Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails

Route of the Hiawatha
• Usually opens on Memorial Day weekend...
  but this year, who knows? There will still be skiing at Silver Mountain this Saturday, May 17! Snowfall this winter has been very dramatic.

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.

Renovation work on the North Fork Joe Campground has been completed so there are 5 camp units available for summer 2008. 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.

The Route of the Hiawatha opened on Memorial Day weekend, 2007, as usual. 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 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 FIFTH edition of 15,000 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 front panel background color equal to the background color of this panel) are similar to the fourth edition, 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. The current edition includes information on 43 hospitality providers along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes from Mullan to Plummer, plus listings for enterprises in 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).

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.

Silver Mountain All Season Resort is a Platinum Member of our organization. They have a lot going on during the 2008 summer season - check them out!

At our April 17, 2008, meeting, Silver Mountain presented a check for $675 to the Friends representing the net proceeds form last September's Mine to Vine Bike Tour and Wine Tasting Party. This fourth annual event was an interpretive DOWNHILL 18-mile bicycle tour of the historic mines along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, followed by a wine tasting social at Silver Mountain's Gondola Village. After the ride, good food, wine, and camaraderie was enjoyed in the company of local mine representatives from the Silver Valley's working mines.

THANK YOU SILVER MOUNTAIN!

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!

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.