Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
is a year around recreational opportunity. The Trail, and the restrooms and wayside rest stops along its 72 mile length, are routinely cleaned.

     The trail is mostly clear of debris, although some gravel may be encountered near roadways between Silverton and Mullan. Major sweeping work along the entire Trail will be completed as soon as possible. All of the wetlands construction and planting between mileposts 49 and 50 is complete. This Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) project involved the use of recycled wood waste in a composting procedure that will add even more natural beauty and wildlife habitat to the Trail. We are all looking forward to seeing the new growth this summer.

Please call Kathleen Durfee, Old Mission State Park Manager, at (208) 682-3814 for more information about specific parts of the Trail, administrative questions or concerns.

Remember that State Parks and Recreation only manages the Trail from Mullan to Harrison. For information on conditions between Harrison and Plummer you need to call Andrew Davison, Trail Manager at (208) 686-7045.

Remember that there is a lot of great riding at lower elevations in this area before and after the Route opens. One exceptional ride follows Loop Creek BENEATH the trestles that define the Route. The Pearson-Avery Figure 8 ride is another possibility that might involve overnight camping beside the North Fork of the Saint Joe River. Both rides would begin near the Pearson Trailhead on the other side of Moon Pass from Wallace on Forest Road 456.

IF you have the free program Google Earth installed, then you can, by downloading wallace2pearson.kml, fly above Forest Road 456 from downtown Wallace to the Pearson Trailhead, observing several hiking/bicycling trailheads and possible casual campsites along the way. You may also open or save pearson2avery.kml, which shows the scenic Alternate Milwaukee Road signed last summer by the Friends.

one of the tunnels on the Route

     In time for distribution at the March 2013 Portland and Seattle bike shows, we published our the NINTH edition of 20,000 Recreational Trails of the Idaho Panhandle. These updated maps are now in distribution to local Chambers of Commerce and other local organizations. You may use the form on our Contact Us page to request one or two free copies of these maps. Requests for larger quantities are handled on a case by case basis; call Rick at (208) 691-9169 to inquire.

This is the same quantity as the eighth edition published in March 2012. These 17" x 22", 20-panel color brochures (with a forest green front panel background color and the Route of the Hiawatha on the back panel) are similar to the seventh and eighth edition brochures in that they provide information on the former railbed of the Old Milwaukee Road, which we are working to enhance as a multi-use recreational road and bike trail along the breathtaking St. Joe River. Our interest in promoting the Old Milwaukee Road from the East Portal of the Taft Tunnel to Saltese, Montana, is also indicated on the map itself. We are continuing to work with Lolo National Forest personnel to make this a safe, multi-use recreational trail.

We are again pleased to have the Route of the Hiawatha as our sponsor on the back panel, and suggest that you visit ridethehiawatha.com for more information on this crown jewel of America's Rails-to-Trails.

Silver Mountain Resort is also a repeat hospitality provider in our ninth edition. If you are a downhill daredevil, you will definately want to challenge yourself on their mountain. Twenty-five other food and lodging providers located in Harrison, Enaville, Kellogg, Wallace, Mullan, St. Maries and Calder and Avery will help you as you travel along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and the Old Milwaukee Road. As always, our maps are complementary, and are yours for the asking.

However, we do include a membership form with each map in the hope that you will return the favor by joining us as we work to build a unified 185 mile bike loop that includes the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes (paved for bikes and blades), the Northern Pacific railbed (dirt for multi-use), and the Milwaukee Road railbed (mostly dirt for multi-use), which includes the Route of the Hiawatha (dirt for mountain bikes and boots). We have dubbed this adventure the "Bitterroot 300K Loop" to entice our Canadian riders.

A MILWAUKEE ROAD page has been added to this website. It features our work to incorporate the Milwaukee Road railbed as part of an 185 mile loop that promises to gain worldwide attention for the variety of scenery and topography that it encompasses. Google Earth animations have been added to this new page, so a bird's eye view of the entire loop is available for study and day dreaming.

    Photo Trail for the Old Milwaukee Scenic/Alternate Trail between Pearson (lower trailhead for the Route of the Hiawatha) and Marble Creek on the Saint Joe River, 24 miles away.

As stated on our map, any group wishing to host a special event on the trails must have authorization from proper authorities. Start by calling the Idaho Parks and Recreation office at the Cataldo Mission, (208) 682-3814. They will direct you to Forest Service or Tribal authorities if required by your event's location.

The Route of the Hiawatha continued to grow in popularity in 2010. "July riders totaled 11,321 and August attendance surpassed even that record with 12, 263 riders." (Shoshone News-Press, September 7, 2010). However, now that the Route is closed for the season, remember that you may bike and hike for free up Loop Creek, beneath the trestles, as soon as the snow disappears in the spring and as long as weather permits in the fall. You may also freely travel from the East Portal to the town of Saltese, Montana, also on the Milwaukee Road railbed. Or, you may ride free from the East Portal west on the Northern Pacific railbed to Lookout Pass, where you have the choice of two routes down to Mullan and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. Finally, you may continue on from the Pearson Trailhead to Avery and the St. Joe River following the Milwaukee Road railbed south.

We are working with the national Rails to Trails Conservancy to place signs along the rest of The Old Milwaukee Road from the Pearson trailhead to Avery and beyond. This is the initial part of our effort to complete a 185 mile bike loop in our region.

This fun 22 mile bicycle ride on fairly flat terrain followed both dirt roads that connect Pearson (the lowest Route of the Hiawatha trailhead) and the town of Avery. A map of the Pearson Avery Figure Eight, complete with milepost commentary and photos, is now on our Other Trails page.

The riders stayed at the North Fork (of the St. Joe) Campground. To get there from Wallace, follow Forest Road 456 over Moon Pass, and travel past the Pearson Trailhead. There will be TWO trestles that you must pass over before getting to Avery: one over Big Dick Creek, and the other over the North Fork of the St Joe River. Take the ramp at the south end of the trestle over the North Fork. The campground is ½ mile downstream, near Milepost 24. It is well marked, as shown by the picture. If you are coming from St. Maries, take Forest Road 456 in Avery, but do not cross the first trestle, take the ramp instead.

This beautiful and isolated route between Pearson and Avery may be seen from the air... IF you have the FREE Google Earth program installed.

See
• July 2004 News for details on how this will extend the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes experience from Mullan to Lookout Pass, from 72 to at least 81 miles!
• August 2004 News for elevation information and photos of the route
• September 2004 News for photos of an alternative route for experts only
• Fall 2004 News for progress report through winter 2004

In August 2005, Zanetti Bros. helped us pour a cement pad for an interpretive sign beside the new restroom at the Stevens Lake trailhead.

Located about a mile below Lookout Pass, this is one of two tables that we have placed at scenic spots along the historic railgrade. Notice the cement pad waiting for an interpretive sign during a September sunset.