Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

About the Trail

The award winning 72 mile paved, non-motorized, mostly alpine and basically flat rail trail is a very narrow Idaho State Park. It travels downhill from the Plummer prairie over the expansive Chatcolet Bridge along the Coeur d’Alene Lake following the flow of the Coeur d’Alene River though a collection of chain lakes and farmland until it becomes more forested along the river which divides into two confluences and following the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene until it terminates after climbing up to the small quant City of Mullan near the Montana border. This is a fully developed trail with tables, benches, outhouses, kiosks and formal trailheads with lots of parking. The trail was part of an environmental remediation project so the State asks that you stay on the trail, wash hands and face before eating and eat at designated waysides and trailheads, carry water with you for drinking and washing. There is no fee to use the trail.

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alene is open year around and the most easterly end of the trail is groomed for snowmobile traffic between Wallace and Mullan which also means its open for cross county skiing. For those advanced users seeking to ride centuries Wallace to Harrison or Kellogg to Chatcolet will provide you with that experience. While nothing beats a romantic fall peddle from Pinehurst south the entire trail is a happy, healthy wholesome experience.

Skill Level: Easy/beginner and child safe
Animals: All dogs must be on a leash

Directions to the Trail

• Because the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene is 72 miles long it has multiple trailheads. Some of the more popular and easily found trailheads are: Plummer, Harrison, Bull Run, Cataldo, Enaville, Pinehurst, Silver Mountain, Wallace and Mullan.
• Most of the trailheads are found along or off Interstate 90 however, the Plummer Trailhead is off of Hwy 95 at the bottom end of Coeur d’Alene lake.
• Among the most popular sections of the trail for families is the Harrison to Chatcolet Bridge ride which travels along lake Coeur d’Alene.
• Another favorite, and most easy to find trailheads, are the Enaville to Cataldo out and back ride. During the summer this is a loved section of the trail by families because its not a long distance, flat, along the river, mostly in the trees and it has restaurants at both ends for those summer treats.