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Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails

Idaho Panhandle

Mission Statement: The purpose of this Idaho not-for-profit corporation is to promote, educate, encourage and assist in the development and maintenance of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. In addition, the corporation intends to coordinate and share efforts in support of new and existing trail systems in the Saint Joe and Coeur d'Alene River basins and throughout northern Idaho and neighboring states.
Official Idaho Vacation and Travel Guide
click to see the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
last update on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

click to see the Route of the Hiawatha
Route of the Hiawatha
Membership Information Contact Us Sponsors
 

Wallace Inn sign, Idaho Next (bimonthly) Meeting: 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 15, 2010, at the Wallace Inn in Wallace. Take I-90, Exit 61, to the southern frontage road. You will see the large blue overhead sign to your left. Ask at the reception desk for directions to the meeting room.

bicycle trail conditions as of March 10, 2010
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
is a year around recreational opportunity. The trail has been blown clean from Harrison to Mullan. It is the best that it has ever been in early March. Come ride the trail! Please call Lonnie Johnson, Old Mission State Park Manager, at (208) 682-3814 for Park information or to find out precise conditions along the Trail.

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 Dean Chapman, Trail Manager at (208) 686-7045.

click to enlarge photo in separate window
typical Trail users

The Route of the Hiawatha
is closed for the season. The 1.7 mile long Taft Tunnel had its giant doors closed to keep sleepy bears out, but the other tunnels make great dens, so please stay out of them.

The 2010 season will probably begin on Memorial Day weekend as usual.

Remeber that there is a lot of great riding at lower elevations in that 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.

    At our 2009 December meeting, Tim Standal of Seattle, Washington, was the recipient of a $100 gift certificate to one of our business member's establishments. His Membership, #399, was randomly chosen from amongst all 2009 Individual and Family Memberships. We are in the process of contacting Tim with the good news.

This is an annual part of our Christmas celebration. Please become a member, or renew your membership, so that you will be eligible for the 2010 gift certificate. Better still, become or stay a business or corporate member and be eligible to redeem the certificate.

Our Frequently Asked Questions page has been expanded to answer 15 questions that have been frequently asked during the last five years. We always want to answer unique questions, but please read this page before writing to ask us a question as your concern may have already been addressed. Thank you.
click to enlarge photo by LAUREN TANDY October 18, 2007 — Rick Shaffer, Wallace Inn manager, hands over a plaque to Jon Ruggles, Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails president, while Jeff Legg, Bank Street Printing owner, and Del Sanborn, Friends promoter, hold up their award-winning map. Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails worked with Legg to produce the brochure about the recreational [bicycle] trails of the Idaho Panhandle. The tourism brochure/map was chosen for the Council's Choice Award given by the Idaho Travel Council through the National Idaho Tourism Alliance (NITA) in recognition of "Outstanding Marketing Promotion." The brochure was made possible by tourism grant money from the state's 2% lodging tax. Shaffer accepted the award at this year's Governor's Conference in May.
A MILWAUKEE ROAD page has been added to this website. It features our work to incorporated 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.
Please visit our Sponsors and Business Associates page to see those local businesses that support our efforts. Some of our supporters also have their websites displayed on our Links to Related Enterprises page, along with the websites of other local and national organizations of interest to the bicycle community. Please support those who support us. Thank you!

click to enlarge photo by LAUREN TANDY The SIXTH edition of 20,000 Recreational Trails of the Idaho Panhandle maps are now in circulation. This is an increase of 5,000 from previous editions. These 17" x 22", 20-panel color brochures (with a TAN front panel background color) are similar to the fifth edition (light green background), except for additional 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. Also, the trail map for the Route of the Hiawatha has been enhanced with color coding, and various details have been added to the map for the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. Our interest in promoting the Old Milwaukee Road from the East Portal of the Taft Tunnel to Saltese, Montana, is also indicated. We are working with Lolo National Forest personel to make this a safe, multi-use recreational trail.

The current edition includes information on 32 hospitality providers along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes from Mullan to Plummer, plus listings for enterprises in Spokane, St. Maries and Avery! 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 200 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).

click to enlarge the osprey seen in the chain lakes area Coeur d'Alene Audubon has compiled a checklist of birds for the bike trail. It is available as a PDF file that can be printed out from our website www.cdaaudubon.org.

Thanks,
Lisa Hardy
Coeur d'Alene Audubon

Remember, Heyburn State Park, on the west side of the Chatcolet Bridge, is now charging a $4 parking fee.

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 opened on May 30, 2009, one week later than usual because of snow accumulations left from a great ski 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.

The Pearson-Avery Figure Eight
was riden on Saturday, September 16, 2006.

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.

click to enlarge this photo by Ed Renkey 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.

Renovation work on the North Fork Joe Campground has been completed so there are 5 camp units available for summer 2009. Vault toilets. "Pack It In, Pack It Out" refuse policy. No developed water. Trailers are not recommended. Although not yet reflected on the Forest Service website, the name has been changed to "Telichpah Campground" after a local Indian woman. Seven other campgrounds are nearby, beginning a few miles east of Avery along the spectacular St. Joe River Gorge, which is known for great fly fishing, white-water kayaking and rafting.
$21K Trail Enhancement Grant awarded to the
Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails!
 
Northern Pacific Railbed Restoration Project
    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
  • Completion Report due out soon!
Until then, here are some photos of recent accomplishments:

click to enlarge this photo by Del Sanborn click to enlarge this photo by Del Sanborn In August 2005, Zanetti Bros. helped us pour a cement pad for an interpretive sign beside the new restroom at the Stevens Lake trailhead.

click to enlarge this photo by Greg Marsh click to enlarge this photo by Greg Marsh 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.

    This impressive mountain pass traverse between Mullan, ID, and Taft, MT may be seen from the air... IF you have the FREE Google Earth program installed.

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©2003-2010, Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails
Webworks by Greg Marsh
http://friendsofcdatrails.org/index.html
last update on Wednesday, 10-Mar-2010 13:48:36 PST
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