Silver Mountain
1,600 acres, 80 runs above Kellogg. World's longest single-stage gondola, Indy Pass access.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
28 Nov 2026
Closes
18 Apr 2027
Days open
141
Annual snow
25ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Silver Mountain's summit reaches 6,299 feet, dropping 2,198 vertical feet to a base at 4,101 feet across 80 runs spread over 1,600 acres above Kellogg, Idaho. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent advanced, 20 per cent beginner and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 300 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass and Powder Alliance affiliation. Six lifts, including a gondola, one quad chair and two triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two double chairs.
Silver Mountain's defining feature is its gondola, which climbs 3.1 miles directly from the town of Kellogg to the mountain base, the world's longest single-stage gondola ride at close to twenty minutes each way. This unusual base-to-mountain link was built specifically to revive a Silver Valley economy devastated by the decline of mining and logging. The resort's terrain and lift network sit above the gondola's upper terminal at Mountain House.
The ski area first opened in January 1968 as Jackass Ski Bowl on Wardner Peak, later renamed Silverhorn in 1973 following an ownership change. In the mid-1980s, Kellogg city councilman Wayne Ross conceived the idea of a gondola linking the depressed valley floor town directly to an expanded resort, aiming to stimulate the local economy. In December 1987, the US Congress approved 6.4 million US dollars in matching funds toward construction.
In September 1988, the economically struggling town of Kellogg voted by more than 82 per cent to tax itself two million US dollars over twenty years, and Swiss lift manufacturer Von Roll Tramways agreed to guarantee much of the remaining funding. Ground broke for the gondola and base village on 25 April 1989, and the resort was renamed Silver Mountain that summer. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 99 US dollars, with season passes from 349 dollars, reflecting the resort's role as both a ski destination and a community revival project.
2,198ft
Vertical
80
Runs
1,600 acres
Skiable
25ft
Annual snow
Indy / Powder Alliance
Pass
The Terrain
80 runs across 1,600 acres skiable
Silver Mountain above Kellogg offers 80 runs across about 1,600 acres (648 hectares) in the Silver Valley, with a base at 4,100 feet (1,250 m) and a summit at 6,300 feet (1,920 m), roughly 2,200 feet (670 m) of vertical. Intermediates account for 40%, advanced skiers 30%, beginners 20% and experts 10%. Skiers reach the slopes on a 3.1-mile gondola from town, and a quad, two triples and two doubles do the work above Mountain House. The mix gives intermediate skiers plenty of cruising, with enough steeper pitches to keep stronger skiers interested.
Above Mountain House, the quad and triple chairs lead to the top of Kellogg Peak, where steeps, bumps and a number of alternative lines open up toward neighbouring Wardner Peak. The Wardner side, served by a double chair, is known for chutes and mogul runs, and sits close to the original Jackass Ski Bowl area. Chair 2 reaches glades and advanced terrain, while chairs 3 and 4 serve gentler intermediate runs. Silver Mountain suits strong intermediates and advanced skiers wanting varied terrain and short lift lines, and the gondola means beginners can ride to the base without a mountain drive.
Terrain split
80
runs
80 runs across 4 grades
Beginner16 runs · 20%
Intermediate32 runs · 40%
Advanced24 runs · 30%
Expert8 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Silver Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Silver Mountain ran from 21 November 2025 to 19 April 2026, a roughly twenty-one-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 300 inches. This substantial snowfall, combined with the resort's Silver Valley location, gives Silver Mountain a reliable natural season relative to many Idaho resorts of similar size. Season dates can shift slightly depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's varied terrain. The gondola ride itself is a year-round draw for visitors, meaning the resort sees traffic even from those not necessarily skiing, though winter operations centre on the lift-served terrain above Mountain House. Weekday visits tend to be quieter than weekends.
