Road Rides in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

[bikerHen]

Alex, are you just visiting? Or do you live there. I'm just across the state line in Spokane and would be happy to ride with you on the trail. We go over there from time to time to ride. It's a great trail. Just let me know. bikerHen

[Alex]

Thanks, AD! BikerHen, I am visiting, so I will PM you. I'd love to get together for a ride!

Alex

[Irulan]

Centennial Trail

The Centennial trail does not go around Lake CDA, although it does follow the north shore for a bit. Going around the lake is all narrow two lane roads.

The CT is 37 miles in length, from Coeur d'Alene to past Spokane at Nine Mile Falls. It's quite lovely in place, also non separated from the road in places too. One short section along Upriver Drive, in Spokane, just W of Argonne Road is closed due to construction right now.

[Susan Otcenas]

Jeff & I just did the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene two weeks ago. 85 mile r/t from Cataldo to Plummer and back. We had ABSOLUTELY no problems with anyone on the trail. We stopped in Harrison for lunch and had nothing but wonderful experiences with the locals.

This is such an amazing ride, that one person's story of a bad experience should not deter you from going. You can have a bad experience with teenagers in the local park in your own town, anywhere in America, any day of the week. There is nothing wrong with the towns along the trail. In fact, the trail is SO rural, that there's hardly any towns along the trail anyway. From Cataldo to Plummer - 42 miles - I think we crossed 2 paved roads total.

Along the trail we saw: 3 black bear, 4 moose, including a mama and two calves, 2 grey wolves, a flock of wild turkeys, countless bird species including an incredible # of herons, turtles, etc. The pavement quality is excellent. In this section the trail follows the river and lakes most of the way, so the scenery in fabulous. The "climb" from the lake to Plummer is so gentle that you'll cruise up it quickly (it is an old railroad grade, after all). And the Chacolet bridge was lots of fun to ride down.

Here's a few photos from the trip:

[Irulan]

This is such an amazing ride, that one person's story of a bad experience should not deter you from going. You can have a bad experience with teenagers in the local park in your own town, anywhere in America, any day of the week. There is nothing wrong with the towns along the trail. In fact, the trail is SO rural, that there's hardly any towns along the trail anyway. From Cataldo to Plummer - 42 miles - I think we crossed 2 paved roads total.

you are right in that... so did you get ice cream in Harrison? That should be the main reason for the ride!

[Susan Otcenas]

you are right in that... so did you get ice cream in Harrison? That should be the main reason for the ride!

No, we didn't get any ice cream there and don't mention to Jeff that there WAS good ice cream to be had there or he'll be terribly disappointed. We ate lunch and then got back on the road.

We *did* have ice cream in Plummer at the western terminus of the trail (mid-point of the ride for us, since we had to ride back to Cataldo) however. After all, a ride without ice cream at some point in the ride is hardly worth doing at all! Long rides with Jeff are almost guaranteed to include ice cream....

[oxysback]

Great pictures, Susan!!

I hope to be adding some of my own in a few months. We're doing this ride with about 5 other couples in August. We're riding from Coeur d'Alene to Plummer, staying overnight in a hotel, and riding back the next day. I'm really looking forward to it!