Bike World-Class Trails

Crowd-free trails, cooler temps, and autumn colors mean fall is one of the best times of the year to make a weekend trip to Wallace to ride one or more of the area’s truly world class trails and gravel routes. The 73.2-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (open all year) and 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha gravel surface trail (open until Sept. 18) are the crown jewel trails for sure, but there are several other lesser-known rides that are also pretty awesome.

The Northern Pacific Trail, or NorPac, is best ridden on gravel or mountain bikes. The 12-mile, multi-use and multi-surface trail runs along the old Northern Pacific rail bed and goes from Mullan, Idaho, into Montana. Start your ride in Mullan for a shorter pedal, or add some miles by starting in Wallace.

The Route of the Olympian along the St. Regis Rivers is technically a continuation of the Hiawatha on the old Milwaukee rail bed, but it is a completely separate and free route that isn’t maintained (some trestles unrideable). The Old Milwaukee Railroad Trail is 35 miles long between Pearson and St. Maries. This compact dirt and country gravel road route along the St. Joe River is a great gravel ride.

For shuttles for any of these or other rides, call the Wallace Inn at 208.752.1252. Check out Friendsofcdatrails.org for more info on bike trails and routes.

Hike the Town

Wallace offers some excellent urban walking with tree-shaded neighborhoods, small parks, and self-guided walking tours of the town’s 1890s-era National Register of Historic Places homes and churches.

Another must-experience Wallace walking adventure are the century-old, restored wooden stairways on the hill above town. Most of the stairways are 100 or more feet long and some have landings and decks where moose, deer, and elk are frequently spotted in the surrounding forest.

One mile south of town you’ll find the four-mile round trip Pulaski Tunnel Interpretive Trail that follows Placer Creek past waterfalls and cool forest up to the Nicholson Adit mine portal, where Ranger Ed Pulaski saved his crew from America’s largest wildland fire back in 1910.

Explore a Rich History

The entire town of Wallace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so you don’t need to travel far to step back in time here.

Some Wallace history tour favorites include the Sierra Silver Mine Tour. This open-air trolley tours the storied buildings of the commercial district on the way to a Sierra Silver Mine tour through a sideways cut in the mountain to learn about the dangers and rewards of mining.

For the story of the people who worked the mines and the struggles they faced, a trip to the Wallace District Mining Museum is a must. There are also three other museums within walking distance, including a train station, brothel, and landmark church that have been transformed into museums. 

Other historic attractions are a short way out of town. The Mine Heritage Exhibit and four-acre riverfront park are just off Exit #61 at I-90. Here you can explore massive mining machines.

Nine Mile Cemetery lies just one mile north of Wallace on State Route 456, where 3,000 internees inhabit this other National Register of Historic Places site.

For the best hands-on perspective on Panhandle mining history, take a drive up Burke Canyon to the now largely abandoned mining towns of Gem, Frisco, Yellow Dog, Mace, and Burke. It’s seven miles one way on the paved State Route 4, which makes for a great bike ride too. Find historic markers at the beginning, middle, and end of the roadway.

Zipline and Bike Park

Silver Streak Zipline is spread out on over 263 acres of forested mountainside above Wallace and includes 10 ziplines. In addition to the zip thrills, it’s also home to SVR GAS, a new mountain bike park that opened in spring of 2022 and includes two pump tracks, a mountain bike jump line, and several miles of shuttled bike trails.

Book a fall zip or bike park tour at Zipwallace.com.

Lodging, Dining, and Shopping

A wave of new businesses have taken root in Wallace, Idaho, in recent years, from brewpubs to craft eateries, a wine bar, coffee shops and cafes, a book store, a quality outdoor apparel shop, and restored historic lodging.

Bring your bike, walking shoes, and curiosity about the past and spend a few days exploring this ever-evolving mountain town. Find a great listing of Wallace lodging, dining, and drinking options at Wallaceid.fun.

