Idaho, Northwest, Washington, USA

Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Bike Tour

DURATION

6 Days

PRICE

$3,238

LEVEL

All Levels

DAILY DISTANCE

30-40 Miles

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES

Cycling (bikes included). Hiawatha Trail. Hiking.

INCLUDED MEALS

All breakfasts. One lunch and one dinner are on your own.

Discover and explore what we ultimately strive for in a cycling vacation–which is to simply “Pedal Happy”.

Tucked into the Bitterroot Mountains of the Idaho panhandle, the “Silver Valley” is the most famous silver producing region in the world. Since the 1880’s, over 35,000 tons of silver alone have been extracted, along with untold amounts of gold, copper, zinc, lead, and rare crystals. Today, the beauty and serenity of the area, combined with a variety of easily accessible recreation opportunities, have made it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and folks looking to relocate to enjoy their retirement. See what all the fuss is about as you ride the entire length of the Silver Valley on the Hiawatha Trail and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. This wondrous combination of paths winds along rivers and lakes through wildlife refuges in the Northern Idaho wilderness – possibly the closest you’ll get to heaven on a bike! Between rides you can cool down in the crystal waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Day 01

Explore the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Old Mission State Park to historic Wallace, Idaho.

Meals

– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner

Lodging

Wallace Inn

Distance

26 miles

Elevation

+953 ft / -379 ft

After a one-hour shuttle we stop at the Old Mission for an introduction to the area’s early history. Built in 1848, it is the oldest standing building in Idaho. Its longevity is made even more impressive by the fact that it was built by hand in 1848 using only mud, dowels, and straw – no nails, bolts, or screws. From the nearby town of Cataldo, we ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to Wallace, another small-town rich in history. So rich in fact that the entire town is listed on the National Historic Register! We stop for lunch in Kellogg (no, we won’t be having cereal). If you arrive in Wallace early this afternoon, or want extra miles, you can continue to the end of the trail in Mullan and back for an additional 15 miles and 850’ gain. Or simply relax and enjoy the “epic chill zone” on the hotel lawn. Stay at the Wallace Inn for the next three nights.

Day 02

Pedal the scenic Hiawatha Trail, or ride to a ghost town.

Meals

– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner

Lodging

Wallace Inn

Distance

Hiawatha: 15 miles

Elevation

Hiawatha: +140 ft / -1020 ft

Another fantastic rails-to-trails project, the Route of the Hiawatha Trail was originally hailed as one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country. When the Milwaukee Railroad was operating, the trains traversed through 11 tunnels and over 9 trestles, covering a route across the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The “Route of the Hiawatha” is most famous for the long St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel which burrows for 8771 ft. (1.66 miles) under the Bitterroot Mountains at the state line. Enjoy the stellar views with zero traffic on this mostly downhill ride. Or, if you prefer paved roads to gravel riding, you can cycle up a lovely valley along Canyon Creek to the mining ghost town of Burke. Spend another night in Wallace. 

Day 03

Tackle Dobson Pass en route to Enaville and hike the historic Pulaski Trail.

Meals

– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner

Lodging

Wallace Inn

Distance

38 miles

Elevation

+2,103 ft / -2,633 ft

Pedal a remote road over scenic Dobson Pass to the upper Coeur d’Alene River (or, if the climb seems too daunting, get a boost in the van). Cruise downriver past the remains of old logging and mining operations to Enaville – a small town that has managed to persevere despite floods and fires as well as market fluctuations in the timber and mining industry for over 135 years. Pedal or shuttle back to Wallace and go for a hike on the historic Pulaski Tunnel Trail (4 miles, 900’ gain). Visit the site where, in 1910, Ranger “Big Ed” Pulaski led a threatened fire crew to safety in a mine shaft during the calamitous series of wildfires known as the “Big Blowup.” The conflagration burned over three million acres in Idaho, Montana, and Washington, and is still the largest forest fire in U.S. history. Enjoy your last night in Wallace.

Day 04

Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes riparian corridor to sparkling Coeur d’Alene Lake.

Meals

– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner

Lodging

Roosevelt Inn

Distance

41 Miles

Elevation

+626 ft / -613 ft

Shuttle back to Cataldo in the morning to begin cycling the western section of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way that follows an even older route once traveled by the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe. The railway carried silver and lead ore from mines in Mullan, Burke and Kellogg to terminals on the Palouse prairie from 1887 up until 1992. Today, it is worth its weight in gold as a scenic bikeway! Leaving the interstate corridor behind, the trail follows the riparian Coeur d’Alene River downriver as it wends through forests and clearings teeming with birds and wildlife. After lunch in Harrison, continue along the shoreline of shimmering Coeur d’Alene Lake, eventually crossing to the opposite shore on the Chatcolet Bridge, a converted train trestle over ½-mile long. Enjoy lakeside Heyburn State Park before we shuttle to the historic Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d’Alene. Dinner is on your own tonight with a bevy of tasty options to choose from. 

Day 05

Explore Coeur d’Alene the town and frolic in the lake!

Meals

– Breakfast

Lodging

Roosevelt Inn

Winner of the Expedia.com “Cleanest City in America” award, Coeur d’Alene has a burgeoning economy of active retirees as well as youthful tech start-ups. It is renowned as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes – cyclists, kayakers, bird-watchers, mountain bikers, skiers, hunters, sailors, hikers, fishermen – the list goes on and on. Spend a day seeing what all the hype is about: swim, paddle board, golf, sail, or take a scenic cruise on the lake (not included). Or go for another nice bike ride to Hayden Lake, or ride out and back on the Centennial Trail which connects Coeur d’Alene with Spokane, Washington. The choice is yours. Lunch and dinner are on your own today and we spend another night at the Roosevelt Inn.

Day 06

Ride the Centennial Trail along Lake Coeur d’Alene to placid Fernan Lake.

Meals

– Breakfast
– Lunch

Distance

21 Miles

Elevation

+821 ft / -819 ft

The Centennial Trail running between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene was built to commemorate 100 years of statehood for Washington (in 1990) and Idaho (in 1991). Again, our applause! Ride a segment that runs along the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene out and back to a wonderful viewpoint. Continue to relaxing Fernan Lake, where life just doesn’t get much more peaceful. Soak up the tranquility of the setting as much as you can before we are forced to return you to the hustle and bustle of “regular life”.

SPOKANE: We recommend you build in part of a day before or after your tour to explore the historic brick-and-mortar heart of downtown Spokane as well as Riverfront Park, site of the 1974 World’s Fair and spectacular Spokane Falls. This sacred site for Native Americans is now the centerpiece of the park – and the last thing you would ever expect to find amidst the bustle of downtown. The thunder of the crashing waters completely overwhelms the background noise of the city, and the rising mist and spray offer cooling refreshment on a hot summer day. Our pick-up and drop-off hotel, the Courtyard Spokane Downtown, is ideal for this as it is located adjacent to both the park and the falls.

Dates
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Price
Availability
Dates
Single Supplement
Price
$874
This is not required. It is an optional fee to allow a solo traveler to guarantee a private room for the duration of the tour.
Dates
Jun 9, 2024
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Price
$3,238
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Open
Dates
Jun 16, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Jul 7, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Jul 14, 2024
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$3,238
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Limited
Dates
Jul 21, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Jul 28, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Aug 4, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Aug 11, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Aug 18, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Aug 25, 2024
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$3,238
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Open
Dates
Sep 1, 2024
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$3,238
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Limited
Dates
Sep 8, 2024
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This means that the tour will definitely depart as scheduled and not be canceled.
Price
$3,238
Availability
Limited, call to book

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