Valerie and Rich McKay in downtown Wallace, ID
The Trail of the Coeur d’Alene is a 72 mile paved bike trail built on a Union Pacific right-of-way stretching from Plummer, Idaho (the western end of the trail along US-95) to Mullan, Idaho at the trail’s easternmost point (paralleling Interstate 90). There are no fees charged to use this trail, although you will see donation boxes at some of the trailheads. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes drops from the trailhead in Plummer for about 7 miles to the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and then crosses the Chatcolet Bridge,
Valerie takes a break at the Chatcolet Bridge
Moose cow and calf along the trail
The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15 mile compacted gravel trail that was once part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (often called the Milwaukee Road) that ran from Illinois to Washington state. Headlights are a MUST on this trail as it passes through several tunnels, one of which is 1.7 miles in length. This is a fee-based trail; check with the website for current fees and schedules. The Route of the Hiawatha can be accessed from two points. The easiest to find (and drive to) is the East Portal Trailhead, just off of Interstate 90 on the Montana side of the border. The trail is all downhill from here, 15 miles and 1000 feet of elevation loss. You’ll have to either pedal back up or pay the fee for the shuttle bus, if you’re not into the uphill climb. We prefer to drive the 20 miles through the woods from Wallace, Idaho to the Pearson Trailhead and ride uphill to the end and then enjoy the downhill as our reward!
A word of warning to anyone riding through the 1.7 mile Taft Tunnel – it’s a little chilly inside there, so packing a light water-proof jacket is advisable. The water-proof part is because the inside of this tunnel is damp, and the stoker will exit the tunnel wearing a muddy stripe (unless you have fenders). Be sure to watch for the Idaho/Montana border painted on the side of the tunnel as you cycle through.
The links to the websites below will provide you with a bounty of information about these two trails, plus other rides in the area, lodging information, directions and numerous photographs to whet your bicycling appetite. Spokane, Washington has an airport (GEG) serviced by several major airlines, and the Centennial Trail stretches from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene for those wishing to pedal even further!
Additional information can be found at the Friends of Coeur d’Alene Trails and South Lake Coeur d’Alene.