Fall 2022 Events in Wallace

• Sept. 3-5: Under the Freeway Flea Market: 80 vendors with unique items, food, and beverages along a 1-mile covered flea market space beneath I-90.
• Sept. 17: Center of the Universe Raffle & Rededication: A pure Wallace-style event celebrating the anniversary of the 2004 Mayor’s Proclamation with toasts, Drum & Bugle Corps Salute, reading of the Proclamation, and raffle to win scores of prizes.
• Sept. 30-October 2: Fall for History Festival: Learn about the Wallace-area’s checkered past with speaker presentations, mining history tours, live theater, museum visits, guided walking tours, and plenty of quality food and drink.
• Dec. 2-11: Wallace Hometown Holidays Festival: Make your holiday plans in historic Wallace. Photos and breakfast with Santa, pet and lighted parades, craft fairs, live theater, kids’ pageants, hay rides, and more!

Find more stories about Wallace, Idaho, in the OTO archives.

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A surprising number of intriguing and entertaining small-town museums stand along the routes to the Inland Northwest’s hiking, biking and boating destinations. These museums offer the outdoor enthusiast a new perspective on the natural areas to which they travel.

The region’s human history dates back thousands of years and is inextricably tied to the natural world. Our forests, waterways, fish and wildlife have supported indigenous communities, settlers, adventurers, towns, and industries.

As a matter of fact, it would be surprising to visit anywhere in the region that does not already have a human story attached to it. Those stories, when known, add depth, meaning, and greater connection to our favorite places.

The museums listed below are all worth a stop. Displays are arranged chronologically and in categories (think arrow heads, baskets, typewriters, household implements, and farm tools). Dioramas are packed with artifacts – sometimes to overflowing.

In addition, on the grounds of the museums below you’ll find cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, fire lookouts, sawmills, a chapel, and a full-sized 1910 house filled with original furnishings and décor.

Keep in mind that these facilities are largely operated on a shoestring budget and managed by volunteers. Small town museums typically begin with family collections and grow largely by happenstance and generosity. Exhibits and labels are crafted over decades, often by local old timers or volunteers, and reflect their own unique perspectives, interests, outlooks, and sensitivities.

Visitors may choose to view exhibits as a starting point for understanding timelines, themes, and historical figures of our region’s history, then take a deeper dive by reading some of the many well-written and researched articles and books out there.

Pend Oreille County Museum Historical Society (Newport, Wash.)

On the way from Spokane to Schweitzer, Sandpoint, Priest Lake, and Lake Pend Oreille, this museum is operated by the Pend Oreille County Historical Society.

It includes artifacts and antiques representing the region’s lifestyles and industry including needlework, household implements, typewriters, cash registers, musical instruments, tools, machinery, and vehicles. There is also an impressive and comprehensive collection of tools used for cutting and managing ice.

Don’t miss the mockups of a sawmill, cabin, fire lookout tower, schoolhouse, and chapel, all of which are walk-in and hands-on.

The museum is located in the historic I. & W.N. Depot Building at 402 S. Washington Ave. in Newport, Wash. Admission is $5 per adult (children free), and hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m., and it’s open May 28 through September 5. More info at Pochsmuseum.org.

Wallace District Mining Museum (Wallace, Idaho)

This is a great stop on trips to Lookout Pass, the Route of the Hiawatha, Silver Mountain Bike Park, Fourth of July Pass, or adventures in Montana. The museum at 509 Bank Street is operated by the Wallace District Mining Museum.

Learn about mining history of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District (particularly the large silver mines), geology, methods used for mining over the past century, women and Black miners’ contributions, and the 1910 Big Burn. Cool artifacts include a mine “bicycle.”

Admission is $5 adults with discounts for families, and the museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. More info at Wallaceminingmuseum.com.

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum (Spokane Valley, Wash.)

Visit this museum in the Opportunity Township Hall building at E. 12114 Sprague Ave. as part of a day-trip to the Dishman Hills, Iller Creek, Saltese Uplands, or Antoine Peak trailheads.

