Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Bike Tour

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. Stay at the Brooks Hotel for the next three nights.

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 stellar views with zero car traffic. 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. 

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.

Take a brief shuttle back to Cataldo to cycle 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 winds 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. Shuttle to the Coeur d’Alene Resort, our home for the next two nights. Dinner is on your own tonight with a bevy of tasty options to choose from in town.

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). Cycling recommendations include another nice bike ride to Hayden Lake, or ride out and back on the Centennial Trail which connects Coeur d’Alene with Spokane, Washington. Lunch is on your own today, and we spend another night at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

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.