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Silver Mountain Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Silver Mountain Ski Resort

Silver Mountain Ratings

Overall: 3.8. Based on 5 votes and 7 reviews. Vote

Snowsure: 3.8

(1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Silver Mountain is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.

Variety of pistes: 4.2

(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Silver Mountain has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.

Off-piste: 3.5

(1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.

Scenery: 3.6

(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.

Access: 4.2

(1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Silver Mountain.

Public Transport: 2.2

(1) There are no buses or taxis to Silver Mountain, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.

Accommodation: 3.8

(1) No places to stay in/near Silver Mountain, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.

Cheap Rooms: 4.0

(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.

Luxury Hotels: 4.0

(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Silver Mountain.

Ski in/Ski out: 4.2

(1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.

Childcare: 3.2

(1) There are no child care facilities at Silver Mountain, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.

Snowmaking: 2.3

(1) Silver Mountain relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.

Snow Grooming: 3.5

(1) There are no snow groomers at Silver Mountain, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Silver Mountain are groomed daily.

Shelter: 4.3

(1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Silver Mountain is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.

Nearby options: 2.8

(1) If snow conditions are poor at Silver Mountain, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.

Regional rating: 4.3

(1) Silver Mountain usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.

Lift Staff: 5.0

(1) The staff at Silver Mountain are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Silver Mountain are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.

Crowds/Queues: 5.0

(1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.

Ski Schools: 3.8

(1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.

Hire and Repairs: 5.0

(1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.

Beginners: 3.7

(1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.

Intermediates: 4.2

(1) No intermediate terrain at Silver Mountain, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.

Advanced: 4.0

(1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.

Snow Park: 2.8

(1) Not even a kicker at Silver Mountain, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.

Cross-country: 1.5

(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Silver Mountain, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.

Luge/Toboggan: 2.7

(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Silver Mountain has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.

Mountain Dining: 3.8

(1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.

Eating: 3.7

(1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.

Apres-Ski: 3.0

(1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.

Other Sports: 4.7

(1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.

Entertainment: 4.8

(1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.

Winter Walks: 4.0

(1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.

Ski Pass Value: 4.5

(1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.

Value (National): 4.7

(1) Overall, Silver Mountain is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.

Value (Global): 4.5

(1) Overall, Silver Mountain is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

Show all 35 ratings

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February 12, 2020
Harold B from Ski United States United States
Just my take on Silver mtn. Been skiing up there since. 1992. Pros: No weekday lift lines. Cheap season pass Cons: Old slow chair lifts The worst grooming ever this year. Gondola cabins stink like trash. Windows are so scratched up its like a subway train in the big cities. Management doesn't have a clue or seem to care.
January 13, 2020
Cole Thule from Ski United States United States
Pros: On-site accommodations, restaurant, cantina, water park. Very close to major airport, hotels, restaurants, entertainment (Coeur d’Alene & Spokane). 1600 acres, 2250 vertical; of uncrowned alpine terrain. 300 inches annual snow. Cheapest lift rates/ season passes known. Cons: 400 acres of best skiing (Chair 4) is often closed. Another 200 acres is really off-piste terrain. Grooming; very little (other than beginner areas); reports of such are unreliable at best. Lifts are aging (especially Chair 4). Even with abundant snowfall, base snow layer is often less than 5 feet. Someplace between: Several other ski resorts near (North Idaho area) plus resorts in Washington, Montana, British Columbia, Alberta - all within comfortable driving distance. Other: Beautiful & vibrant - four season area. Alpine mountains, lakes & rivers. Massive wilderness areas juxtaposed against CdA and Spokane, where you can find anything modern life requires.
February 19, 2017
Whyooter from Ski United States United States
Another reviewer couldn't be more spot on! We love and hate Silver for all its quirks. If high speed quads are your desire, head north to Sandpoint and enjoy the crowds. [note from the editor: names of other reviewers not included in posts.]
November 12, 2010
Jase from Ski United States United States
Silver Mountain is my home resort. I have held a season pass there 4 out of the last 5 years, and I love the place. The drive up is generally pretty smooth. With the gondola, all one must do is simply pull off of I-90 and you're there. The gondola can be a bit of a con if you enjoy access to your car during the day. Once on the mountain, you'll find very few lift lines and most days you will find really nice snow. The lifts are a little slow and out of date, but they get you up the mountain. The tree skiing in impeccable, and there are a few places for off-piste skiing. Not the most vertical, but it gives the average skier plenty. They should really consider replacing some of their chair lifts with high speed quads.
January 05, 2010
Wayne from Ski United States United States
Silver Mountain has a long heritage as an excellent skiers mountain for locals. The owners have built a waterpark onsite that is now taking away from the upkeep and grooming of the mountain. Do yourself a favor and ski at a resort where they want to see you.
December 16, 2008
SnowaveDave from Ski United States United States
Silver Mountain is a mix of good and bad, love and hate, new and old, wannabe and is. To qualify this review, I begin by stating that Silver Mountain was my home area for 6 years and every year I logged over 80 days/season. The easiest way to go about this is an enjoyable list. Pros: Uncrowded Phenomenal tree riding-don't tell anyone Lots of room to move and explore Very down-home feel, great locals Great steeps Long runs when bottom of 4 is open Cons: Poor beginners area (not a concern until I revisited last year w/my 5 year old) Runs are not cut on the fall-line of the hill except on Chair 4 and 3 Silver Mountain tries too hard to be something it isn't, the Vail of N. Idaho Lifts are somewhat unpredictable in terms of running; you can get stuck on them more often than you would like, especially when it is dumping out Very few cliffs Bottom of 4 isn't always open due to lower elevation and resultant rain/snowpack I love Silver Mountain because I know where to go when, I know the people and area, and because when it is dumping that place goes off for days after the storm due to lack of crowds, it's breadth, and the trees. I shake my head at Silver Mountain when I see their latest attempt at being something they aren't, when I have to traverse or constantly adjust my line on chair 2, or the lift stops for 5 minutes while they reset it.
May 01, 2008
Peter from Ski United States United States
Silver Mt. is one of the best kept secrets in America. Off-piste and powder skiing all day. Ski here midweek and enjoy powder all day long.

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