Learn about namesakes of some of the area’s popular hiking destinations and natural areas; Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe; the pioneer towns of Opportunity and Spokane Bridge that were razed to make way for I-90; military, and telecommunications, railroads, and early-1900’s school- and home-life.

Don’t miss the 1899 mud shoes fabricated by Peter Morrison for his horses to wear to keep them from sinking into the mud while dredging canals that drained Saltese Lake.

Admission is $6 for adults (discounts for military, seniors, and children), and hours run Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. year-round. More info: Spokanevalleymuseum.com.

Keller Heritage Center (Colville, Wash.)

Take a tour of this museum operated by the Stevens County Historical Society on your next trip to the Colville National Forest, upper Columbia River, or Canada.

Highlights include pre-inundation Kettle Falls and the first bridge crossing the falls; clothing, tools, and implements crafted and used by early indigenous people including regalia, baskets, and arrow heads; the Hudson’s Bay Company and its trapping history; military history including the early U.S. Army installation of Fort Colville; U.S. Border Patrol; regional agricultural, mining, and timber development; Colville’s early 1900’s civic, home, and town life.

Especially cool artifacts include a photo of eels hauled out on rocks of the pre-inundation Kettle Falls, a sturgeon-nosed canoe, and a Nez Perce woven corn husk bottle.

Located at 700 N. Wynne St. in Colville, Wash., admission is $5 for adults with discounts for seniors, people with disabilities, children, and groups. Hours run daily May and September from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and June through August from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday–Sunday. More info at Stevenscountyhistoricalsociety.org.

Lincoln County Historical Museum (Davenport, Wash.)

On the way to Lake Roosevelt and the Channeled Scablands trailheads, Davenport’s small-town museum is operated by the Lincoln County Historical Society.

It includes early Native tools and implements, mammoth fossils, Pioneer Bottling Works, the story of outlaw Harry Tracy, grain farming then and now, Fort Spokane history and early 1900’s domestic life history, and railroad and bridge building. An especially cool artifact is the humongous horse-drawn thresher used to harvest crops.

Located at 600 7^th Street in Davenport, Wash., suggested admission is $4 for adults and hours run June 7 for the summer from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and Sundays by appointment. More info: Lincolncountymuseums.org.

Originally published as “Exploring the History of the Places Where We Play” in the July-August 2022 print issue.

Tabitha Gregory is a former director of a local history museum and has written about local history topics for Out There. She’s the author of the non-fiction book “Valdez Rises: One Town’s Struggle for Survival After the Great Alaska Earthquake.”

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Learn from speakers, tour historic homes and museums, watch live theater re-enactments, and more.

Some of the highlights from this year’s festival include:

• Mining the Magnates and Mavericks, Sept. 30: open-mic event to share stories about the enterprising men and women who left their mark on mining and Wallace.
• Mining the Museums and Manuscripts, Oct. 1: a trolley tour of Wallace museums with readings that bring history to life along with guided tours of the Mining Heritage Exhibition.
• Self-guided tours, Oct. 2: Northern Pacific Depot Museum, Wallace Mining Museum, Barnard-Stockbridge Museum, and Mine Heritage Exhibition, of which the latter includes gold panning demonstrations.

Advance tickets are $20 each (space is limited) and include a complimentary copy of the new “Mine-Made Map & Guide to the Coeur d’Alene Mining District.”

More info at Wallaceid.fun.

Originally published as “History-Themed Festival Returns to Wallace” in the September-October 2021 issue.

Read more stories about Wallace, Idaho, and its year-round recreation opportunities.

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Hopefully by the time late summer arrives we will be able to avoid catastrophic wildfire, but here’s a hike suggestion for contemplating the legacy of fire’s impacts to our region.

First, travel to the Center of the Universe, Wallace, Idaho. From downtown Wallace travel 1.5 miles out of town on King Street/NF-456 to the Pulaski Tunnel Interpretive Trail, the site where Ed Pulaski found his crew of 45 men trapped and surrounded by the August 1910 wildfire that engulfed our region.

