This shared-use path sits on the east side of US-95 from Coeur d'Alene to the Athol on the Kootenai County line.The trail was added as part of a US-95 Highway improvement project. The eight existing miles between Appleway Avenue in Coeur d'Alene and Garwood Road were upgraded, and the remaining miles of trail newly constructed as part of the project. The trail might one day be extended even further north, to Sagle. At nearly 40 miles out-and-back, the trail provides plenty of options for users, from walkers wanting to get their daily steps in close to home, to cyclists looking for a way to fill an afternoon by riding the whole distance. Note that there's a slight downward incline riding south. There are some trees but little shade on the trail.
There is no dedicated parking for this trail.
Well, the good thing about this trail is that it's paved and smooth. Otherwise, the trail is rather bleak, no scenery to speak of, unless you like highways. The Coeur d' Alene part is pretty much a frustration of cross traffic, stoplights, and more traffic. If you start off in Coeur d' Alene heading north, watch for right turn traffic at all the stoplights. Once you're away from CdA and past Hayden you lose the cross traffic and the ride proceeds with few interruptions. In Athol, the trail begins/ends at the Super 1. In CdA the trail begins/ends in some parking lot off Haycraft Ave. If you want to skip all the traffic lights and traffic you can start your ride from the Prairie Shopping Center. You won't miss much. Or go one block east to Government Way and ride that from Appleway to Prairie Ave. And you may want to plan your ride on a cool day. There is no shade on this route. There is a detour at E. Garwood for about a mile or so. (At least at the time of this writing.) Taken on a cool day and skipping the traffic in CdA it can be a nice straight forward ride.
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