This trail needs to be in the Rails to Trails Hall of Fame. It has one of the best combinations of scenery and good trail surface of any trail in North America.

TOOLBEAR ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D’ALENES

DAY 3 – DOWN THE RIVER

September 23, 2009

ENAVILLE TRAILHEAD TO RIVER BEND WAYSIDE

Scenery – 5*, Trailbed – 5*, Facilities-4* … another delightful rural ride down a quiet river.

Day Three and we head out from Killarney Lake to explore. Checked out camping at Rose Lake. No camping there. You cannot trust the tent symbols on those maps unless you have a second source. This one was “iffy.” Would have been a great base. Close to freeway and the trail. Too good to be true.

The Bull Run Lake Trailhead at the top of the Chain Lakes south of Rose Lake and across the river was a very nice facility. Looks like a good place to ride up the river to Enaville TH (13.6) or down to Harrison (17.1). We moved on, exploring up the valley and landed at the Enaville Trailhead.

This trailhead has some features not found in the average facility. Across the highway is a local landmark called the “Snake Pit.” Since 1888. It may have been a cat house and rowdy groggery Back When, but there sure were a lot of bikies pedaling over. Perhaps it was the Cold Beer on the sign. The day was hot.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2144051/the_snake_pit_restaurant_in_kingston.html?cat=22

The next trailhead up the trail is Pine Creek, but Enaville has more charm, shade and better adjacent facilities. Park the van, assembly the folding mountain bike, equip it and head SW, down the river. Destination: River Bend Wayside & Restroom. This is a pleasant and quiet rural ride through pine forests and meadows along the river, with the hills crowding close to the trail. The river meanders in a series of loops down to the Chain Lakes. The vistas here were a little closer than found in the Chain Lakes.

Found that there is a pit stop at the Cataldo TH. The maps don’t show it, but they have a portaloo there. They also have shade, which was welcome as the day was HOT. (TB had avoided coming in summer when 100+ is the norm – or a thunderstorm. In late September it was only in the ‘90s. Improvement?)

The one adventure was on the way back: ToolBear meets Ms. Moose. Finally. Everyone else has moose pix. There were enough moose tracks on the trail. Now something ahead was browsing in a thicket along the trail. Could have been a horse. There are ranches along this stretch.

Approach slowly. Look. It looks back. Looks like a horse. However, does the average horse have one of those straggly chin beards that the teens grow? No. Ergo: moose. No rack; ergo: Ms. Moose. TB snaps a pix and slowly pedals off. Ms. Moose continues to feed.

Pedal on to Enaville, pack up and head up into the Silver Valley to explore trail heads. Things are getting civilized. Plummer Canyon, the Lake, the Chain Lakes and the River sections of the trail have been rural or forested, quiet, good scenery. Now we are heading for the Silver Valley section – cars, shops, homes, people, noise, fumes and such.

UP IN THE SILVER VALLEY --- CARS, PEOPLE, AND A WAL MART

Wonders! The trail runs alongside a Wal Mart Superstore in Smelterville and the trail head has an expresso stand next door. There might be some benefits to a bit of civilization. Not only is there an expresso stand. That head frame and ore car display conceals an RV dump station in the back.

Kellogg has a rather extensive park/greenbelt running a half mile along the trail. It takes looking to find the actual trail head – which is not at the Kellogg Depot – a charming HQ for the Chamber of Commerce. It’s about 500’ west down the trail, beyond the bike shop. You get a boring parking lot and trail head sign. You can do better.

Go 0.3 miles west (off N. Hill St.) and you find a great city park complex. There is a veteran’s memorial under construction, kiddy play lot, picnic tables, covered picnic shelter and a nice restroom with water. After you check out the depot building, base here. It’s a nice facility.

TRAIL MAPS AND FACILITIES… Check out the map collection on line…

When I was researching the TCDA last winter, it took a bit of poking about to find decent on-line maps of the trail. Here are some URLS that might help your planning.

You can find this brochure and trail map at the USFS office in Smelterville, adjacent to the Wal Mart.

< http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/assets/content/docs/Recreation/TrailCDAWeb.pdf>

This one is excellent. There are eight DeLorme topo maps with trail and facilities overlays that cover the whole trail. I downloaded a set and used these for the rides.

< http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/trailofthecoeurdalenes.aspx>

Where to camp in the Silver Valley is an issue. Had to go commercial. Wound up at the Big Creek RV Park next to the Shont (Big Creek) Trailhead below Osburn. Exit 54 out of Kellogg.

