Hike, Bike and Boat in Beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

If you ever wanted to walk on water, just head to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a picturesque panhandle town about eight hours north of Boise. Visitors can experience a simulated version of “walking on water” by visiting the world’s longest floating boardwalk. At 12’ wide and nearly three-quarters of a mile long, visitors get an unparalleled view of the pristine waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Coeur d’Alene Resort which serves as the anchor of the boardwalk. There’s also a 3,000 square foot sunning area located at the southwest corner of the boardwalk, which makes for a great place to watch the boaters coming in and out of the marina.

After you finish your walk here, head to Tubbs Hill, which is located directly west of the marina through the city parking lot. Tubbs Hill is comprised of 135 acres of publicly owned land and is largely undeveloped. Only a few man-made elements such as signage are found in this urban wilderness area accessible only by foot. At an elevation of 2,128 feet, the two-mile loop offers striking scenery and several tranquil spots. There are also several beach and cove access points where visitors can stop for a dip in the water or have a picnic and watch the boats go by.



Visitors can then give their legs a rest by hopping aboard one of the Lake Coeur D’Alene cruises. This is a great way to leisurely discover the lake without having to be the captain of your own boat. During the scenic 90-minute tour, visitors will cruise the lake’s northern bays, learn about the lake and some fascinating historical details, see the secluded lake homes and the worlds only floating golf green. Visit www.cdalakecruises.com for various cruises on Lake Coeur D’Alene and the St. Joe River.

For more scenic shoreline views of the lake, hop on a bike and ride the North Idaho Centennial Trail. This non-motorized, multi-use recreational trail, meanders for 24 miles from the state line at the Idaho/Washington border to beautiful Higgens Point, six miles east of Coeur d'Alene. Start your ride at the resort and follow the trail for six miles, which hugs the lake shoreline to Higgens Point, an Idaho State Park. In late fall and early winter, throngs of spectators come here to view the annual visit of bald eagles as they migrate south. The trail has numerous rest areas, scenic views and historical interpretative signs to add to the enjoyment of one of the most beautiful trail systems in the country. http://www.northidahocentennialtrail.org/

When You Go
For a centrally located hotel just off exits I-90 and I-95, try the Days Inn at 2200 Northwest Blvd. With new pillow top mattresses, you’ll sleep like a baby in this 62-unit, two-story establishment. Guests can make serve-yourself hot waffles each morning in the breakfast room and also enjoy a variety of other continental fare. Rates are $79 - $179 depending on the type of room and season. The hotel is 100% non-smoking, pet friendly and only one mile from downtown. In addition, the North Idaho Centennial bike trail is just across the street from the hotel. For more information call 208-667-8668 or visit their website at http://www.daysinn.com

Main Street In Coeur D'Alene

The Floating Green

Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail

The folks at Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area don’t seem to mind when you saunter through their shop with drippy, wet mud on your entire backside. They know you’ve just experienced what the locals affectionately call the “Taft Tunnel Swipe.”
I had just ridden the Route of the Hiawatha in Northern Idaho and I was looking for that perfect celebratory memento to proclaim my feat to the world. There it was, hanging on a rack – a souvenir t-shirt that read Hiawatha Trail on the front and on the back of the shirt -- the self-congratulatory pat on the back I was looking for:

“We came, We saw, We rode it all”
1.8 Taft Tunnel

Montana to Idaho
7 trestles

Bitterroot Mountains

15 miles of trail

10 tunnels

Touted as one of the most scenic Rails-to-Trails in the United States, the Route of the Hiawatha lives up to its legendary accolades.

Montana to Idaho

Visitors begin their ride in Montana, albeit for a very short distance, at the East Portal Trailhead at an elevation of 4,147 feet. Before you can warm up your riding legs, riders immediately enter the 1.8-mile St. Paul Pass (Taft) Tunnel, which crosses between Montana and Idaho where, midway through the tunnel, an interpretative sign on the wall indicates the Montana/Idaho border – that is if you can see it.

The Big, Long, Dark Tunnel
This tunnel gets cold, dark and wet fast. Within minutes, I really had to rely on the front-mounted bike light of my rental bike. The only thing keeping me from bouncing off the walls were the reflectors added on the sides of the roadway. Along with the obvious sight deprivation, a rider’s sense of sound is heightened as you hear water running down small channels at the sides of the road next to the walls. And you can’t help but get wet. The slippery, cold, muddy water kicked up from your back tire deposits itself on your backside while the biggest, coldest drops from the roof of the tunnel slither down you neck. As you keep riding, you’ll notice the temperature keeps dropping and your fingers start to become numb. It’s best to wear a jacket.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Just when you thought you couldn’t enjoy more of this “one of many highlights of the trail,” riders burst out of the tunnel into the bright light of the clear Idaho sky. Just to the right of the tunnel, riders will be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall and surrounding wildflowers.





Learning The Stories
All along the trail, there are numerous detailed signs providing information about the rich mining and railroading history, culture, and geology of the area. According to Route of the Hiawatha website, riders will learn more about “the scenic passage way through the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains, famous between 1911 and 1961 as the “Route of the Hiawatha” on the Milwaukee Road between Illinois and Washington.”



Railroad Trestles
After exiting tunnel 21, stop at the scenic viewpoint on the west side of the road. In the distance, riders will see the first of seven steel trestles you will cross. The longest and highest trestle riders cross, will be at mile six or trestle 220 when they cross over Kelly Creek. It stands 230 feet high and is 850 in length.
Riders will find themselves stopping quite often to take in the breathtaking views along the trail. Even with the gentle downhill grade of 1,000 feet, plan on taking two to three hours for the ride and an additional half hour for the bus ride back up the hill if you plan to take the shuttle.





When You Go

The trail is located just off Highway I-90 about 56 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Take the Taft exit, in Montana, and then turn right off the ramp. Turn right again over a small white bridge onto Rainey Creek Road and continue to the East Portal Trailhead. There will be signs directing you to the start of the trailhead.
Bike rentals, along with helmets and bike lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area. A day use trail fee of $9.00 can also be purchased here or from one of the trail marshals. You can bike or hike the trail any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. PST from May 23 to October 4, 2009. For a $9 fee, you and your bike can catch the shuttle bus back to the west portal of the Taft Tunnel where you can then ride back through the tunnel again.
For more detailed information, contact Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area at (208) 744-1301, http://www.skilookout.com/ or the US Forest Service, Avery office, (208) 245-4517, www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/rec/activities/biking/hiawatha.