and a FlowRider. Located at the Morning Star Lodge; check Silver Mountain’s site for current admission rules before you go.
Lookout Pass Ski Area
A friendly, snowy ski area right on the Idaho–Montana line. Easy to pair with Silver Mountain for a two-resort trip.
Why stay in town instead of on the mountain?
Slopeside condos are great for couples. For a family, a ski club or a girls’ trip, a whole home makes a lot more sense: real bedrooms instead of pull-out couches, one big kitchen instead of four kitchenettes, and a single hot tub where everybody can rehash the day together.
Jackass Manor sleeps 11 in two kings, a queen and a five-bed bunk room with extra-long twins that fit adults. There are three full bathrooms, a washer and dryer for wet gear, a covered carport, and a Keurig stocked with coffee and hot cocoa. And when nobody wants to cook, Kellogg’s restaurants and brewery are a short walk away.
A sample ski day from the Manor
7:30 AM: Coffee from the stocked Keurig and breakfast at the island. 8:30 AM: Three-minute drive to the gondola. 4:00 PM: Last run, then home. 4:20 PM: Boots off, robes on, hot tub. 6:30 PM: Walk to dinner uptown or fire up the grill. 9:00 PM: Arcade rematch in the bunk room.
Tips from the Manor
- Book ski weekends and holiday weeks early. They go first.
- Pack a swimsuit. The hot tub is the best part of the day.
- Check silvermt.com for opening day, conditions and ticket deals before you go.
- Kellogg is right on I-90, so winter road access is straightforward. Still, carry traction devices and check Idaho 511.
Questions we get
01How close is Jackass Manor to Silver Mountain?
About a 3-minute drive to the Silver Mountain gondola base village in Kellogg, Idaho.
02Is Jackass Manor good for a ski group?
Yes. It sleeps 11 with real beds for everyone, has three full baths, a washer and dryer for wet gear, a covered carport, and a private hot tub that seats 8. One group of skiers has booked it three years running.
03What other ski areas are near Kellogg?
Lookout Pass Ski Area is about 30 minutes east on I-90 at the Idaho–Montana border.