Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Bike Tour

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. 22.8 mi. +1558 ft. / -1566 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. Have lunch at a local watering hole, the Snake Pit, 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” which burned over three million acres in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. Enjoy your last night in Wallace. 38 mi. +2103 ft. / - 2633 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, follow 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 Coeur d'Alene Resort, home for the next two nights. Dinner is on your own tonight with a bevy of tasty options to choose from. 49 mi. +4360 ft. / -765 ft. 

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 fuss is about...swim, paddle board, golf, sail, or take a scenic cruise on the lake (not included). Or go for another nice bike ride. The choice is yours. 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! This pleasant, paved recreational path takes you from the lakeshore in Coeur d’Alene down along the Spokane River corridor into the historic brick-and-mortar heart of downtown Spokane. The route does make use of some streets to connect some of the trail sections but is predominantly car-free (and care-free!). The ride, as well as our journey, ends with a spin through Riverfront Park, site of the 1974 World’s Fair. No trip to Spokane is complete without a  

visit to 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. Unless you are staying near the airport, there is no shuttle after the ride. You have arrived! 21.1 mi. +821 ft. / -819 ft. 

­