Bike Tour North Idaho

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is like a string that spans the north Idaho panhandle from Plummer to Mullan. The guidebook starts in Plummer and works east for several reasons. Trail miles are marked on maps beginning at Hn’ya)pqi’nn, the Plummer Trailhead. It is closest to Spokane (the largest city between Seattle and Chicago) and has an international airport. The region's history begins with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and it is their vision and hard work that sparked one of the nation's most popular biking trails.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

There are several ways to get to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. Drive, hire a shuttle service or use a tour company that features the trail. Several lodgings providers offer courtesy shuttles. You can also travel all the way from Spokane International Airport to the Plummer Trailhead using only biking trails and public transit. (See last FAQ).

WHERE CAN I GET A MAP?

Map printing and distribution was a challenge in 2011. Trailside businesses, who hand out maps for free, for the most part, said they were unable to provide maps for many riders who requested them. The Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails has a map online that can be printed out onto a standard sheet of paper. You may also request maps from them via an online form or email.

An Idaho Parks and Recreation Dept. map can be viewed on the state's Web site. Bookmark it, because it doesn't come up in a search for trail maps. There are some nice interactive trail maps on the Idaho Parks and Rec website. Bookmark these too, because they are buried. There is a link on the same website for non-motorized trails, but it is not operational, so don't waste your time.

The Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce visitor center in Kellogg still had friends' trail maps as of October 2011. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe sometimes prints maps for distribution, and some may be still be available at the tribal Fish and Game office near the Plummer Trailhead.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Riding the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is free and there is no charge for parking at trailheads with the exception of a $5 Motor Vehicle Entry Fee (MVEF) for day use in Heyburn State Park. Come without a vehicle, save gas and use the park free. Please see the next faq regarding group permits.

WHEN DOES MY GROUP NEED A PERMIT TO USE THE TRAIL?

Groups of 25 or more riding the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes must contact a Trail Manager for details on group use permits.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RIDE THIS RAIL TRAIL?

Many visitors ride the entire trail, or most of it, in two or three days, but there is enough to see and do for a memorable weeklong vacation.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?

There is enough to do along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes to create a great pedal powered vacation in scenic North Idaho. Your options include hiking, boating, kayaking, tours, geo-caching, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, dancing, sightseeing, wine tasting, antiquing, and shopping, to name a few. All these fun activities can be easily accessed from with a mile or less of a trailhead. Consider the connecting trips in the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Unofficial Guidebook. The have been selected because of their unique offerings, and they are within an easy ride of the trail, or courtesy shuttles can be arranged with lodging providers.

See even more of this beautiful area. The Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails website provides excellent itineraries for additional rides near the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

WHERE CAN I RENT BICYCLES?

Bicycle rentals are available along the trail at three locations: Pedal Pushers in Harrison, Excelsior Cycles in Kellogg and Silver Mountain Sports in Kellogg. If Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is your base camp for exploring the region's biking trails, head to Terra Sports at 517 E. Sherman Ave. for rentals, great service, and staff who are knowledgeable about the area's biking trails.

ARE GUIDED TOURS AVAILABLE?

Guided tours by ROW Adventures are led by knowledgeable, certified guides.

Silver Bike Tours offers full logistical support for your self-guided vacation on the trail, including shuttles when necessary, luggage transfers, and lodging within walking distance of restaurants.

DO TRAILHEADS HAVE DRINKING WATER?

The only water fountain at a trailhead is at Hn’ya)pqi’nn Trailhead (Plummer). Plan to buy plenty of water at trailside stores. Stretches between sources vary from one to 25 miles.

ARE THE RESTROOMS OPEN ALL YEAR?

Flush toilets at Hn’ya)pqi’nn Trailhead at Plummer and Heyburn State Park are shut down during cold weather to avoid damage from freezing. The composting toilets on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation are open longer, but generally close in winter. Portable restrooms at Cataldo and Mullan Trailheads are removed during the off-season. Other restrooms stay open year round.

WHAT ABOUT FOOD AND LODGING?

There are many places to eat and stay along the trail but some expanses have no amenities. A new section with links to online menus of restaurants along the trail will be added here during the winter of 2012. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Unofficial Guidebook highlights some of the specialties at restaurants in each trailside community, and tells you how to get there.

You can see links to motels, inns, vacation rentals, and campgrounds in the vicinity of the trail in the left and right columns. The accommodations span from spartan camping cabins, with nothing but wooden bunk frames (you bring the bedding), to luxury condos with rooftop hot tubs, and everything in between. All hospitality providers linked from this page support the trail guide and this website by purchasing advertising space or selling the guidebook. Please let them know you found them through the trail guide web page.

CAN I PARK MY RV AT TRAILHEADS?

There are no designated RV parking spots at any trailheads, but several have space to park and maneuver large campers and trailers conveniently. These include: Plummer, Chatcolet, Silver Mountain, and Mullan. There are commercial RV parks at Heyburn, Harrison, Cataldo, Enaville, Elizabeth Park, Osburn, and Wallace.

WHERE CAN I PITCH A TENT?

Camping is restricted to established campgrounds, such as Harrison City Campground on Lake Coeur d'Alene, pictured here. See the bar on the right for links to other campgrounds along the trail. The webcam link above shows views of the area immediately south of the lakeside campground in Harrison, Idaho.

For detailed descriptions of trailside communities, points of interest, historical insights and connecting trips, get the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Unofficial Guidebook.

CAN I MAKE A BONFIRE?

No bonfires are allowed along the trail right of way. Trail managers also request that people refrain from launching fireworks from the trail.

WILL I BE ABLE TO FIND ORGANIC OR VEGETARIAN FOOD?

