Bitterroot 300K Loop

Route Description

The Bitterroot 300K Loop is truly the best of the Bitterroots on bicycle. It combines all the trails except the Olympian into large loop. The loop takes you from the upper reaches of the mountains along fresh streams down rivers into historical places, small towns and farms. Part of the trail is paved the other part is compact dirt and gravel. This is a chance for you to use a hybrid or mountain bike changing the tires from aggressive to slicks.

The Bitterroot 300 is the chance of a lifetime to stay in small towns, B&Bs or camp along the way. You need to plan to spend at least 3 days on the bike based on a 60 miles a day trex with one climb at the start and a gentle downhill or flat terrain for the rest.

You need to be prepared and think ahead before you hit the road. Some suggestions might be a water filter for drinking out of streams, extra tubes, tights, shells and a sweater, matches, some plastic even if you are not staying out in the wild, food, flashlight and electrolytes. If you are camping you may stay anywhere in the National forest and you do not need a ticket or permit to stay at even improved sites. Simply peddle up and stay. If you are going to stay with lodging make sure you contact the hotels or B&B ahead of time. If you plan on fishing a wild and scenic river you need to have a license and know your catch. The best thing about the loop is that there are no Rattlesnakes but you need to watch out for Moose. There are little black bears but no grizzly. The trail is in the middle of elk deer and wolf habitat and we like the rest of the northwest we have cougars—just don’t tell your spouse. If you hit the loop right there will be huckleberries to eat just make some noise in the patch. If you are in late summer you need to figure out fire restrictions sometimes those are allowed at developed campsites only. Mostly just have fun.

Directions

All the trails that you will use have directions on our site so please copy them and place with your gear. We are also willing to speak, text or email with you about concerns. We advise that you leave from Wallace and make the climb up the pass first while you are fresh. You may leave your car in Wallace and not worry about it being out at some trailhead. If you do not want to make the climb, the Wallace Inn will shuttle you to the top.

Day One

Distance about 61 miles
Peddle up to Mullan on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and connect with the Northern Pacific (NorPac) at the east end of the Mullan Trailhead. Take NorPac up over Lookout Pass and drop down into Montana until you make the connection with the Taft exit which merges with the NorPac. Follow signs up a small hill to the Hiawatha and down the Hiawatha (there is an entrance fee) At the end of the Hiawatha go right from Pearson (which is the bottom of the Hiawatha) and cross over Loop Creek turn left and go over the bridge which starts the Milwaukee Scenic Alternate Route. Just stay on the road and enjoy the river and forest— the trail is signed and checked yearly. Just past the improved campground the trail makes a short climb and then drops into the St Joe River basin and Avery.

Day Two

Distance about 58 miles
After leaving Avery you cross over onto River Road and go 12 miles until you cross over the Avery Road making a right on to the Milwaukee Trail. The dirt road is county maintained road but there is not a lot of traffic on it. When you enter Calder there is a store and a restaurant to refresh yourself and make the decision on walking the old wood bridge or taking you bike around it that has a little climb associated with it. After that decision its straight on to St. Maries. We advise that you stay at the Pines Motel because they will shuttle you to the Heyburn or Plummer Trailheads. We do not advise using Highway 5 because it has no shoulder and logging trucks. But if you are a urban rider you might want to peddle that 12 miles.

Day Three

Distance about 58 miles
Peddle from Plummer or Heyburn to Wallace after changing your tires from aggressive to slicks. It is worth changing over so you can just cruise into lunch at Cataldo or Enaville before you hit the land of micro beers and brew pubs in the Silver Valley. Its ok to have a couple pints to numb your butt in uptown Kellogg to make it the last 10 miles to Wallace. Don’t forget there are two breweries in Wallace and even a wine bar to celebrate before you clean-up and get the smell of wood smoke out of your hair. Then treat yourself to a job well done. Sleep well.

Wallace to Burke

Route Description

This ride will take you through several deserted mining towns on the way to Burke. The road is fairly smooth with long sweeping curves and lightly traveled. There is a 1000 ft elevation gain in this 7 mile ride. The climb is steady, but not difficult. At one time the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific ran standard gauge rails up this canyon beside a narrow gauge railroad. This
route was included in January/February 2013 AAA Washington Journey Magazine as one of
five “Northwest Alternatives to the Interstate”.

CCC Road – Wall Road Loop

Route Description

This beautiful 13-mile paved and compact dirt alpine loop with great vistas. The loop includes sections of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, the CCC Road and a small stretch of the county road. This road was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression when they had a camp in the meadow located at the bottom of the grade. The loop consists of flat and steep terrain that on the summer equinox becomes a bike event as cyclists peddle from Enaville (or Cataldo) along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to the Summit and down the other side. The loop has serval miles at 6% grade that many riders are able to climb without stopping or walking their bicycle. However, taking a minute to enjoy the fantastic view of the Coeur d’ Alene River and the trail running along side of it is well worth the time. This loop can be ridden or skied at any time because the trail roads are public.

Directions to the Wall

Starting at the Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes Enaville Trailhead travel west until you enter Cataldo turn right for about 1/4 mile crossing the bridge turn left onto the CCC Road. Travel down the road and it becomes narrower and begins to climb. After reaching the summit the dirt road drops down for about 2 miles and gives way to pavement turning left and then continues dropping it the river where you turn left and go up and over the bridge. When you “T” at the county road turn left after checking twice because that section is well used by vehicles. Continue back to Enaville.

Dobson Pass Loop

Route Description

The Dobson Pass Loop starts in Wallace on Nine Mile Road which is 6th Street in Wallace. This is a county road that is maintained but not well used. The Pass is an 8 percent climb for 4 of its 6 miles and has over 32 corners on its way to the summit on the Wallace side. The back side, north face, is 12 percent. This “up over and back” is a popular with experienced local riders, and is perfect for the paved road bike rider who loves to climb.

The loop is best taken in early spring or late fall because the river road is well used during the summer with people tubing down the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. This loop goes over the top of Dobson Pass, turns left on the River Road at Prichard and after many miles turns left at Enaville back onto the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to Wallace. If it is summer and you are a bicyclist looking to burn calories turn right at the River Road and proceed to Murray where you can fuel up at one of two restaurants and go back and climb the backside of Dobson Pass and down to Wallace.

Anderson & Thompson Lakes Loops

Route Description

The 16 mile scenic loop on compact gravel provides wetlands, river and multiple lake views. The compact roads are generally flat and gentling rolling surfaces. These are wonderful evening rides on bikes or vehicles. The route is equipped with a formal a waterfowl viewing stand on Thompson Lake. The ride can be done as a small or larger loop. In both rides wider tires are advised.

Short Anderson Lake Loop

From the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Harrison Trailhead located down by the marina, go to the right (facing the marina) until you see Anderson Lake on the right. Just past Anderson Lake near the Springston Trailhead turn right on to Anderson Lake Road travel along the road until intersecting with Bell Canyon turn right until you intersect with Highway 97, then turn left back to Harrison.

Large Thompson and Anderson Lakes Loop

Follow highway 97 north out of Harrison and cross over a long bridge turning right on the other side onto Thompson Lake Road follow until intersecting with E. Blue Lake Road and turn right back toward lake Coeur d’Alene. Travel on the E. Blue Lake until turning left onto the Springston Bridge. Cross over the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes onto Anderson Lake Road repeat the directions for Anderson Lake Loop.