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.