Pulaski’s quick-thinking decision to force his men (at gunpoint) into an abandoned mine tunnel in this location saved many lives. Six of Pulaski’s men did perish in the inferno, along with at least 79 others, the majority of whom were firefighters.

Several interpretive signs along the trail showcase the beauty of the area while highlighting the terrifying history of the spot. Pulaski’s legacy lives on in the tool he developed that bears his name.

The Pulaski is a versatile firefighting tool, but hopefully the tools will see more use this summer for trail maintenance on popular trails than on fire lines.

This hike can be considered easy to moderate and is 4 miles round trip with approximately 800 feet of elevation gain.

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Anchoring the establishment is a mostly from-scratch restaurant, where former pro ski racer and chef Rob Wuerfel cooks up classic sandwiches with a twist for lunch and extensive Italian offerings for dinner. Then there is the Market, which is part coffee and pastry shop; part build-your-own sandwich deli; and part gourmet food market where you can grab quality, hard-to-find cheeses, meats, chocolate, wine, beer and other delicacies to go.

Being that it was about dessert time, we bought some chocolate and a bottle of wine to sip on while we checked out the Blackboard’s book store, with eclectic, thoughtful book titles lining the walls. And finally, a corner of the Blackboard is dedicated to fashion-forward outdoor apparel from brands like Prana, Kuhl, and The North Face, so no excuse for skiing in jeans this winter if you forget your ski pants.            

The fact that the Blackboard exists in Wallace, which at first confounded me, makes more sense once you learn a little more about owners Rob and Luanne Wuerfel. The couple were drawn to Wallace for the small-town charm and easy access to biking and skiing without the crowds after a previous career running restaurants in glitzier and busier places like Taos, the Caribbean, and Seattle.

Luanne says that despite COVID they’ve been super busy this summer serving lunch and dinner Wednesday-Saturday and may keep the restaurant open 7-days a week this winter. The Market will continue on with a 7-day-a-week schedule, making it easy to dine in or grab food from the restaurant or market to go for any fall and early winter adventures.

All photos courtesy Blackboardmarketplace.com

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The park will feature a wide range of mountain bike trails, jumps, and a pump track. Haney says he’s also looking at buying an inflatable airbag for riders to practice jumps with a soft landing. The vision, according to Silver Valley local and pro mountain bike racer Frank Culhno, the main trail builder responsible for bringing the park to life, is to create something akin to the legendary Coast Gravity Park on BC’s Sunshine Coast. “We started off building a big flow trail that anyone from parents to racers can ride, and we’re also putting in a pump track that’s going to be legit,” says Culhno. 

After that, the 5-year plan is to keep Haney’s new Kubota excavator working full-tilt to add more flow and technical downhill trails as well as some more mellow trails. The first 1.3-mile flow trail should be ready to ride by early summer and will take 10-4 minutes to ride, with a shuttle making endless laps possible, says Culhno. Keep an eye out for updates as the park progresses at Silverstreakziplinetours.com.

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Wallace, Idaho, has been in the charm business for most of its 135-year history.  During the boom days, a drink and a wink led many a lonely miner, businessman, or traveler to discover the charms of its storied red-light district. Today visitors are wooed in a different manner. There are literally dozens of places to drink, dine, shop and unwind in Wallace’s National Register of Historic Places downtown. And, the best reason to plan your next ski or snowboard trip to Wallace is the fact that it’s at the doorstep of two ski resorts, Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain, and plenty of backcountry terrain. Best yet, it’s a place corporate America hasn’t invaded. 

That unspoiled character and easy access to the mountains has led over a dozen visitors from around the country and globe to set up shop and make Wallace their new home and entrepreneurial home base in recent years. And it’s making for a more vibrant downtown that everyone from skiers and snowboarders, to history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes want to spend more time experiencing. On your next trip to Wallace, be sure to check out these new business additions.

1. Blackboard Marketplace

Rob Wuerfel first came to town with his restaurateur wife and business partner Luanne in 2014. Within two years this former World Cup Champion Skier turned gourmet chef opened the Blackboard Café. Today the couple operates half a city block of businesses in the Blackboard Marketplace located in the remodeled three-story Tabors’ Mercantile building. Take a walk around the block and you’ll find an expanded Blackboard restaurant, an Italian deli/bakery, a coffeehouse/bookstore, and an upscale outdoor apparel shop.  

