Cataldo is a small, friendly town. It hosts a post office, restaurant, and a very large RV camping area in a perfect location. Camping is right beside the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River and the Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's wanders through several wetland areas. Spot land critters like otters, muskrats, beavers, ducks, swans, and geese. Throw a hook in the water in an attempt to capture northern pike, bass, trout, and more splashing in the deep waters. If you are lucky you will see several families of moose, deer, and elk. Watch out for bear, cougar, and porcupine for some of our more interesting land tenants. From here the back-country of Latour Creek is accessible. Hiking, fishing, alpine lakes and more abound. Cataldo welcomes all by providing a large parking area. Our only request is that you leave our beautiful home as pristine as when you arrived.
The Coeur d'Alene Indians had a village here known as sq'wt'u. The town is named for Father Joseph Cataldo, SJ, who served at the Old Mission from 1865 to 1870. Patrick J. Whalen, the first homesteader in this area, platted the town of Cataldo. Whalen built a log cabin and operated a ferry across the Coeur d'Alene River connecting to the Mullan Road. When the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company came through in 1889, Whalen discontinued his ferry. The Cataldo Mission remains as one of the oldest and most treasured buildings in Kootenai County.​
With year-round shopping, dining, lodging, and outdoor recreation, Kellogg is a great location. This community of 2,500 residents is also home to Silver Mountain Resort, Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark, many Dave Smith buildings, and The Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce's Visitors Center. Kellogg also has access to fly fishing, off-road vehicle routes, hiking, biking, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s, and the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. It’s easy to park your car here and hit the escape button. ​ Learn more about Kellogg here.
Kingston is an unincorporated rural community located along I-90. It expands north to the confluence of South Fork and the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Host to a couple of convenience stores, a post office, a trail head for the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and the infamous Snake Pit restaurant (formerly a brothel known as the Enaville Resort). Kingston is an outdoor recreational paradise. The North Fork is a beautiful mountain river with many miles of public access. The river is home to world-class fly-fishing of the Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Hunters, campers, and hikers enjoy plenty of wildlife. Deer, elk, moose, bear and the occasional mountain lion can be spotted. The nearby Thompson Pass is an award-winning part of the Idaho-Montana Scenic Triangle Loop. It's especially stunning during the summer.
The city of Mullan is a unique place. Incorporated in 1904, this town of 675 has gone through many changes. It used to proudly host a movie theatre, dress shop, bakery, two grocery stores, two drugstores, and several cafes and saloons. This past does not take away from today's truth. Mullan is still, as some would say, God’s country. It's filled with beautiful scenery. It has a clear fishing stream running through the town. The local gas station serves as the neighborhood grocery store. The school system keeps children well educated. The post office is often times the place residents bump into neighbors and friends. The start of the 69-mile long bike trail, The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, is in town. Restaurants may come and go in this quaint little town, but the current residents love the town the way it is. Life here is simple, yet beautiful. And, at an elevation of 3,278 feet, Mullan is only six miles from some of the best snow in Idaho at Lookout Ski Pass.
The city of Osburn is a bedroom community that sits between Kellogg and Wallace. It has about 1,500 residents. Osburn has many things to offer for those traveling through. It is equipped with 2 banks, several family-owned businesses. Businesses include a gas station, grocery store, auto repair shop, coffee stand, restaurant, drug store, an RV park, and 2 taverns. The RV park is a great place to stay and rest, and the taverns are perfect for meeting some of the locals. From Osburn, one can easily access the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s. Enjoy biking or walking the trail. There is also easy access for ATVers, hunter, or those seeking mountain adventures. On the 1st Saturday of May, the town celebrates its annual Loyalty Day Parade in honor of its veterans. During the first weekend in August, a mining competition is held, and this event is a local favorite.
The City of Pinehurst is a quiet and safe community of about 1,600. Many of the residents make good use of the well-lit city sidewalk system that spans the length of the town. A full-service RV park is easily accessible at the entrance to the town. There is an array of family-owned businesses. Stop by any of the coffee shops, the grocery store, the hardware supply, the service stations, and the tire shops. These businesses pride themselves on taking care of any and all visitors to the area. There is a convenient trailhead to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene's off the sidewalk system. Pinehurst events include Pinehurst Days and the annual Comanchero Car Show in August.
Next to a scenic lake, Rose Lake appeals to anglers of all levels. There are fishing docks and boat fishing is popular. The historical and primitive campsites line the river system, and there are resort rentals too. ​
Rose Creek and Rose Lake were named by a family who homesteaded on Cougar Creek, for their daughter Rose Brown. The Rose Lake Post Office was established in 1905, and by 1916 the population was 500. The town was primarily a company town for the Rose Lake Lumber Company, which was then known as the Winton Lumber Company. Rose Lake is one of 11 lakes along the Coeur d'Alene River. ​Most of the present camping sites along this river system were used since time immemorial by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for winter village sites or seasonal camps.
The city of Smelterville is located 2 miles west of Kellogg and east of Pinehurst. The name was selected in 1929 by a voice vote of its residents due to the presence of mining smelters. The smelter stacks were demolished in 1996. The town is now home to several service businesses. There is a cute drive-through latte shop. The small post office sits in the center of town. There are tire, detail, and auto stores. And there are grocery stores, a couple of manufacturers, and even one big-box discount store.
Historic Wallace hosts a number of visitor attractions. It has ample lodging at local hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnbs. These all serve as a perfect jumping-off point for your outdoor adventures. There are nearby hiking trails, zipline adventures, two ski areas, and miles of bike trails. Both the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and the Hiawatha Trail are near this tiny town. You can also shop the historic downtown business, visit two breweries, and enjoy a collection of fine dining. Annual events include the Wallace Blues Festival, Depot Days Car Show, the Huckleberry Festival, and even more throughout the summer months. Learn more about Wallace here.
Wardner is a small residential mountain community located up the road from Uptown Kellogg. Once home to a bustling mining population, today Wardner has about 185 residents. The Gondola hangs above town. Wardner has the access point of the Sierra Nevada Road. This now private road goes up to the ski area. Now, the mountain is only accessible to the public by Gondola. It still operates a city hall and a non-operational museum loaded with history. The city is named after Jim Wardner, an acquaintance of Noah Kellogg. He was a supporter of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mines. These mines operated thanks to the donkey's discovery of galena (lead ore) about 1,000 yards south of town.