Biking the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
(Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)
Trailheads abound and signage such as this is available along the trail. An overall map is available on the Harrison Idaho website, which also offers section maps showing greater detail. When French fur traders met the Native Americans living here, they called them the Coeur d'Alenes, which is translated to the "discovered ones."
This trail runs 71.4 miles from Mullan to Plummer in Idaho, with about 12 miles running along the shore of the beautiful Coeur d'Alene Lake. The eastern segment runs along the Coeur d'Alene River and later parallels Interstate 90, crossing under it several times on the way to Mullen. Wayside Rest Areas are available at regular intervals, many with restrooms
This bridge over Coeur d'Alene Lake goes up in small increments with level sections between, and I was told it was to allow wheelchairs to more easily make it up and down the grades. It also made for interesting bike riding -- a very different experience. Called the Chatcolet Bridge, it was newly reconstructed in 2004 just before I biked over it. Formerly lower in height by 20 feet, the bridge used to rotate 90 degrees to allow boats to pass through the waterway, but now it is in a fixed position and elevated to allow boats under it.