Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is one of those rare routes whose scale never feels like mere mileage. Over 73.2 paved miles, it links the Palouse-edge town of Plummer with Lake Coeur d’Alene, the quiet river wetlands around Harrison and Cataldo, and the old mining communities of the Silver Valley before finishing in Mullan. The full crossing is a serious day for a strong rider, but its gentle railway grades and exceptionally smooth asphalt also make shorter out-and-backs inviting.

The western beginning matters. Plummer lies within the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, and the trail is inseparable from the Tribe’s stewardship and history. Leaving town, the former railway alignment descends through forest and open country toward Heyburn State Park. The geometry is easy to read: long curves, steady grades and enough room to look outward rather than fight traffic.

Chatcolet is the first grand reveal. The former railway trestle and swing-bridge alignment stretches across the water for roughly 3,100 feet, turning a piece of transport infrastructure into a memorable cycling balcony. In 2026, however, marina construction affects this area. Idaho Parks lists complete trail closures with no detour on Monday through Thursday, September 15–18, 22–25 and September 29–October 2, while Friday-through-Sunday access is expected. Gravel may also cover affected surfaces, and riders should start outside Heyburn when parking is restricted.

Harrison makes a natural first long pause: a compact lakeside town where food, shade and the water’s edge are close to the trail. East of town, the ride changes character. The route follows the Coeur d’Alene River through wetlands alive with waterfowl and other wildlife, and the pace often softens without effort. The lake views are dramatic, but these quieter miles—water on one side, cottonwoods and marsh on the other—are the section many riders remember most.

Near Cataldo, Old Mission State Park adds the route’s strongest cultural stop. The Mission of the Sacred Heart and its landscape speak to complicated layers of tribal, missionary and regional history. It is worth allowing real time here rather than treating the site as a photograph-and-go waypoint. The trail then continues toward the Silver Valley, where mining towns, industrial remnants and steep mountain walls replace the broad wetland horizon.

The trail’s environmental story is practical, not decorative. Historic mining left contamination across the basin, and the paved trail plus its gravel shoulders form an engineered clean barrier. Riders should remain on the asphalt and designated picnic areas, keep children away from disturbed soil and shorelines, wash before eating, clean dirt from shoes, pets and equipment, and never drink surface water—even after filtering. These rules protect both riders and the cleanup work.

Kellogg, Osburn and Wallace provide the most useful service cluster and a chance to split the journey. Kellogg’s new South Fork Campground, opened in 2026, adds showers, potable water, secure bicycle parking and e-bike charging near the trail. Wallace rewards a slower pass with preserved mining-town architecture and food options before the final push to Mullan.

This is a route best shared with a touring partner or a small group, largely because logistics matter more than technical riding. There is no reliable end-to-end transit, so organize a shuttle or two vehicles in advance. Families can have an excellent experience on a shorter segment around Plummer, Harrison, Cataldo or Kellogg; attempting all 73.2 miles without support is a different proposition.

Idaho Parks publishes an elevation range of roughly 2,200 to 3,400 feet but not a verified total ascent, so Tour de Fun does not invent one. The official park page and its eight mapped sections are the primary planning tools. No unverified GPX, Strava, Komoot or Ride with GPS link is presented here. What earns this route its place on Tour de Fun is the unusual progression: tribal homeland, lake crossing, living wetlands, cleanup landscape and mining history, all joined by a surface that lets riders look up and absorb the story.

Source-backed, not locally verified: This is an editorial guide, not live navigation. Check closures, detours, weather, traffic and access rules with the source immediately before riding.