As an Indy Pass and Powder Alliance resort, Silver Mountain draws visiting skiers holding those multi-resort passes in addition to its regional Silver Valley base. The historic mining-town setting of Kellogg adds a distinct cultural dimension to the resort experience beyond the slopes themselves. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation, supported by the resort's indoor waterpark as a non-ski amenity.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift and gondola operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The combination of substantial snowfall and the novelty of the world's longest single-stage gondola ride continues to define the Silver Mountain visitor experience through the season. Kellogg's ongoing economic reliance on the resort, dating to its founding purpose in the late 1980s, remains a backdrop to its operations.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
18 Apr 2027
Closes
141
Days open
25 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Silver Mountain, and where to stay
Silver Mountain rises above the town of Kellogg in the Silver Valley of northern Idaho, with a base elevation of 4,101 feet and a summit at 6,299 feet across a 2,198-foot vertical drop over 1,600 acres. The resort sits just south of Interstate 90 in Shoshone County, a region historically built on mining and logging.
Kellogg itself is the resort's gateway town, connected directly to the mountain by the 3.1-mile gondola that climbs from the town centre to the ski area's base facilities. This direct link means visitors can begin their mountain experience from downtown Kellogg rather than driving to a separate base area, a distinctive arrangement among Idaho resorts. The town's mining heritage remains visible throughout the Silver Valley.
Interstate 90 runs directly through Kellogg, providing straightforward access from both Idaho and neighbouring Washington and Montana. Winter driving conditions on I-90 can include snow and ice during storms, though the route is well maintained given its role as a major interstate corridor. The gondola itself removes the need for a separate winding mountain access road once visitors reach town.
Spokane International Airport, roughly an hour to the west along I-90, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service. This gives Silver Mountain reasonably convenient access for fly-in visitors from the broader Inland Northwest. Most visitors, however, arrive by car along Interstate 90 from Idaho, Washington or Montana before taking the gondola up from Kellogg.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Silver Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Alps Snow Forecast: Up to 64 cm Headed for the High Glaciers as the Snow Line Drops
The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.
20 Oct 2026
Four Dead After Avalanche Near Ski Portillo in Chile
A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.
18 Oct 2026
Europe Ski Resorts Open Now: What Is Skiable in Mid-October 2026
Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.
14 Oct 2026
Zermatt Plans World Cup Downhill Return on the Gornergrat for 2028
Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.
14 Oct 2026
Mt. Rose Begins Snowmaking for the 2026-27 Season at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.
13 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Mt Hutt Invests NZ$12 Million in Base Area, Tripling Its Sun Deck
Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.
11 Oct 2026
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
Silver Mountain Lift System
Silver Mountain runs six lifts above its base village: two double chairs, one quad chair, two triple chairs and a gondola, serving 80 runs across 1,600 acres. The gondola itself is the standout feature, running 3.1 miles from the town of Kellogg to the Mountain House base area, climbing more than 3,400 feet over a journey of close to twenty minutes.
This gondola was purpose-built during the resort's 1989 transformation from Silverhorn into Silver Mountain, funded through a combination of federal matching funds, a Kellogg community self-tax and financing guaranteed by Swiss manufacturer Von Roll Tramways. It remains the world's longest single-stage gondola ride, a distinction that shapes the entire visitor experience from arrival in town to reaching the slopes. The on-mountain lift network of quad, triple and double chairs then distributes skiers across the 1,600-acre terrain above.
The quad and triple chairs provide the main uphill capacity for the mountain's intermediate and advanced terrain, while the double chairs serve additional zones. There is no dedicated beginner surface lift at the summit level, with learning terrain typically accessed via the base facilities near Mountain House. This lift configuration reflects the resort's identity as a gondola-access mountain rather than a conventional base-lodge layout.
Specific recent lift replacement or expansion projects beyond the current gondola-and-six-chair configuration are not confirmed in available resort information. The Indy Pass and Powder Alliance affiliations bring in visiting skiers from partner resorts without requiring additional lift infrastructure. The gondola itself remains the resort's primary calling card among Idaho's Silver Valley attractions.
6lifts across 4 types
1
Gondola
1
Quad Chair
2
Triple Chairs
2
Double Chairs
Silver Mountain lift system
Silver Mountain is served by 6 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Silver Mountain intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.