Kellogg Vacation Rentals
Kellogg Vacation Rentals
644 Division was built in 1913. It has recently been fully remodeled and is now a 2400 square foot vacation rental that sits on nearly a half acre corner lot owned by; Clint an Active Duty U.S. Naval Aviator and Linda a Registered Nurse, Herb owner of Blue Water Fire Sprinklers and Liz a High School Science teacher. Real people who can appreciate how valuable your "free" time truly is. We know you have a great deal of choice as to where you spend it, we hope our home can be included in your vacation plans.
It is our home away from home and it is your home away from home. It is currently configured with two queen beds, a king bed and a pair of bunk beds. There are two bathrooms; one upstairs (tub, sink and toilet) and one downstairs (shower/tub, sink/vanity and toilet). We also have a washer and dryer available for your use, just supply the detergent.
Our kitchen has an electric stove/ range, dishwasher, refrigerator, sink/ garbage disposal and new sink, countertops and flooring. We have place settings for eight and silverware, including pots and pans. Just supply the food.
There is room to park a trailer.
Now relax and enjoy your
much earned vacation.
Things
To Do Within One Hour of Kellogg, ID
Things
To Do in the area:
We’re assuming you’re the kind of people who will want to combine relaxation and outdoor recreational activities while visiting here in the Silver Valley area. We’re the same way and would like to share some of what we’ve discovered. Whether it’s golfing, rafting, skiing, sailing, biking, hiking, fishing, riding ATV’s or maybe eating, going out for a movies, etc., we hope you find something useful in the literature and stories that follow.
Local People: Let me tell a story. We were sitting on the porch enjoying pizza dinner about 6pm when a truck pulled up with “Kellogg Planning Department” on the doors. I froze. Where I come from this is a real bad indicator of hell to come. A bald headed guy got out and walked up to the gate, I turned away and refused to look at him. He opened the gate and said, “Hey I noticed your tree between the sidewalk and the street died and I have lots of trees I can give you one to replace it if you’d like, it’s free, are you interested?” I looked up in disbelief and said yes and he said he’d be right back. Now remember it’s 6pm. About 10 minutes later he returns with a 5’ Crab Apple tree in a 5-gallon pot. I go out to talk to him and plant the tree. Seems he really cares about how Kellogg looks and has been planting trees all over town up and down the streets for years. He designed the railroad park that runs several blocks along the rail lines in town. He said he’d noticed the dead tree and was just on his way home and noticed that our house that had set empty for many months, had people. So he stopped. His name is Walter and lives a few houses up the street. If you see him be sure to say hi.
This is a wonderful small town in rural America. Treat the people like your friends because that’s the way they’ll treat you. If you stay here for a week or just a weekend you’ll leave with many new friends.
Precautions: This is mountainous country. It is hot in the summer and will suck the water right out of your body. Stay hydrated. In the winter it is cold with lots of snow and will suck the heat right out of your body. Be prepared with proper gear/clothing and know what you’re doing. If you’re hear to discover new activities, be sure to use a guide the first time(s) out on a new adventure.
This is formerly one of the largest mining areas in the country so keep in mind there are abandoned mine shafts and various mining equipment located throughout the local hills. These don’t present a real danger if left alone. It’s up to you.
Restaurants:
Rancho Viejo
Great Salsa, slaw, and chips
Great Chicken peanut dish
Sams Cafe
I know it looks like an old A&W Drive In, but it’s been remodeled, it’s clean and they have the best pancakes in town. If you get here after 8am, you may have to wait to get a table.
Coffee:
A great coffee shop with Wifi available. This is a very friendly and locally owned shop a short walk down the street.
Address: 210 S Main, Kellogg, ID 83837
Phone: 208-783-2326
Rafting
St Joe River
This is a great river about an hour away via Moon Pass (closed in winter). This federally protected Scenic River has class III rapids and is serviced by ROW Inc Outfitters, or call at 800-451-6034. They have a great program. Early in the season you drive yourself over Moon Pass on the best dirt road you’ll ever drive on, to the town of Avery. The drive is incredibly beautiful, following the N Fork St Jo River for about 2/3 of the way. You’ll likely see deer, coyote, and if you’re lucky mountain goats and elk. Avery has a population of about 150 very nice people including the ones in Scheffy’s Motel and General Store, which also has gas. You’ll meet ROW outfitters in a picnic area along the river where they’ll provide you with all the gear you’ll need for a fun trip. You’ll meet your raft guide and then they will give you a short lesson on paddling and safety. And you don’t have to have rafting experience to do this with an outfitter. Later in the season after Gold Pass opens up you meet your guides and the bus in St Regis MT (still under an hour away). The drive is to the head of the St Jo River and you float the upper section.
