The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a 73-mile paved trail spanning the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It was created through a unique partnership between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U. S. Government, and the State of Idaho. The trail meanders through the historic Silver Valley, along the Coeur d'Alene River past scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene and through rolling farmlands to Plummer. Twenty developed trailheads provide entry points, and there are twenty scenic waysides along the route with tables to stop for a picnic or a short rest..
I rode this trail with my sister. It took 4 trips, with her coming up from Lewiston and meeting me at the trailhead each time. This is a fantastic trail! We saw so much beauty & wildlife! We started out riding the first section in mid-September, riding through colorful Autumn leaves that had fallen onto the trail. It was a pleasant, sunny day, and such fun! The next year we rode 3 different sections. Each of the 4 sections was between 15 1/2 miles & 19 1/2 miles in length.
MY ADVICE ON DIRECTION OF RIDING: Even through the trail markers are from west to east, I prefer to ride DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY from Mullan to Harrison. THEN you can ride from Plummer down to Chocolet, which is 7 miles DOWNHILL. If you ride from Harrison to Plummer, you will be facing a 7-mile hill! You can add on the small scenic section along the lake, between Chocolet and Harrison, from either direction. We saw much wildlife along the way, including moose, deer, a heron rookery, beaver, owls, hawks, numerous other birds, etc.
INFO:
Riding this trail is FREE and there is no charge for parking at the trailheads, except for Heyburn State Park. There is no drinking water at any of the trailheads or wayside stops, except for the Plummer trailhead. There are, however, many restaurants, stores and parks in the towns along the way. There is a plethora of geocaches along the way! Don't forget food, water, repair kit, first aid kit, binoculars, camera, trail map, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray. Beware of car theft, and do not leave valuables in your car. The elevation change between Mullan and Lake Coeur d'Alene is about 1,100 feet.
TRAILHEADS AND WAYSIDES:
MULLAN TRAILHEAD (Start or end of trail): 47° 28.164'N 115° 48.011'W, ELEVATION: 3,277 feet
Vault toilet available, picnic shelter, large, paved parking area/20 parking spaces/2 ADA. Room for RV's.
Golconda Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
Restless Rapids Scenic Wayside
Picnic table, restroom
HISTORIC WALLACE 6TH STREET TRAILHEAD: 47° 28.450'N 115° 55.431'W ELEVATION: 2,744 feet
6 parking spaces/2 ADA
OSBURN TRAILHEAD: 47° 30.216'N 115° 59.819'W
Picnic table, 9 parking spaces/1 ADA
SHONT TRAILHEAD: 47° 31.576'N 116° 3.000'W
Picnic table, 20 parking spaces/1 ADA
ELIZABETH PARK TRAILHEAD: 47° 31.853'N 116° 5.547'W
Picnic table, 20 parking spaces/NO ADA
KELLOGG DEPOT TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.190'N 116° 7.331'W
Parking/NO ADA. Restroom and visitor information at depot across the street.
SILVER MOUNTAIN TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.380'N 116° 8.068'W ELEVATION: 2,308 feet
Picnic tables, benches, BBQ stands, lots of parking, including for RVs
SMELTERVILLE TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.676'N 116° 10.472'W ELEVATION: 2,224 feet
Toilet, bench, parking for 17, NO ADA, no overnight parking allowed
PINE CREEK TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.951'N 116° 13.440'W ELEVATION: 2,224 feet
Picnic table, 14 parking spaces/1 ADA
ENAVILLE TRAILHEAD: 47° 33.608'N 116° 15.081'W ELEVATION: 2,169 feet
Picnic table, restroom/accessible, 10 parking spaces/1 ADA
Backwater Bay Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
Gap Rock Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
Pine Meadows Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
CATALDO TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.930'N 116° 19.844'W ELEVATION: 2,139 feet
Picnic area, toilet, 10 parking spaces/1 ADA
Latour Creek Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
River Bend Scenic Wayside
Picnic table, restroom
Dudley Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
Cedar Grove Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
BULL RUN LAKE TRAILHEAD: 47° 32.057'N 116° 28.532'W
Picnic area, restroom/accessible, 10 parking spaces/1 ADA
BLACK ROCK TRAILHEAD: 47° 31.385'N 116° 30.983'W
Picnic table, 13 parking spaces/NO ADA
Lane Scenic Wayside: 47° 30.439'N 116° 32.470'W
Picnic table, restroom/accessible
MEDIMONT TRAILHEAD: 47° 28.667' 116° 35.749'W
Picnic area, restroom/accessible, 12 parking spaces/1 ADA
Cave Lake Scenic Wayside
Picnic table, restroom/accessible
Gray's Meadow Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
Cottonwood Scenic Wayside
Picnic table
SPRINGSTON TRAILHEAD: 47° 28.713'N 116° 43.922'W
Picnic table, Restroom/accessible, 13 parking spaces/1 ADA
Anderson Lake Scenic Wayside: 47° 27.916'N 116° 45.825'W
Picnic table
HARRISON MARINA TRAILHEAD: 47° 27.221'N 116° 47.247'W ELEVATION: 2,152 feet
Picnic area, public beach, restroom/accessible
Steamboat Landing Scenic Wayside
SqwemuImkhw Scenic Wayside: 47° 25.032'N 116° 44.806'W
Picnic table, restroom/accessible
Hndarep Scenic Wayside: 47° 23.955'N 116° 44.580'W
Picnic table, restroom/accessible
CHATCOLET TRAILHEAD: 47° 22.438'N 116° 45.747'W
Picnic area, drinking water, restroom/accessible, 100 parking spaces, NO ADA, unpaved, room for RVs
Hn-pet-pt-qwe'n Scenic Wayside: 47° 21.815'N 116° 47.895'W
Picnic table, restroom/accessible
Hn-tsaq-aq-n Scenic Wayside
Picnic table, restoom/accessible
Hn'ya'(pqi'nn PLUMMER TRAILHEAD (End or start of trail): 47° 20.450'N 116° 53.426'W ELEVATION: 2,767 feet
7-mile hill DOWN to Chatcolet!
Picnic area, drinking water, restrooms/accessible, 80 parking spaces/5 ADA, RV's in the west section
MY OTHER BIKE TRAIL CACHES:
Fish Lake Trail
Hiawatha Trail
Centennial Trail
Farragut State Park
Athol/Coeur d'Alene Bike Path
Columbia Plateau Trail
Palouse to Cascades Trail
Beacon Hill
Children of the Sun
Ed Corkill Memorial Trail
Bill Chipman Trail
Latah Trail