Idaho

Mt. Coeur DAlene

Length: 4.5 miles
High Point: 4440'
Season: Spring/Summer/Fall

Scenery: 2.67/5

Difficulty: 2.33/5

Submitted by: Forrest

Directions

From Coeur D'Alene, Drive east to exit No. 22, and Drive south on Highway 97 for two and a half miles to Beauty Creek Rd (No. 438). Drive east on this road for three fourths of a mile to a campground and trailhead.

Trail Description

The trail to the top of Mt. Coeur DsinglequoteAlene offers a good spring workout for those wanting to get into shape for the summer hiking season. A road brings those looking for an easy trip to the top less than mile away from the summit, but for those who like to get out and enjoy the scenery, the exercise, and a fairly early season hike, this trail will do just fine.

The trail leaves the campground and immediately crosses Beauty Creek; a nice meandering brook through the valley bottom meadows. Soon, the path leads up Caribou Ridge, switch-backing for the first mile-and-a-half before leveling out. While gaining plenty of vertical distance, your perceived progress is compromised by the constant ability to see straight down to the trailhead. After topping out the trail finally turns away from the canyon and follows the ridge through fairly easy hiking country. Views of Lake Coeur DsinglequoteAlene and the rolling mountains of Northern Idaho are constant sights throughout the rest of the trip. After four miles, the trail junction with Coeur DsinglequoteAlene Mountain Road gives hikers a chance to wonder why they didnsinglequotet just drive up, but after passing through a picnic area the trail tops out at the summit and the pride of not taking the easy way up sets in.

Comments

5/13/2004: I hiked the entire 10-mile-roundtrip trail today. There was no more snow anywhere on top; friends hiking there 3 weeks ago saw 4'-deep snowdrifts in places. With my chainsaw, I cut 34 ea. fallen logs that were crossing the trail. Two mountain bikers heading downhill appreciated my efforts to keep the trail maintained. Occasional views can be seen through the trees of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the snow-capped mountains east along the Idaho-Montana border. This is a moderately-strenuous hike that is great for getting oneself in shape for the hiking season. It took me 4 hours to get up to the summit, and 2 hours to get down (with my chainsaw in tow). -- David Luders, Spokane, WA

2004-05-13 17:17:34

As promised I went up and got a couple of pictures. It was snowing all the way up but when I got to the top it cleared up so that I got a pitiful shot of Cda Lake

2004-03-08 10:53:55

i'm going there with my snow shoes and hot dog in just a couple of hours. i got my digital camera with me. there is about two feet of snow at the view point. last week a group of us started up the trail and made it most of the way but the tennis shoes were soaked from wading through the snow. ill see if i can get any useable shots to upload.

2004-03-06 00:32:20

Images

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