Local's Day returns to Silver Mountain

Silver Mountain will celebrate Local’s Day on Sunday, offering Silver Valley residents a chance to ride the gondola for free.

Held annually in September, Local’s Day is Silver Mountain’s way of giving back to the community. The gondola, which opened in summer 1990, has played a key role in revitalizing the Silver Valley as a tourist destination following the closure of the mines in the 1980s, a press release said.

At the summit, guests will find hiking and mountain bike trails, a restaurant, a bounce house and huckleberry bushes. Scenic rides on Chair 3 are also included with the gondola ticket.

Events manager Gus Colburn encourages visitors to take advantage of the chairlift. 

“Chair 3 is our summer chairlift, with great open-air views of the valley. Hop off at the bottom to hike, or just stay on and ride the full circle,” he said. Chairlift rides are included at no extra cost.

Two hiking trails are accessible from the top of the mountain. Moose Knuckle, a moderate 2-mile out-and-back trail with 300 feet of elevation gain, begins at the bottom of Chair 3 and turns around at Picnic Rock. The Kellogg Peak trail, which starts and ends at the mountain house, is a 3.9-mile round trip with 870 feet of elevation gain and leads to a Forest Service fire lookout.

Guests won’t leave empty-handed — Silver Mountain will provide free stickers and coupons for Noah’s Canteen and Mo’s Froyo.

Local’s Day is open to residents living between Mullan and Rose Lake. To receive a free gondola ticket, locals must present proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or a piece of mail, at the ticketing window in Silver Mountain Village. 

The gondola opens at 9:30 a.m., with the last ride up the mountain departing at 4 p.m.