If you have your own raft or kayaks, be aware that the area above Avery is for experienced boaters only. We haven’t been below Avery on the river so we can’t speak to what it’s like. The first serious rapids above Avery are in Skookum canyon, or drive as much as 25 miles further up stream to Spruce Tree campground. Since the road follows the river the entire way you can scout it all and decide what you want to run.
As an aside, Row Inc. does multi-sport multi day trips. We have floated rivers with them on one day and then run into them the following day on the Hiawatha trail with the same guides and customers. If you’re interested in this kind of activity just give them a call.
Golf
There are 2 golf courses in the immediate area. Pinehurst Golf and Shoshone Golf and Tennis Club.
The Shoshone Golf Course is several hundred feet above the valley floor in a very ‘mountain’ setting. Wildlife sightings like elk, wild turkey, and deer can be spotted on both courses periodically. The course is very well maintained and not nearly as hilly as I had expected. Carts are available as well as rental clubs if you left yours at home. They also have a Restaurant and Lounge with a great view. Weekdays $15 for 9 holes and $5 for clubs. This course is stunningly beautiful.
Pinehurst Golf Course is in Pinehurst about 5 miles away. We haven’t been there yet but are looking forward to it. They also have rental clubs available.
Silver Mountain Resort is building a new course just west of Kellogg on a bench above the valley. It will be a world-class professional course when completed. It is currently under construction. The roads and utilities have been installed for the many beautiful home lots that are nestled in the trees on the course. You can visit the area, find a house site, and build you dream home now.
Biking
There are 3 kinds of “biking” here.
1. Dirt Biking on motorcycles.
2. Downhill Mountain Biking over steep rough terrain.
3. Trail Biking with regular bicycles on dirt roads, paved trails, and dirt railroad beds.
1. Dirt biking (motorized) is done the same places ATV or 4 wheeling is done, see ATV’s.
2. Downhill Mountain biking is most commonly done by purchasing an All Day Gondola lift ticket from Silver Mountain Resort and riding down on trails or dirt roads. Since it’s an all day ticket you can make several rides in one day. The Silver Mountain Resort trails are at the very high end of their rating. The intermediate run (which we’ve done) has many ‘gnarly’ and steep places. Very tight, steep turns are the norm. So be warned, intermediate is only for people who have done serious mountain biking before.
At the top of the bike trails, at the start of the advanced run ‘Jack Ass’ there is a sign that says, “If you can’t do this move, DO NOT do the Black Diamond runs”. It is a ramp that ends in a drop of about 8’ into an ugly turn. The only place in town to rent Mountain Bikes is at the Gondola base at Silver Mt resort.
Alhambra Trail (Upper and Lower) is a “Blue” intermediate ride. The trail is our favorite ride. The Trail is well groomed and maintained. The signage is pretty poor but with a trail map it is navigable. It utilizes a dirt road occasionally for very short stretches and it has a spot where the trail goes slightly up hill for a few hundred yards. Actually it’s a fun spot as it is a rolling trail through the trees with little elevation gain. This is a LOT of fun and if your bike riding skills are up to it (or you spend the time to upgrade your skills while here) it is a great place to spend more than one day.
3. Trail biking is most commonly done on the Hiawatha Trail and the Coeur d’Alene Trail. Bikes for the groomed trails and dirt roads are available for rental at Excelsior Bikes, 208-786-3751. It’s just a few blocks down Division St from the house, 21 Railroad Ave.
This can get confusing so listen up.
Hiawatha Trail is on the old Hiawatha railroad lines.
In the summer of 2008 the trail pass was $9/person and the Shuttle was also $9/person. This is collected at Lookout Pass on I-90.