2. Silver Corner & Lux Rooms 

Tacoma transplants Jocelyn and Mathias Bachman offer upscale cocktails and drinks for the everyman in their refurbished, 19th century former bordello and bar. Signature drinks include their shrubs and Old-Fashioneds, along with hundreds of different spirits, beers and wines. Book an adult-themed stay upstairs in their Lux Rooms, the former bordello. 

3. Cogs Spokehouse & Gastro Pub

Find L.A. style street tacos, a full bar, cigar humidor, and rent an electric bike all at Cogs. Timing for this new business was perfect with the nearby Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes opening to e-bikes this past December. But owner Stu Strother is a guy used to taking risks. This 50 something economics professor is the same guy in Wallace’s Extreme Ski-Jor promotions getting big air and doing a back flip while being towed on skis at 40 mph down the snow-covered downtown streets. 

4. Oliver’s Mercantile

Combine an apparel store, gift and custom t-shirt shop, and a huge selection of wines and craft beers, then put it all in Wallace’s old two-story J.C. Penney’s building. That’s Oliver’s—named after owner Ali Koski’s young son. Rapidly becoming the place to shop, sip, and socialize, you’ll find this gem across from the landmark Wallace Brewing Company on Bank Street.

5. Albi’s Steakhouse

Reopened last year, Albi’s is the answer to the question of where to get a late-night meal in Wallace. Known for its steaks, Albi’s also has a complete menu served until 10 p.m., as well as a full bar. Don’t overlook the oversized images of mines and madams adorning the walls.

6. Silver Streak Zipline Tours

Coming this winter, you’ll be able to get your zipline fix year-round. Silver Streak Zipline Tours has new owners with big plans for 2020. This winter owners Scott and Gina Haney will be running the ziplines for the first time on a limited basis. Come spring look for a new mountain bike park and by next winter a snowboard park. All on their 200-plus acres of private land overlooking Wallace and the Silver Valley.

Whether you’re passing through on your way to winter adventures or plan to stay a while, there’ll be something to charm you in the ever-evolving historic mining town of Wallace.

Winter Events You Won’t Want to Miss in Wallace

It may be cold outside, but they are raising the temperature in Wallace and the Silver Valley for some fun winter events.

Jan. 26: Lookout Pass Winter Carnival

Kids’ snowbowling is a major highlight. Families push the little ones on a sled down a course towards huge inflatable bowling pins. Brewfest:  Over at the lodge the adults can enjoy a host of craft brews and tunes.

Feb 1: Radio Brewing Uptown Throwdown

Kellogg’s Craft Brewer and home-town ski hill Silver Mountain join forces to build a snowboard course down Kellogg’s Main Street. Watch the fun and enjoy a cold one.

Feb. 15-16: Wallace Extreme Ski-Jor & Mullan Snow Machine Races

A fun and action-packed weekend in Wallace and Mullan, where sanity takes a little vacation. WALLACE: Watch skiers and snowboards get towed by ATVs down snow covered streets over jumps and around obstacles for the Extreme Ski-Jor.  MULLAN: Motorized SnowBikes compete in the third annual Silver Valley SnowBeast Grand Prix Pro-Am that Saturday. On Sunday Vintage Snowmobiles race around the Mullan’s Drager Field on a specially designed course.

Details on all these events at wallaceidahochamber.com/events and Wallace Idaho Chamber Facebook Events Page. (Sponsored Content)

Dave Copelan is a writer and graphic artist who moved to Wallace in 2014 from southern Nevada. His day job is the coordinator for the Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce.

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North Idaho is rich with history, and there’s no better way to experience many of these historical sites than by riding along one of the Northwest’s longest rail trails on your bike. Plan a historic sight-seeing bike trip on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a 73.2-mile paved trail stretching across the Idaho Panhandle from Plummer to Mullan. Visit historic mining towns, museums, old railways, mines, memorials, a mission, and more either from your bike or short side trips by car.

