The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

An exaggerated curve in the Trail of the Coeur d'alines,
thanks to a panorama shot.

If you like to ride a bicycle, tandem or single, and enjoy getting “away from it all” while not really being too far away from civilization, then pay attention to the next couple of articles.  I’m going to share with you the “secret” location that we’ve been enjoying for the past decade: The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.  (Core duh-lanes: probably not the correct pronunciation, but it’s the way I’ve heard everyone in the area say it!)

If you follow the above link, you’ll find specific links to:  the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, the Route of the Hiawatha, and the Old MilwaukeeRoad.  There are also other trails and links for you to explore.

With this installment I’ll write about The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes; in the next article I’ll tell you about the Route of the Hiawatha. 

First of all, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is PAVED.  Yes, indeed – 72 miles worth of asphalt that might occasionally cross a few roads but is always separate from them.  Other than the occasional crossing, which seems to happen more after you pedal east of Kellogg, you’ll be riding on a dedicated path and never have to share a road with cars.  You might have to share the trail with a moose or other wildlife if your timing is good.

The trail follows an old railroad bed, and because of this the gradients on any inclines are minimal.  You’ll find that the beginning of the trail (at Plummer, Idaho) and the town of Kellogg, Idaho are at about the same elevation.  As you travel east from Kellogg, the trail noticeably “kicks upward” a little bit, and it becomes even a little more noticeable from Wallace to the terminus at Mullen.  Even so, remember this trail is built upon an old railroad bed and generally speaking the gradient usually is never greater than somewhere between 3 and 4 percent.

There are lodging opportunities in the area, from Plummer to Wallace and a few spots in between.  We personally like to stay in Kellogg.  Two of the places we have stayed at before are the Guesthouse Inn and Silver Mountain Resort.  The trail runs right behind the Guesthouse Inn; it doesn’t get any more convenient than that!  This motel offers complimentary breakfasts in the morning, which are always a great way to start a day of cycling.

Across the street you’ll find Silver Mountain Resort.  The rooms are a little more spendy, and there are a couple of options available.  You can rent from the resort itself, or directly from owners of the individual units (condos) through websites like Airbnb.  While there’s no complimentary breakfast, there is an on-site restaurant, pizzeria and espresso shop.  Also, most of the units come with a full kitchen so you can always whip up your own meals if you choose.

Another interesting feature of Silver Mountain Resort is an indoor water park.  While the cyclists in your group are out for the day on the trail, the non-bikers and the kids can splash about to their heart’s content.  Also at peak times during the summer, the gondola will run to the top of the ski hill, allowing mountain bikers to take advantage of what used to be only a winter wonderland!

The town of Wallace also has lodging and dining opportunities and is a great destination for someone wanting to ride the length of the trail in one day.  We stayed there last summer after being dropped off in the morning at the trailhead in Plummer and cycling back to the Wallace Inn. 

You will see many ages and abilities of cyclists riding on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.  There are some who will ride the length of the trail in a day, while others park at one of the many trailheads along the route and plan a short “out and back” ride.  We have done many such “out and back” rides, either starting from our motel in Kellogg and going about 25 miles before turning around or driving to a trailhead further to the west and then riding to Plummer and back.

There are sections of this trail that are very remote, so a tool and patch kit are something somebody in your group should be packing.  Bringing enough water with you is also an important consideration; because of the remoteness of this trail running water is hard to come by.

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes crosses over the water
on the Chatcolet bridge, once used by trains and now
by cyclists and pedestrians.

There are many opportunities to view wildlife along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, depending on the time of day you’re riding.  We have seen bald eagles and several varieties of waterfowl, deer and moose.  In fact, our first trip to the trail was the most memorable as we saw a mama-moose with two little ones along side the trail.

This trail is a cyclist’s delight, whether you’re out for a day trip or have several days to spend in the area.  Whether you are riding solo, with a group or on a cross-country tour the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is an excellent way to get off of the highway for a while and treat yourself to a little peace and quiet.  There is no charge to ride this trail, although you’ll find donation boxes at the trailheads – a lot of work has gone into the planning and maintenance of this trail and I don’t mind throwing ‘em a bone now and then.  Hopefully after you've cycled the trail you'll feel that way too!

If you’re looking for a cycling destination this year that’s “doable” for the average bike rider, look no further than the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.  You’ll be glad you checked this one off of your “bucket list”, long before you even knew it belonged there!