Itinerary

Day 1: Explore the trail of the Coeur d’alenes from Old Mission State Park to Historic Wallace

After a one-hour shuttle we stop at the Old Mission for an introduction to the area’s early history. Built in 1848, it is the oldest standing building in Idaho. Its longevity is made even more impressive by the fact that it was built by hand in 1848 using only mud, dowels, and straw – no nails, bolts, or screws. From the nearby town of Cataldo, we ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to Wallace, another small-town rich in history. So rich in fact that the entire town is listed on the National Historic Register! We stop for lunch in Kellogg (no, we won’t be having cereal). If you arrive in Wallace early this afternoon, or want extra miles, you can continue to the end of the trail in Mullan and back for an additional 15 miles and 850’ gain. Or simply relax and enjoy the “epic chill zone” on the hotel lawn.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Lodging: Wallace Inn
Distance: 26 miles, elevation: +953 ft / -379 ft

Day 2: Pedal the Scenic Hiawatha Trail or ride to a ghost town.

Another fantastic rails-to-trails project, the Route of the Hiawatha Trail was originally hailed as one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country. When the Milwaukee Railroad was operating, the trains traversed through 11 tunnels and over 9 trestles, covering a route across the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The “Route of the Hiawatha” is most famous for the long St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel which burrows for 8771 ft. (1.66 miles) under the Bitterroot Mountains at the state line. Enjoy the stellar views with zero traffic on this mostly downhill ride. Or, if you prefer paved roads to gravel riding, you can cycle up a lovely valley along Canyon Creek to the mining ghost town of Burke.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Lodging: Wallace Inn
Distance: 15 miles, elevation: +140 ft / – 1020 ft

Day 3: Tackle Dobson Pass en rout to the legendary Snake Pit. Hike the Historic Pulaski Trail

Pedal a remote road over scenic Dobson Pass to the upper Coeur d’Alene River (or, if the climb seems too daunting, get a boost in the van). Cruise downriver past the remains of old logging and mining operations to Enaville. Have lunch at a local watering hole, the Snake Pit, that has managed to persevere despite floods and fires as well as market fluctuations in the timber and mining industry for over 135 years! Pedal or shuttle back to Wallace and go for a hike on the historic Pulaski Tunnel Trail (4 miles, 900’ gain). Visit the site where, in 1910, Ranger “Big Ed” Pulaski led a threatened fire crew to safety in a mine shaft during the calamitous series of wildfires known as the “Big Blowup” which burned over three million acres in Idaho, Montana, and Washington.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Lodging Wallace Inn
Distance: 38 miles, elevation: +2103 ft / – 2633 ft

Day 4: Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes riparian corridor to sparkling Coeur d’alene Lake

Shuttle back to Cataldo in the morning to begin cycling the western section of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way that follows an even older route once traveled by the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe. The railway carried silver and lead ore from mines in Mullan, Burke and Kellogg to terminals on the Palouse prairie from 1887 up until 1992. Today, it is worth its weight in gold as a scenic bike-way! Leaving the interstate corridor behind, the trail follows the riparian Coeur d’Alene River downriver as it wends through forests and clearings teeming with birds and wildlife. After lunch in Harrison, follow the shoreline of shimmering Coeur d’Alene Lake, eventually crossing to the opposite shore on the Chatcolet Bridge, a converted train trestle over ½-mile long. Enjoy lakeside Heyburn State Park before we shuttle to the historic Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d’Alene. Dinner is on your own tonight with a bevy of tasty options to choose from.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Lodging: Roosevelt Inn
Distance: 41 miles, elevation: +626 ft / – 613 ft

Day 5: Explore Coeur d’Alene the town and frolic in the lake!

Winner of the Expedia.com “Cleanest City in America” award, Coeur d’Alene has a burgeoning economy of active retirees as well as youthful tech start-ups. It is renowned as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes – cyclists, kayakers, bird-watchers, mountain bikers, skiers, hunters, sailors, hikers, fishermen – the list goes on and on. Spend a day seeing what all the fuss is about: swim, paddle board, golf, sail, or take a scenic cruise on (or above!) the lake. Or go for another nice bike ride. The choice is yours. Lunch is on your own today and we spend another night at the Roosevelt Inn.
Meals: Breakfast, Lodging: Pollard hotel, Roosevelt Inn

Day 6: Cycle the Centennial Trail down the Spokane River to riverfront park and Spokane Falls

The Centennial Trail running between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene was built to commemorate 100 years of statehood for Washington (in 1990) and Idaho (in 1991). Again, our applause! This pleasant, paved recreational path takes you from the lake shore in Coeur d’Alene down along the Spokane River corridor into the historic brick-and-mortar heart of downtown Spokane. The route does make use of some streets to connect some of the trail sections but is predominantly car-free (and care-free!). The ride, as well as our journey, ends with a spin through Riverfront Park, site of the 1974 World’s Fair. No trip to Spokane is complete without a visit to spectacular Spokane Falls. This sacred site for Native Americans is now the centerpiece of the park – and the last thing you would ever expect to find amidst the bustle of downtown. The thunder of the crashing waters completely overwhelms the background noise of the city, and the rising mist and spray offer cooling refreshment on a hot summer day. Unless you are staying near the airport, there is no shuttle after the ride. You have arrived!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Distance 41 miles, elevation +1018 ft / -1303 ft

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Wallace Inn
Roosevelt Inn
The hotels, Inns, and B&B’s we use are always among the finest the area has to offer. Our smaller group sizes(max. 13) allow us to stay at some award-winning places that can’t handle groups of 25 or more. We work closely with the innkeepers to make sure they understand your needs and ours, whether that is having a place to store your bike, an early morning breakfast or a convenient place to park the van, they are as committed to your vacation experience as we are.

Lodging is based upon two people to a room with a private bath. If you’re traveling solo on any of our trips, we’ll assign you a roommate of the same gender and often of the same age bracket. There is no extra charge if we can’t find you a roommate, even if you sign up the day before the trip starts. You can guarantee yourself a private room and bath if you pay the Single Room Fee.

Included:

• Lodging
• All meals, except one dinner and one lunch on your own.
• Road / hybrid bike E-bike rent possible
• Hiawatha Trail.
• Gondola Ride, hiking
• Luggage transfer

Not included:

• Night before and after the tour.
• Flights to and from the tour
• Gratuities guides

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2023: $ 3238.- pp single fee $ 874.-
You can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.
Extra option rental E-bike $200.-pp
Tour dates 2024:
2 June – 7 June
9 June – 14 June
16 June – 21 June
30 June – 5 July
7 July – 12 July
14 July – 19 July
4 Aug – 9 Aug.
25 Aug – 30 Aug
1 Sep – 6 Sep
8 Sep – 13 Sep

Conditions

Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

Meals and dining:
We know how important breakfast is to make sure your day starts off right. Most breakfasts are served at the inn where we spend the night and are either a set menu or a continental breakfast buffet. But if there is a local restaurant with a reputation for a great breakfast, we can guarantee we will find it and you will be treated to a nutritious meal to start the day.
Lunch is provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare. Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.
During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.
Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. We like to eat well.

If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. We regularly accommodate vegetarians and other restricted diets. All of our meals are carefully selected to provide you with the unusually high nutritional and caloric needs of your body on an outdoor adventure.