On the trail, you’ll travel through the historic Silver Valley, the chain lakes region, over bridges, along stunning Lake Coeur d’Alene, and from the wildlife and scenery rich Bitterroot Mountains down into the Palouse prairie. When you’re not soaking up the history of this unique part of Idaho on the below highlighted sites, you’ll find peace and quiet and spectacular mountain views from the trail, which is frequented by moose, elk, deer, eagles, and many species of birds and other wildlife. Along the trail, you’ll find access to Coeur d’Alene Lake in Harrison, as well as the Coeur d’Alene River and several lakes (a few other renowned fly fishing rivers are a short drive from the trail too).

As you explore the trail and the region’s history over several days, the trail-side communities of Harrison, Kellogg and Wallace each offer their own unique, friendly charms and lodging, dining, and entertainment options. The trail runs right through each of these Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes gateway communities that are home to their own historic buildings, museums, memorials, and other sites that you can easily explore on foot. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is the connecting thread between this swath of North Idaho’s natural wonders and history, making it an ideal ride for history buffs who like to bike, hike, and explore our natural wonders.

1. Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park

Located near Cataldo, Idaho, a short detour off the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, this state park is home to the Mission of the Sacred Heart, constructed between 1850 and 1853 by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Jesuit priests. The story of the coming together of the Jesuit Missionaries and Coeur d’Alene Tribe is different from some others during this same time period. It is an example of acceptance, understanding, and a willingness to respect beliefs that may not mirror your own. The two groups did not see the world the same way. They lived very different lives, and yet, were able to find similarities, so that together they could worship and build the Mission of the Sacred Heart, now known as the Cataldo Mission and as the oldest standing building in Idaho.

In 2002, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe gained ownership of their historic building and land, and through an agreement, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation manages the site for the Tribe that honors both history and outdoor recreation. “The Sacred Encounters Exhibit: Father De Smet and the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West,” which is a world-class, multi-million-dollar exhibit detailing the history of the coming together of the Jesuit Missionaries and Coeur d’Alene Tribe, occupies half of the visitor center.

Every year, the park hosts an outdoor mass and celebration in honor of the annual Coeur d’Alene Tribe Pilgrimage and Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. Together the Tribe and Catholic Church, along with many others, honor each other’s history and beliefs as they celebrate their shared understandings and faith. Be sure to make this state park a stop along your Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes adventure. There’s also an Annual Historic Skills Fair at the Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission (July 13-14, 2019), an event worth planning your trip around.

2. Crystal Gold Mine Tour

An authentic underground gold mine tour of one of the first hard rock mines in the Silver Valley, this guided tour will illuminate the lives of the hard-working miners, explaining the tools they used, their methods for tracing quartz veins to find gold, and how they tested the veins. Marvel at the gold and silver still visible in the quartz vein as you pass by colorful stalactite crystals lining the walls.

3. Crane House Museum

Located in Harrison, Idaho, the Crane House Museum has many interesting artifacts from the town’s early settlement days. Consider it a tour of what it would be like to live in North Idaho in the 1800s. While you’re there, take a Historical Walking Tour of Harrison, which was the largest city in Kootenai County during the gold rush. Explore historic downtown Harrison buildings as well as modern establishments serving homemade fudge, ice cream, and other treats. There’s also a Historic Waterfront Walking Tour along a beautiful stretch of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

4. Shoshone County Mining & Smelting Museum

Located in Kellogg, Idaho, this museum was founded in 1986 as a way to save the beautiful 1906 Stanley Easton home. The museum features the history of Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining, one of the oldest and largest mining companies in North Idaho, as well as many others in the region. The museum’s collection includes 3D mine models of the Sunshine and Bunker Hill mines, rock and mineral displays, mining history exhibits, local history, and equipment displays. Award winning author Julie Weston will be at the museum in July 2019 for a book signing and open house. From the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, take the trail spur adjacent to Silver Mountain up the hill directly to the museum.

