The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes runs 72 miles from Plummer, Idaho, to Mullan, Idaho, via several lakes.
Thanks to Wes Moore for a partial GPS trace of this route, which has improved the map greatly between Plummer and Medimont.
Categories: Hilly &Over 50 Miles &Paved &Rural &Solitude
States: Idaho
Last Modified: August 17, 2007
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
Loading ...If the map has markers, click them for extra information. You can also double-click anywhere on the map to get driving directions to that point. Note:Trail routes shown are approximate! If you have a GPS trace of this trail, leave a comment below with your email address (which will not be published), and I'll contact you. Thanks!
Elevation profile of route: feet above sea level vs. distance traveled (approximate). Green marker on map above shows which end is designated as start of route.
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We did the Harrison to Medimount round trip ride last summer and I have a Garmin .gdb track of it. A good ride for a couple in their 60′s. We will be back there next week and I may have tracks of the Cataldo to Plummer portion (won’t do it all in one piece).
Let me know if you’d like what I have.
///Wes///
Very nice, fairly long trail. It’s probably too long for most people to round-trip in one day, but there’s towns at both ends, so you might be able to stay the night (depending on your standards – we’re not talking five star, here.) There are lots of wetlands along the way, with lots of interesting birds – we saw a bald eagle and about eight great blue herons on our ride. The part of the path that parallels the interstate is less beautiful, but still interesting, with many historical markers and old mining towns.
Contamination along the trail (from when it was a railroad) means that you can’t drink the water, so don’t bother with a water filter. There are towns where you can resupply at fairly wide intervals, as well as bathrooms and picnic tables along the trail at much closer ones (at least one every 10 miles.) There is at least one campground, which I believe is about 30 miles from the Mullan end.
Rode from Chatcolet campground up to Plummer, then back down, through Harrison to Gray’s Meadow last Sunday, 7/30/07 for total of 44 miles after a few side trips. Very nice ride. Chatcolet bridge is a hoot! Great compression on the stair-case and zero gravity coming off of the steps @ 20 mph. Take your own drinkable water, water at Heyburn St. Park is contaminated with e-coli and has warnings not to drink. Kathy L. M., sorry we missed on this one. Hope to make it up next time.
Jeff
The Friends of the Trail bike club page has listed for the last few weeks that the trail is closed from Harrison to Cataldo. A co-worker of mine checked it out last week and confirms that there is a major wash-out at about Gray’s Meadow that took out about 100 yards of the roadbed and a bunch of the local rancher’s pasture. Sounds like the trail between won’t be open this year. If anyone hears differently, please post.
Jeff
Rode the CDA trail this last Sunday, 8/3 from Heyburn St. Park up to Plummer, then back down to the Chatcolet bridge and back to wind up a really great biking weekend. Trail postings are that it is closed between Springston and Medimont. Water supply at Heyburn St. Pk. are still there to not drink the water.
Regards
“biker” Jeff
Wife Becky and I rode from Heyburn St Park up to Anderson Lake Wayside and back today (was a long milestone ride for her). We inquired at Harrison and were told that the trail is now open on weekends all the way to Cataldo, and that the heavy equipment work should be complete about Sept 8 to where the trail should be open seven days a week. Water at Heyburn is still posted as unsafe to drink, so take your own.
Regards
“biker” Jeff :)))
I am planning a trip to the trail 9/22-9/24. Any confirmation that the trail is now open weekdays from Springston to Cataldo? I read that the Harrison campground closes 9/15. Any other campgrounds generally around Harrison? I camp self-contained in a minivan. Is it OK to stay overnight at a trailhead w/RR.?
Thanks for any information.
-Paul
Paul: See my previous post. If you need additional info, the Friends of the C’Da Trail lists that “Please call Lonnie Johnson, Old Mission State Park Manager, at (208) 682-3814 for precise information on the ongoing situation caused by our Flash Spring Run Off after an EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ski season. Remember that State Parks and Recreation only manages the Trail from Mullan to Harrison.” The bike club page hasn’t been updated to reflect the late re-opening of the bike path. You might find additional camp ground infomation via the link to the club page at http://friendsofcdatrails.org/. Hope you enjoy the trail. It is truely a national treasure.
“biker” Jeff King
Thanks Jeff,
I spoke with the city clerk you told me that the campground in Harrison stays open past 9/15 on a self- serve basis. Showers stay open. I understand it that the trail is now completely open, even on weekdays. I will still give a call to Lonnie before I leave Seattle.
-Paul
The Friends of the Trail bike club says the trail is now open for ’09 travel.
The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
has been swept all the way to Mullan! Remember that nature continues to deposit debris on the Trail, so be careful if on rollar blades or skinny tires. Please call Lonnie Johnson, Old Mission State Park Manager, at (208) 682-3814 for precise information on conditions along the Trail.
Remember that State Parks and Recreation only manages the Trail from Mullan to Harrison. For information on conditions between Harrison and Plummer you need to call Dean Chapman, Trail Manager at (208) 686-7045. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has jurisdiction in this region. At our April 16 meeting in Harrison, Dean mentioned that the Tribe had purchased a sweeper and was almost finished clearing their section of the Trail from winter debris.
Happy Trails!
“biker” Jeff
Sunday, 5/17/09 had an excellent day of spring skiing up at Silver Mountain. Quit that about noon, pulled the Mt. Bike out of the car and did “The Wall” ride out of Enaville to round out an excellent weekend of bike riding. This years fund raiser ride will be Sunday night, 6/21. General info on the fund raiser ride can be obtained from Silver Valley Habitat for Humanity, hfhidaho@suddenlink.net. Info on the 13 mile trail ride is at http://friendsofcdatrails.org/other_trails.html#ride_the_wall. Great aerobic workout that will definitely get your heart rate up.
Happy Trails
“biker” Jeff
For the benefit of those who have not been on the Trail of CdA, I would like people to know they can share their stuff at the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s Riders page on Facebook.
My two biking friends Kathy and Marcie and me rode from Plummer to Thompson Lake and back this last Saturday. Quite a bit of traffic on the trail, which made it fun. We made 40 miles out of the ride by going back up to the base of the Plummer grade and then back to the marina at the end. A word of warning regarding speed traps! Plummer has extended the 25 mph speed limit to about 1 mile in any direction from town, and they are patrolling it regularily.
Happy trails!
“biker” Jeff