trail of the coeur d'alenes

Biked 28 miles RT on this trail in mid September from Medimont to Harrison and then South for about 3 more miles. There are a few restrooms en route and different places to begin your trip. The trail is paved, free and has a variety of scenery. While it's not spectacular, it is very pleasant scenery, passing farms, ponds, rivers and ultimately going alongside the lake. There is some shade -- maybe about 35% on this stretch. We encountered a number of people but it wasn't crowded, and Harrison has a few services if you need to stop and grab a bite. On a former railroad grade, it's easy cycling. We were a little concerned reading about the toxic waste put down in the pavement surface in the rail bed, but there was no noticeable pollution and plenty of wildlife -- even saw a moose. We would certainly say it was a great way to spend a nice day outdoors. It's a very nice area with many biking options.

Lovely ride from Plummer to Mullen Idaho along Lake Coeur d'Alane and up the Silver Valley. Well maintained paved trail hugs the lake and then rambles along the Coelur d'Alane river for a total of 72 miles of wonderful scenery. Wildlife abounds--on our trip we saw bald eagles, herons, deer and moose. Wallace and Kellogg are interesting old mining towns. All in all a great ride.

Rode approx. 20.5 miles out from the Plummer Trailhead and back, total of approx. 40. Beautiful day and beautiful trail. I want to ride the entire thing in mid Sept. but I'm concerned about not having enough water. Should be a great time.

Lovely trip with smooth paved cycle trail. Enough traffic that you never felt isolated but you experienced peace and nature. Very few places to purchase food and water. We had planned on cooking in campsites on route but ended up in the few restaurants and pubs. Hopefully this exceptional trail will bring more services trail side.

A beautiful 72 mile paved rail trail. This is in fact a Super Fund site to remedy toxic pollution by paving over it. Toxic silver mining tailings containing heavy metals were used as RR ballast on this former UP branch line. Smelting chemical were also spilled from trains. The rail corridor was paved over to seal in the toxic materials. The scenery is beautiful, through woods, along Coeur d'Alene Lake and the river that feeds it. Wallace, ID is picturesque and famous for the 1910 forest fire. Kellogg is very touristy and pricey. Mullan is the end of the trail.

This trip we did the section between the Snake Pit and Harrison and back (~62 miles). Had lunch and a snack at both ends of the trip. Lots of lakes and river along the trip. If you need a bathroom it will be there shortly, just no running water. Wildlife is variable but can range from just birds to birds, deer, moose, and more. Trailhead was relatively easy to find. Gentle slope on the trail since this is part of the Rails to Trails system. Looking forward to going back soon.

The family and I camped along the trail and spent our days spinning and swimming. The pavement is great - the trail is underutilized and except for the occasional road rider that takes themselves too seriously the ride had a friendly / festive feel.A great place to lose a long weekend for a family with young riders.

We come every summer for a week to ride this trail. Moose in the morning, swimming in the river at noon, and mosquitoes at dusk.If you want incredible scenery, friendly people, and a smooth, paved trail, this is one to not miss.We like the section from the Pine Creek (Pinehurst) trailhead to Cataldo. More shade, swimming holes, and wildlife. The ride to Wallace is fun (don't miss the espresso stand near the 76 gas station in Osburn) but not nearly as scenic. The stretch from Harrison to Rose Lake is beautiful but sunny.And kids will love the bridge over CDA lake.Definitely worth a week or two. Every summer.

No need to worry about cars on this wilderness paved bike trail. The only thing we had to stop to avoid was a moose! We even rode past pelicans! The first day we rode from Harrison along the lake, then across the lake on the FUN "roller coaster" bridge up the forested grade to Plummer and back. The distance is about 50kms. There is a good campsite on the lake within a short walk to the well deserved (and good) pubs and restaurants. The second day we drove to Black Rock so we could bike into Harrison for lunch then bike back to the car. This distance is also about 50kms. The ride follows a series of lakes away from roads. If you are interested in birds, you will like this section. You can ride all the way to Mullan (east of Kellog and Wallace, Idaho). This trail is a hidden gem!

The trail is a lovely paved path on an old railway bed. The scenery along the whole route is varied and full of water birds, beautiful vistas and interesting places to stop. We enjoyed it very much. The hospitality of people we met along the way was exceptional. A great ride.

We walked 30 kilometers of the trail and had a lovely time. The wild flowers were in bloom so I was constantly snapping pictures. I loved that rest stops were strategically placed along the trail too!

This great trail was once a rail travelling over 72 miles from Plummer, Idaho to Mullan, Idaho. Very well kept asphalt trail with trail heads along the way plus picnic benches and restrooms. It follows the Coeur d'Alene river near Cataldo to the Coeur d'Alene lake by Harrison and along and across the lake. Beautiful views all the way. The east end climbs along I90 so there is some road noise but the climb is gentle. Lots of fun!

My wife and I rode 65 miles on our tandem from Plummer to Wallace the first day and spent the night in Wallace at a motel (and frequented the two local brew pubs) and then rode back to Plummer the following day. The section of trail that was most scenic and enjoyable for us from Plummer to Enaville. From Enaville to Wallace you are in more of an urban setting with frequent intersections of roads. There is about a six mile gentle grade up on the way back from the lake to Plummer. There are numerous trail heads if you want to do some short segments of the trail.

What a great way to use the old railbeds and tie them into this wonderful trail, the scenery is beyond description and I look forward to using it again and again. Follows lakes, rivers, the wildlife viewing a the best I have seen in a very long time.

We enjoyed a couple of days staying in campgrounds and riding our bikes on the beautiful trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. We spent one night camping in Pinehurst, Idaho at the By The Way Campground. It was $25 per night and comfortable for full RV hookups. The hot showers are really nice after a day of riding bikes. The next night we camped at the Kahnderosa Campground near Cataldo, Idaho. It was $30 per night, nice location on the river. The restrooms and showers are more rustic than modern and only a few campsites are full hookup. There is a RV dump station on-site. The trail is very convenient to either of these campgrounds. Since it is a railroad bed and paved, it is a very pleasant effortless ride. We had previously stayed at Heyburn State Park and rode the trail to above Harrison, Idaho.Contact the folks at Friends of Coeur d'Alene trail for detailed map and lodging information. I speculate that Harrison, Idaho would be a nice home base for exploring the trail. Wallace, Idaho is another fine destination. Be prepared for beautiful scenery, moose, history and relaxation. Be aware that moose, especially the mom's, can be aggressive. Take your picture and calmly back away. Attacks occur. The trail is over 70 miles in length, but can be broken up into easily manageable sections if desired. Shuttle services exist through most of the trail that is accessible by road. We saw only a total of 10 people on the trail during our two day trip. We rode about 50 miles in mid-September. Enjoy!