(www.rvnorthidaho.com)

Not bad. Not flossy, but I have a van, not a big RV. We got a tent site for the van for $10, a good price, and that included a nice hot shower. We came back on Day Four after exploring the upper valley and tourist things by van. I would expect to try them again next season.

I pedaled thru the Kahnderosa RV Park in Cataldo, between the trail and the river. Did not try them, so no reviews, but it has a handy location.

Down by the Depot in Wallace, which had an adverse review, is located just up the road from the Wallace Trailhead. You can see it from the parking lot.



Ride on!
ToolBear

TOOLBEAR ON THE TRAIL OF THE COEUR D’ALENES

DAY 1 – UP TO PLUMMER AND DOWN PLUS UP THE LAKE AND BACK

September 21, 2009

TRAIL OVERVIEW…

The 73 mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Wallace to Plummer, ID, is one of the West’s best “destination” trails, and certainly a five star project. It is a glorious ride. Superb scenery. Excellent facilities. The depth of the facilities is amazing. There are twenty developed trailheads and seventeen trail waysides along the route. There are 73 miles of 10’ wide blacktop trail bed and most of it rates a 5* for good surface. You can roller blade this stuff.

An experienced roadie can doubtless do the whole thing in one day. Or you can take your time and enjoy the views. The trail can be divided into several sections, each a nice ride: Plummer Canyon, Along the Lake, The Chain Lakes, The River, The Lower Silver Valley & WalMart Superstore, The Upper Silver Valley (start climbing). On Day One I climbed up to Plummer, coasted back down, then headed up the lake for a bit.

PLUMMER CANYON…

Facilities – 2 to 5*. Trail bed – 5*. Scenery – 4*

The descent from Plummer is well known and fun. See it on YouTube. No one seems to do the Ascent to Plummer. The ascent is about six miles of 3% grade. Just find the right gear and do it. You gain about 455’ in 6.78 miles.

It’s a nice forested canyon with two pit stops between the ratty Heyburn park trailhead at the base and the Plummer TH. (I mean, really! A gravel parking lot with one trashcan? No loo? On the TCDA? Even the waysides have more facilities.)

I was managing about 8 mph uphill (a geezer on mountain bike loaded with gear). There is water at the Plummer trailhead at the top, so enjoy. Water points are rare. You will not find this in the remote regions. Coming down, my max speed was 22 mph and I cruised at a comfy 17 mph.

TRAIL FACILITIES FROM BOTTOM TO TOP – PLUMMER CANYON SECTION

The standard wayside in this section has a vault toilet, picnic table, bench and bike rack and gets a 4* facility rating. Some have two tables and benches. Water is normally not available, so carry it.

N47.36040 W116.77973 Trailhead at Heyburn Rd. - gravel parking lot and trash can.
N47.36352 W116.79809 “Place for Racing” Wayside – vault toilet, bike rack, bench, picnic table, interpretative sign.
N47.35624 W116.84292 “Stopping Place” Wayside - vault toilet, bike rack, bench, picnic table, and interpretative sign.
N47.33993 W116.88931 “Gathering Place” Trailhead & Trail End at Plummer – double flush toilets, water fountain, bike rack, picnic tables, trail sign, art and paved parking lot.

Camping on the trail can be had at Heyburn State Park at the base of the lake.


OVER THE BRIDGE AND UP THE LAKE TOWARDS HARRISON…

Facilities – 4*. Trail bed – 5*. Scenery – 5*

At the base of the Plummer Grade you take the trail along the lake though Heyburn State Park to the boat launch/trail head. Ahead is the Chatcolet Bridge – which is fun. The approaches are done in a series of ramps and flats up to the swinging center section. Going down you can almost grab some air. If they would do lips on the ramps for some lift – but never mind. Then along the causeway to the shore and start pedaling up the lake shore. Really nice views. Numerous little docks and summer cabins on the slopes. These have trails to the lake. Some have causeways over the ditch. Some have drawbridges at the ends of their causeways.

I started this section after lunch at the campsite and rode it up to the second wayside – “A Familiar Place” and then back down. It would be about another ten miles round trip to Harrison, so dinner won out. About face and head back down the lake.

TRAIL FACILITIES ALONG THE LAKE…

N47.39915 W116.74300 “A Canoe Landing” Wayside – vault toilet, bench, picnic table with cover, sign, bike rack.
N47.41711 W116.74665 “A Familiar Place” Wayside - vault toilet, bench, picnic table, sign, bike rack.
N47.449935 W116.782641 Steamboat Landing – picnic table, bench, etc.

The next day we broke camp and headed up Rt. 3 from St. Maries, thence along the Chain Lakes to the Medimont Trail Head for a ride in the Chain Lakes section.

Ride on!
ToolBear