Peter Hoffman

    The new path "The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes" stretches most of the way across the Idaho Panhandle. Its 72 mile length is claimed to make it the longest continuous paved trail in the United States. The most spectacular segments is the 42 mile section lies between Cataldo and Plummer.  It is on this segment the following photographs were taken.

Union Pacific Memories

Just three years ago the abandoned UP line between Plummer and Mullan, Idaho,

was a railbiker's dream.

The rails are gone now

and the right-of-way has become one of  the nation's

premier bike trails.

Looking back now, I kick myself for not riding this line more often.   Here today, gone tomorrow, enjoy them while you can!

    The right-of-way crosses the Coeur d'Alene River many times just west of Cataldo, then runs along the river through a narrow valley spotted with lakes to the historic town of Harrison on the shores of Lake Coeur d' Alene.  It follows the shores of the lake for seven miles before crossing a half-mile long bridge and then passes through Heyburn State Park.

At one point the roadbed had been undercut by flood waters leaving the rails like a miniature roller coaster and along the lake small bridges had been washed out entirely.  The entire line, however, was still rideable and the scenery a joy to behold.