5. Sunshine Miners’ Memorial

Located between Kellogg and Osburn, the 13-foot-tall Sunshine Miners Memorial statue, erected by sculptor Ken Lonn, pays tribute to the 91 miners who lost their lives in 1972 in one of the worst mining disasters in American history. The Sunshine Miners Memorial is held on May 2nd at 11 a.m. each year.

6. Chatcolet Bridge

The historic Chatcolet Bridge, a 3,100-foot-long, former swing railroad bridge originally built in 1921, has been converted to a trail bridge on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Located on the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene near Harrison, the bridge connects the last trail segment through Heyburn State Park to Plummer. Exploring the bridge and state park makes a great day trip by bike from Harrison.

7. Avery Museum

This stop is south of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, but is worth the back road drive from Wallace. Plan to visit this complex that was built in 1909 by the Milwaukee Railroad as part of a westward expansion from Chicago, Illinois. It served as an evacuation site during the Great Fire of 1910, and is now filled with historic railroad photos and memorabilia. There’s free admission to the always-open Twin Grove, Fish Pond, and Library, and the museum room and post office are open on weekdays.

8. Wallace, Idaho

Known playfully as the “Center of the Universe,” Wallace is a town packed with history and character. In fact, the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so you may get the feeling that you’ve gone back in time as you stroll around the many historic buildings of this longtime mining town. The town has modernized in recent years with many quality restaurants, breweries, and bars without sacrificing the Old West charm and friendly locals that makes it so unique.

Be sure to visit the Wallace District Mining Museum to learn how the Silver Valley earned its name, and wander through the town’s historic Nine Mile Cemetery. Anyone with an interest in railroad history won’t want to miss the Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum. Walk the recently restored Historic Stairs for a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, river, and town. The Historic Wallace Preservation Society houses a collection of historical photos and written and oral accounts of history from the last 125 years, and the Oasis Bordello Museum provides a glimpse at the past with a guided tour of the bordello, which was active until 1988. You can also tour the Sierra Silver Mine via open-air trolley with an underground mine tour led by a modern-day hard rock miner. A side cycling or driving tour north of town will take you to the nearbyBurke Canyon for historical markers among the remains of mines and town buildings from the heyday of silver mining.

9. Pulaski Tunnel Trail

When you feel the need to hop off your bike to stretch your legs, consider this 4-mile round-trip hike. Only a few minutes from downtown Wallace, this 2-mile trail is a historic path that played a central role in a major historic event: the great fire of 1910. This historic trail follows part of the route taken by Ranger “Big” Ed Pulaski to escape the devastating 1910 fire. Interpretive signs along the trail guide you through Big Ed’s journey as he herded his 45-man crew to the abandoned mine tunnel saving most of their lives. Immerse yourself in the lush forest surroundings, cascading Placer Creek, and retrace the steps of this harrowing Old West experience.

10. Captain John Mullan Museum

This museum in Mullan, Idaho, is located in the old Liberty Theater. Learn about the history of the town of Mullan and the building of the Mullan Road, the first wagon road across the Rocky Mountains into the Inland Northwest, which was built in the mid 1800’s by U.S. Army troops under the command of Lt. John Mullan. You’ll find mining relics, historical newspapers and photographs, vintage clothing, and memorabilia from local school, sports, firemen, and drug stores. The eastern trailhead of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is just one block south from this museum, and there’s easy access to the Route of the Hiawatha Trail, just 6 miles from Mullan. Revel in the history and then cycle on to your own modern-day adventure through the North Idaho mountains.

11. Springston “Barren” Ghost Town

Springston, Idaho, is often described online as a ghost town, but the only ghostly thing where the town once stood is the remains of the Golden Star tug beached against the bank of the Coeur d’Alene River. Ghost town experts have a category for “barren” ghost towns, where virtually nothing remains. This accurately describes Springston. Today, Springston is a trailhead on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes three miles northeast of Harrison.

(Sponsored Content)

More stories about the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in the OTO archives.

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