Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes

Overview

• Length: 72 miles, although this ride was just over 36 miles (round trip)
• Elevation change: Negligible.
• Full description on the TrailLink web site.
• GPS of today's ride between Rose Lake and Harrison, ID.
• Trivia: The trail pavement serves to contain mining contaminants remaining from the original railbed (see History below).

History

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes was created as part of an environmental clean up by the Union Pacific Railroad in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene tribe, and state and federal agencies.  It follows a 72 mile Union Pacific right-of-way between Plummer and Mullan, ID, in the Idaho Panhandle.

Silver was discovered in this valley around 1884, and the railroad was built around 1888 to support the mining and timber industries.  The original railbed was made of waste rock and tailings from the mines(1).  Nowadays, there would be quite an uproar to think of a railway built on such a foundation, and even more so, along such a pristine river valley.

But we can be thankful now that it has been cleaned up and given back to the public.  What's more, this particular stretch has become a wildlife refuge.  Additional information can be found at the Idaho Parks & Recreation web site.

Commentary

I rode a section of the trail that spans the Coeur d'Alene River Wildlife Management Area between Rose Lake and Harrison, ID.  I started at the Rose Lake trail head, which is just south of Interstate 90 (just west of Cataldo, ID).

It was a beautiful day for a ride - around 70° - and indeed, there was a lot of wildlife (I saw ducks, pelicans, great blue heron, and even a couple moose).  I've attached some photos below.  I had some videos as well; of a moose swimming across the river, and a heron taking to flight; but unfortunately, they did not turn out very well; I'm looking at other options on the helmet camera.

(1) Idaho Parks and Recreation | History, http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/trail-coeur-d-alenes

Rose Lake Trail head.

Heading out from Rose Lake, one of a few long straight-a-ways through marsh land.

If you look closely, there's a Heron!

and a Pelican!

You'll pass about 8 lakes along the way.

A cool old out-building near Medimont, ID.

Heading into a wooded area.

A moose eating the brush; I just couldn't get her to turn around.

Bridge at Anderson Lake Road

Heading west, you begin to see more of the rock formations typical of the Columbia River Basalt Group.

Arriving at the marina and campgrounds in Harrison, ID, on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  A nice stop for an Ice Cream Cone, or a Cold Beer.  As it was, I had an energy bar and a bottle of water.  :-/

For what it's worth, here is the video of the heron taking to flight.  It was wonderful from where I was standing, but the wide field-of-view makes it look quite far away.  And I wasn't paying enough attention to where I was aiming the helmet (notice the bobbing). The heron will be at the bottom of the screen, just right of center.  In the mean time, I've ordered a new camera that supports a narrower field-of-view.

Ben Burr Trail

Overview

• Length: One mile out and one mile back, consisting of gravel and dirt.
• Change in elevation: about 100 feet up as you head east from Liberty Park.
• Full description on TrailLink website.
• I didn't get a good GPS tracking, so here's a link to a similar output.

History

This is just a short section of what was once the expansive Spokane and Inland Empire Railroad, which was an electric interurban passenger line set up in 1904.  It joined various Spokane neighborhoods and reached as far as Coeur d'Alene and Pullman.  You can find a brief history here.

Commentary

Rich in history, this is a wonderful neighborhood trail.  Although for such a short ride, it's really best if you live nearby.  It currently consists of gravel and dirt.  For a number of years now, there has been an effort by the city to pave it and join it to the Spokane Centennial Trail, but this has not been a popular idea with the locals.

Access Points

• I do not recommend the west trail head, as shown on the TrailLink website.  This is due to the abundance of broken glass throughout the parking lot and trail entrance.  And it does not seem to be the official start of the trail - it's more like a trail leading to the trail.
• Instead, I suggest the trail entrance on the east side of Liberty Park, parking in the lot at Pittsburg and 5th, just north of the Aquatic Center.
• You can also enter the trail at the S 800 block of Altamont, heading up a ramp to the east.
• And if you're coming from the east, you can park at Underhill Park on south Fisk.  But you'll have to head up the hill to find the trail.

Photos

On Pittsburg, with the parking lot on the right, looking to the trail head to the South.

As you head up the hill, stay to the far left to enter the trail.

Rail corridor carved through the rock.

Looking north from a clearing in the trail.

The trestle across Altamont Street.

East of the trestle, there's a short stretch of dirt.

Although is it documented that the trail ends at Underhill park, it appears that the only access is to leave the trial and go down this hill to the park.

The mail trail ends at Hills Court, a street accessible from Thor on the east.

As you approach the Altamont trestle from the East, you have street access to Altamont straight ahead, and a stairway to 9th street to the left.