Get a fall ride in on the Route of the Hiawatha before it closes for the 2025 season Sept. 21 // Photo courtesy of Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
Idaho’s Silver Valley is a fall adventure hub, where crisp mountain air and golden leaves set the stage for everything from biking iconic rail trails to exploring historic mines. This stretch of the Idaho Panhandle offers a perfect mix of outdoor recreation, small-town charm, and history. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of a race, pedaling through tunnels and trestles or along the Coeur d’Alene River, or hiking to alpine lakes to earn that post-hike craft beer, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up the season. Here are nine adventures to inspire your fall trip to North Idaho’s Silver Valley.
Go for a Hike and Check Out Local Craft Breweries
Spend the day hiking one of the many trails in the Bitterroot Mountains above Silver Valley, and then hit up one of the valley’s craft breweries. Take your pick from these favorite Silver Valley–area hikes. Once you’ve worked up a thirst, pay a visit to Wallace’s City Limits Brew Pub, Wallace Brewing, or Radio Brewing in Kellogg.
- Stevens Lake near Lookout Pass: This 4+-mile round-trip hike climbs 1,600 feet and includes some steep sections of trail. It’s considered a challenging hike, but the subalpine lake and mountain views are worth it.
- Blossom Lakes Trail: Heading out from Thompson Pass, the 6-mile round-trip hike to Lower Blossom Lake climbs just over 1,100 feet, making it a moderate-to-difficult trek. The lush forest can make for great fall colors if you time it right.
- Revett Lake: This 4-mile round-trip hike into the high country climbs 500 feet in elevation from the trailhead at Thompson Pass but is considered an intermediate hike on a well-worn trail that’s great for hikers of all ages and abilities. Highlights include the beautiful lake, towering Granite Peak, and a waterfall.
- Pulaski Tunnel Trail: A little over a mile from downtown Wallace, the Pulaski Tunnel Interpretive Trail—the site where Ed Pulaski found his crew of 45 men trapped and surrounded by the August 1910 wildfire—is a 4-mile round-trip hike with historical signs. With around 800 feet of elevation gain, this hike is rated as an easy-to-moderate trail.
Riding the NorPac Trail near Lookout Pass. Photos courtesy of Carol Corbin
Explore Lesser‑known Idaho Panhandle Rail Trails by Bike
If you are looking for a new rail-trail route to ride this fall, spend a few days exploring the Old Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Northern Pacific (NorPac) Trail, or the Route of the Olympian. These routes offer quiet gravel or mixed‑surface rides through forest and mountains and are best ridden on mountain or gravel bikes. Find routes and other information at Friendsofcdatrails.org.
Photo courtesy of the Historic Wallace Chamber
Ride the Sierra Silver Mine Trolley and Tour a Real Mine in Wallace, Idaho
Ride an open‑air trolley through Wallace’s historic district up to the Sierra Silver Mine. Retired miners lead you into a sideways cut in the mountain. The tour typically runs through mid-October.
Bike the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
The 73‑mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes unfurls across evergreen forest, autumnal wetlands, and river corridors, offering a quiet, wildlife‑rich ride through fall color. You can roll directly from your Wallace lodging, pedaling east toward Mullan or west through Silver Valley. Out‑and‑back rides are popular, or you can arrange a shuttle. Deer, elk, swans, moose and other wildlife are often spotted along the way.
Take a Walking Tour of Wallace, Idaho Mining Museums and Historic Sites
Wallace, Idaho, has multiple museums and historic sites in town that you can explore on foot, as well as a walking tour of the many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Museums include the Mine Heritage Exhibition, Northern Pacific Depot Museum, Barnard-Stockbridge Museum and Wallace District Mining Museum.
Moose along the Coeur d’Alene River. Photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck
Tour the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, Idaho
Step back into Idaho’s mining past with a visit to the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, the first hard-rock gold mine in Idaho that opened in the 1880s. After being abandoned for nearly a century, the mine was opened to the public for guided underground tours. Visitors will see veins of gold and other minerals still visible in the rock, learn about early hard-rock mining methods, and hear the mine’s story. Kids especially enjoy the chance to pan for gold and gems at the end of the tour. Tours typically run through the end of October.
Ride the Route of the Hiawatha
This stellar 15‑mile rail‑to‑trail ride includes seven sky‑high trestles, 10 tunnels, and a spectacular journey under the Bitterroot Mountains via the 1.66‑mile Taft Tunnel. It is typically open through late September. Lookout Pass offers trail passes, bike and gear rentals, and shuttles to simplify logistics so that you can focus on riding this historic route.
Scenic gondola rides run into September. Photo courtesy of Silver Mountain Resort
Take a Scenic Gondola Ride at Silver Mountain Resort
Silver Mountain offers the longest gondola ride in North America. Just off I-90 in Kellogg, the scenic ride travels over three miles as it climbs 3,000 feet up the mountain to the Mountain House Lodge. The ride takes 20 to 30 minutes each way, and you’ll want to plan time for a hike and fall huckleberry picking. The gondola runs on a few weekends in September before closing down for the season.
For more trip planning ideas and information including lodging options in North Idaho’s Silver Valley, visit the Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Run the Jackass Half Marathon and 5k on Oct. 4
The Jackass Half Marathon and 5k Race offers a scenic run or walk along the Coeur d’Alene River on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Both courses are point-to-point and mostly downhill between Wallace and Kellogg. The 2025 half marathon and 5K only had a few spots left as of early September but there were spots available for the kids’ race. This is the perfect race for beginners or casual joggers or walkers and a fast course for competitive runners.
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