The trail runs from Pearson, ID to fairly inland MT. The most common section to ride from Kellogg is Lookout Pass (actually about 5 miles further into MT) to Pearson, ID a ghost town as it’s really gone. It is 15 miles of down hill on a gentle grade. The old railroad bed is very well maintained and an easy ride. However, there are several very interesting features. Like 10 tunnels ranging from 200 yards all the way to 1.8 miles long. (Be sure to bring flashlights). Not only that but there are 7 Trestles (bridges) spanning deep canyons. Some of the trestles are over 200’ to the stream below. This ride is a lot of fun. You can easily spend 2-4 hours riding, taking pictures and reading the many interesting historical plaques along the way (my 2 kids, 20 and 22, actually thought most of them were interesting). You’ll learn about the railroad history as well as about the people, past presidents, luxury liners, catastrophic fires, earthquakes, etc.
The Coeur d’Alene Trail is on the old Coeur d’Alene railroad line.
Current of the summer of 2008 the trail is free and we don’t know of any shuttles available.
It runs from Mullen, ID to Coeur d’Alene Lake and a little beyond. In mostly follows I-90 and is paved. You can easily pick it up in Kellogg just outside the ‘Excelsior Bikes’ store, off Division St across from the ‘In Cahoots’ bar. Since it runs through Kellogg you can jump on it any time and ride any direction on the comfort of a paved almost level trail. It too has many historical plaques especially chronicling the local mining history.
Example #1; Pinehurst – Bike Ride to Pinehurst for Lunch
- Espresso stands
Smelterville has one on the Trail
Pinehurst has one just off trail at the Welcome to town sign
Historical Information Plaques
3 – Holding pond, Bunker hill, ?
4-5 miles each way
The big Fat Greek Deli about ¾ mile off the Trail in Pinehurst on the main (only) road through town. It has great bread, excellent deli and Greek food.
Now for the very astute person you may have noticed that the 2 trails described almost overlap or come together. They do. Included in the book of literature and maps in our house is a map showing the trails and how to link them. The people at Lookout Pass who sell the tickets and provide the Shuttle for Hiawatha Trail are very knowledgeable and can help you put many different options together.
Sailing,
Canoeing, Kayaking
Rental of these items are only at Coeur d’Alene Lake as far as we’ve determined.
Outdoor Pursuits, N Idaho College Beach, 208-667-1381 or 208-769-5941.
Be sure to call in advance to reserve a boat. Also get directions, as it is dicey finding the beach.
14’ Hobie Cats $25/hr or $75/day
15’ Lancer single hull $25/hr or $75/day
Canoes and Kayaks are also available
Powerboats
We haven’t rented powerboats yet. There is literature in the house for companies that rent powerboats on Lake Coeur d’Alene, speedboats and pontoon party boats are available.
If you have your own boat by all means bring it, there is room to park it. You can launch in the Coeur d’Alene river from the boat launch by the Catalpa Mission about 7-8 miles west of Kellogg off I-90. It is a long flat run about 1-2 hours down to Coeur d’Alene Lake. There are several lakes off to the side of the river accessible via diked cuts from the river to the lake. You CANNOT take a propeller driven boat much further up river than this boat launch at Mission.
Mine
Tours
Silver mine tours are out of Wallace, ID. Sierra Silver Mine Tours start in Wallace on a Street Care and go to the mine where a retired silver miner conducts the tour.
Gold Mine tours are out of Kellogg. Again the tour guide is a retired miner who is very helpful with questions and history.
ATV’s
or 4 Wheeling and Dirt Biking
If you have your own, you’re in business. There is NO place to rent 4 wheelers in the area. Someone suggested there might be a place in Post Falls ID about 50 miles away. It hasn’t been confirmed by any of us yet.
I can almost promise you that every single person in town has a 4 wheeler. They are licensed for street use and you’ll see them year round on the streets and in the mountains all the time. They are as ubiquitous as cars in most American towns. They haul people and their things, they push snow out of the way, they are handy for picking up groceries, and then after chores are done they are fantastic fun in the hills. There is something like 7000 miles of roads and trails in the Silver Valley to ride on. Some trails look crazy and most look like fun. We will find a way to do this!
The ATV shop in Pinehurst is the headquarters for sales and service in the Silver Valley I’m told: Shoshone Honda Yamaha and Saw, 208-682-2022.
We Sincerely hope that you enjoy your stay, as there are many great outdoor opportunities and beautiful surroundings.