About Wallace, Idaho
Wallace, Idaho, is a community in Shoshone County located in Idaho’s Silver Valley mining sector. Wallace boasts three museums, a mining tour, the 1910 Fire Memorial, numerous good restaurants, and two wineries, and is the launching point for world-class cycling and skiing, including backcountry experiences. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All this and more makes this destination definitely worth a visit.
Wallace is growing into a bigger and more appealing town, with world-class leisure and tourism “mined” alongside the area’s colorful, living heritage. This attractive town offers so many fun activities that you will be visiting again and again with your family and friends.
Historic Wallace
Wallace, Idaho, has remained the world’s top silver producer for more than a century, making it a rich and well-established mining town still in operation and the last town to be completely counted in the National Register of Historic Places.
Wallace, Idaho, has so much history that historically curious individuals will enjoy underground mine tours, railroad stations, and history museums dedicated to mining, while others will be charmed by classic silver, unique antique shops, and pawn stores set against a backdrop of beautiful green trees, pure air, sunshine, and friendly locals.
Top things to do in Wallace, Idaho with family and kids
1. The Route of the Hiawatha
The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15-mile trail or hiking trail that parallels the route of a former railroad. This is a downhill bike route.
It runs through the magnificent Bitterroot mountains of Northern Idaho and is one of the most well-known rail-to-trail bike trails in the United States. For families who enjoy outdoor activities, this has to be one of the most fun things to do in Wallace, ID.
While riding along the Hiawatha Trail, keep a lookout for wildlife. There’s a considerable possibility you’ll come across a few deer. There are also a lot of places where you may stop and capture breathtakingly magnificent photos.
Timings:
The trail is open from about the middle of May to the middle of September. From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, the trail, trailheads, and facilities are open. Mountain bike rentals, including helmets and lights, as well as an optional return shuttle service, are provided at Lookout Pass Ski Area.
2. The Sierra Silver Mining Tour in Wallace, ID
The only tour of its sort in North America is the Sierra Silver Mining Tour. Take a mine tour trolley trip as you stroll through the tunnels of a silver mine with a retired miner as your guide. Along the way, he’ll show you how the mining machinery works while also teaching you about the history and present tales of hard-rock mining processes and how they get silver out of the mountain and into your life.
You’ll get to enjoy a narration of the tour of the historic mining town of Wallace, Idaho, dubbed as “Silver Capital of the World,” on your route to and from the mine aboard our classic trolley.
Rest assured that you will enter the mine securely, seeing and experiencing all of the aspects of one of the most difficult jobs on this man’s land, recalling that “it can’t be grown; it has to be mined.”
Timings and additional fun activities:
Every 1/2 hour, a new tour begins and lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. You get the chance to treat your family and yourself to some local ice cream and drinks in a vintage and aesthetic ice cream parlor after your underground adventure, or try out your good luck at gold or gemstone panning in the sluice!
3. Skiing & Snowboarding at The Lookout Pass
Out of all the fun things to do in Wallace, this has to be everyone’s favorite. Lookout Pass site has some of the greatest snow, the simplest access, and the lowest prices in the region. It’s no surprise that OnTheSnow visitors picked Lookout Pass as the most family-friendly mountain resort in the Pacific Northwest.
They also house the Lookout Pass Free Ski School for kids. It’s Lookout’s yearly average of more than 400 inches of soft, dry powder snow that skiers and riders adore. You can try out ice skating here, and what’s more, is that it is a dog-friendly place as well. It is one of the top attractions in downtown Wallace.
Additional Perks:
Visitors can enjoy a cafeteria-style grill and deli food, as well as a pub and gift shop, inside the main lodge. A complete set of ski and snowboarding lessons are offered by PSIA and AASI qualified instructors, and a full-service ski and snowboard rental and repair store is located beside the main lodge.
Timings:
The Lookout Pass ski season in Wallace, Idaho, normally starts in late November and lasts until April, depending on the weather. Check the snow report for operating hours beginning in December; unless otherwise noted, the resort will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4. Sixth Street Melodrama
This is yet another of the top attractions in Wallace, ID. If you are looking for things to do when traveling through Silver Valley, then go see The Sixth Street Melodrama in Wallace, Idaho. It is the finest of locally produced theatre, and we couldn’t suggest better entertainment when it comes to making a list of things to do in Wallace, Idaho.
Timings and Pricing:
You can see some incredible performances, especially during the summer months, and find antique shops, gift shops, restaurants, brewpubs, and kid-friendly places, located in the same area.
You get a two-hour event with local talent and historical perspectives for ten dollars. If you enjoy local theatre, this is a must-see.
5. Wallace District Mining Museum
A visit to the Wallace District Mining Museum is a must for anybody visiting the Silver Valley. It has so much history that you will need a whole day. From the days of the early gold rush to the more recent period of world-record silver output, the museum preserves the character of the mining industry in Northern Idaho.
Mining artifacts, models, pictures, paintings, and displays in these types of history museums transport you back in time and deep into the history of one of the country’s most profitable mining districts. For an authentic mining experience, several of the exhibits are located inside a timbered mine.
The Wallace Region Mining Museum honors and commemorates more than 130 years of silver, lead, zinc, and gold production in the world’s largest silver mining district, which is centered in Historic Wallace. Here, in the museum, you’ll find a 20-minute history video, a model mine tunnel, interactive displays on the Big Burn (1910 Fire), and other aspects of Historic Wallace’s past.
6. Trailing, Camping, and Fishing at The Coeur d’Alene
The Coeur d’Alene River travels east from Coeur d’Alene Lake and splits into two forks. This is a fantastic recreational site in Wallace for a variety of activities, from paddling and camping to fishing, especially in upstream parts. The location offers a sight to behold and click lots of photos. It is that beautiful!
Trails:
Most notably, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes provides exceptional walking or bicycling opportunities over a paved trail which is a total of 71 miles.
The drainage offers hikers an abundance of options, with more than 30 paths ranging from moderate day walks to demanding backpacking.
Camping:
The majority of campgrounds in the Coeur d’Alene River area are accessible to the public from May to September and allow for a wonderful winter camp experience with your family. Several of the camping grounds, including vehicle camping, group and family camping, and several cabins for renting, are managed by the Forest Service officials on the site. You can bring water, food, camps, and have a memorable time with your kids any day.
Fishing:
Brook and salmon, as well as chinook salmon, and kokanee salmon, are all often caught in this country area. But be mindful that bait fishing is strictly prohibited upstream of the Creek. The North Fork of the area is a well-known fly fishing location, with several outfitters offering guided trips.
Plan your next visit to Wallace, Idaho, for a fun and entertaining family trip and make some unforgettable memories.