Some restaurants offer enlightened dining selections, including wild salmon, salad bars, soups, vegie burgers, and organic ingredients. These are noted in the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Unofficial Guidebook. Many eateries serve specialties made with huckleberries picked in the surrounding mountains, and a couple of local farmers provide a few naturally grown items to chefs and grocers. A new local food connection is with North Idaho Mountain Brewery, which provides some of its spent grain to the D&G Bakery, both in Wallace.

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Unofficial Guidebook includes a telephone list of trailside lodgings, bike rentals and transportation options to the trail.

IS THE TRAIL ADA ACCESSIBLE?

Yes. The guide notes trailheads with disabled parking spaces and accessible restrooms. Much of the route is flat. Inclines at Plummer and Chatcolet Bridge are about five percent and engineered with level areas that give you a break from the uphill climb. The grade between Wallace and Mullan is about three percent.

CAN I BRING MY DOG?

Pets are welcome if they remain on a short leash and under your control at all times. Please clean up any ‘land mines’ they deposit.

ARE MOTORIZED VEHICLES ALLOWED?

Most of the trail is designated for non-motorized use. You may occasionally see an official motorized vehicle on the trail. There is also a multi-use section between Wallace and Mullan, which is open for snowmobiles in winter. Motorized wheelchairs are welcome but not motor-assisted bicycles.

Due to a new federal ruling, Trail Commissioners are reconsidering the types of motorized vehicles people with physical challenges may use on the trail. Anyone affected by their decision may want to weigh in with the commissioners by email. They will be discussing the matter at their 2012 spring meeting.

ARE HORSES ALLOWED?

Horses are not allowed on the trail.

WHAT WILDLIFE IS THERE?

Much of the trail is rural and one of its charms is the presence of wild animals. Eagles, osprey, blue heron, deer, beaver, snakes, turtles, turkeys, moose, coyote, bear, elk, and cougar all inhabit the region. Cougars have been sighted at several locations along the trail in fall of 2011. Enjoy these animals but don’t feed or approach them. If you see a cute little baby assume a protective mother is nearby. Watch for bear, deer, elk and coyote sign that announces the presence of these animals. Please report bear, cougar or moose sightings on or near the trail within the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation to the tribe’s wildlife program by calling 208-686-6603.

Habitat along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes supports more than 200 varieties of birds. Here is a Bird Checklist compiled by Coeur d'Alene Audobon.

ARE HELMETS REQUIRED?

Helmets are not legally required on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.

CAN I GET THERE WITHOUT DRIVING?

Yes, but take a deep breath! If you are coming from other parts of the world and don’t want to drive, you can still reach the trail without riding in traffic, except for a few short portions of the Spokane Centennial Trail. There are several options – some more convenient than others. The easiest and quickest is to hire a private shuttle service, or a tour company that handles logistics, such as ROW Adventures . Morning Star Lodge at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, offers paid shuttles for their guests, from the Spokane International Airport. Arrangements must be made at least two weeks in advance. As of this writing, Morning Star Lodge is the only lodging provider along the trail that provides airport pickup.

If you have more time than money, or want to travel in a heroically sustainable manner, there are three public bus companies that serve various trailheads, and travelers with bikes are allowed, but it will require great planning and patience.

Getting Here from the Airport

There is a Spokane Transit Authority (STA) bus stop .8 miles from the airport. Catch the #64 to the downtown Spokane Bus Plaza. From there, take the #74 bus at Riverside and Post, to Liberty Lake. That’s as far east as the Spokane Transit buses go, so the rest of the way to the Idaho state line is by dedicated biking trail on the Centennial Trail (except for a few miles of trail gaps). The Harvard Trailhead is 1.3 miles north of the Liberty Lake bus stop. STA buses carry bikes on a first-come first-served basis.

Cyclists can also take an STA bus from the airport to downtown, then get on the Spokane Centennial Trail in Riverfront Park. The Spokane Centennial Trail friends website has details about what to expect along this 20-mile stretch, including trail maps, and gaps where you will have to ride in traffic. Mileage counts on the Centennial Trail go from east to west, but you'll be heading east. From the Bus Plaza, go east one block on Riverside, and four blocks north on Howard. Catch the trail next to the carousel in Riverfront Park and head east. Helmets are required in Spokane. Don’t wander over to Division St., where bicycles are illegal.

Once in Idaho, you can stay on the Centennial Trail all the way to downtown Coeur d’Alene. You could also catch a free Citylink bus near the Centennial Trail at State Line or in Post Falls.

If you do this, you'll have to take three buses to get to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes trailhead in Plummer. The Red Route from State Line to the Riverstone Transfer Station; the Link Route from there to the Coeur d’Alene Casino; and the Brown Line (Rural Route) to the Plummer Trailhead. See the CityLink Website for updates and advice on traveling with a cycle.

So, you can get from the Spokane Airport to Coeur d'Alene pretty conveniently by bike. (See the North Idaho Centennial Trail for info on the Idaho section). After that, if you don't want to ride on I-90 or Hwy 95, you'll have to take a CityLink bus, call a private shuttle, or hire a boat and captain to zip you and your gear down to the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene. (See the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Guidebook for information).

Trailways

Northwest Trailways stops in Plummer, but there is no place to rent a bicycle in Plummer anymore, so you'd have to bring your own. Trailways requires bikes to be in boxes and they will only accept them if there is room, which you won't know until you get there. Not very bike friendly!

If your group from Seattle, Boise, or beyond wants to leave the cars at home while exploring the Trail of the CdA, or entire Bitterroot Loop, try posting to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Riders Facebook Group so someone can refer you to service providers who can help with logistics.

WHO OVERSEES THE TRAIL?

A six-member Trail Commission sets policy for the trail. Seats are filled by members of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the State of Idaho, and the public. Meetings are open to the public and occur at least two times a year.