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The Chatcolet Bridge is now open for people on foot,
bicycles and skates!
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Although far from obvious in aerial photos and road maps,
the southern end of Lake Coeur d'Alene is at the Chatcolet
Bridge, viewed from the western shore above. South of the
historic bridge and bike trail is Chatcolet Lake, Round
Lake and the mouth of the St. Joe River that flows between
them.
Heyburn State Park, created from the
Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation by an act of Congress in
1908, and containing 5,505 acres of land and 2,333 acres of
water, is at the west end of the bridge. Besides
Lake Chatcolet, shown above, the Park includes
Benewah Lake and Hidden Bay.
(Note that this map, borrowed from the Idaho Parks and
Recreation webpage linked above, does NOT show the Bridge or
the Trail which enters the Park in the vicinity of the words
"Chatcolet Use Area."
See our map for clarification.)
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The stair step construction of the ramps leading to the recently
elevated bridge makes it relatively easy to climb to the
scenic vantage point, and downright exciting to leave it.
Another thrill comes from seeing all the wildlife along
the trail. Besides osprey, such as the one shown here,
visitors may also see great blue herons, bald eagles,
moose and muskrats in this area. Click on these photos
by Mike Peak to open enlargements in separate windows.
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