Things to do & best ways to (re)discover Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is like living on the doorstep of opportunity... alright, that's a little dramatic perhaps, but you'll have to excuse the hyperbole until after you've read the list below.

Having the opportunity to serve such an amazing place... and having employees and customers who spend their days working and living on the land, we've been able to provide the coolest trip itinerary for anyone looking to visit the area.

Even if you've lived here your whole life, there are probably a couple things on this list that you can do this year to help you rediscover the land and people around our city.

Read on and enjoy! If you think there is something we've missed on this list, find us on Facebook and let us know, or use the form at the bottom so we can update our ways to enjoy the pretty city of CDA.
Ride a horse in Benewah- Just north of Moscow, this county has both the St. Joe National Forest and the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. Great for hiking, fishing, horses, or any other outdoor recreational activity.

Find a moose in the Cabinet Mountains- Part of the Rockies, these are known as the most wild mountains left in the lower 48 states. Some say these mountains are the most impressive in America because they rise out of a valley to tower over the low landscape around them. Moose country, fish country.

Mountain bike Canfield Mountain- Good number of trails here set up for mountain bikes and motorized bikes as well as hikers with north-to-south trails bearing numbers and east-to-west trails bearing letters. Use the map and plan your own route.

Boat on CDA Lake- Over 26 mile long, this is an international destination for fishing, boating, swimming basically anything having to do with water. There are more than twelve boat ramps all within close proximity to major towns. An obvious choice to visit.

Catch a pike and find a bald eagle (in the same day) on the Chain Lakes- Boating heaven. More than a dozen lakes all interconnected with pristine channels perfect for fishing, birding or just getting away. Northern pike are a good draw for the chain lakes.

Find an otter family on Cougar Bay- 88-acres of natural beauty, this wildlife preserve has everything you could want, from moose to waterfowl, from otter to deer.

Explore somewhere off the map in the Fernan Saddle- Off Forest Road 612, this is a great trail for riding bikes, horses or ATVs. Be sure to double check the maps and make sure the trails you want to use are open to motorized vehicles.

Take a picture by Fern Falls [& Shadow Falls]- Tributaries of Yellow Dog Creek and can be found on the same trail both .2 miles from the parking lot. A great "hike" for young children.

Camp in the north basin of Granite Peak- Great hiking. Accessible from the east side, this peak rises over 4,000 feet from the meadow around Little Salmon River.

Find the Heart of an Awl- The name given to the Native Americans who first inhabited this region, it references their shrewd skill in trading. This name is also a piece of contemporary sculpture in CDA.

Independence Creek- Not recommended for RVs as the access road is long and the parking small. But take your horse, your hiking boots or your ATVs as this creek offers 14 stream crossing and deep woods to ride through. Go. You'll know what a tree tunnel looks like.

Golf or camp Kingston- A great place to take the kids for biking or hiking or camping. A good golf course as well.

Eat lunch in Lake City- This is the name the local people call CDA.

Explore the old growth and drink a coffee or tea in Lost Creek- A wonderful community with 160 acres of hiking trails all running through old growth forests.

Study in the Classroom in the Forrest on Mineral Ridge- This is a National Recreational Trail with enough beauty to sustain any number of hiking days. Be sure to get your brochure so you can experience the "classroom in the forest" and truly experience the 22 informational postings that line this three mile trail.

Picnic on Mount Spokane- The place to go to ride park in the winter. In the summer, you can hike, bike, ride horses, picnic, fish, climb any recreational activity you can imagine. The must see on this list.

Find all the statues of Mudgy Moose- This is a series of statues throughout CDA designed to follow a children's book. Mudgy Moose looks for Millie Mouse, and with five bronze statues and 2 miles of family friendly trail, this is the perfect thing to do with your little ones.

Go solo into the Pulaski Tunnel- Half a mile from Wallace, this trail is named for "Big Ed" Pulaski who rescued his team of firefighters in the Big Burn of 1910. This is an easy 2 mile hike and has become a "national shrine." Perfect for picnics or just to getaway.

Hike Raven Gulch- This trail will take you through a beautiful valley and up onto Roundtop Mountain.

Listen to the Spokane River- Stand on Lincoln and Spokane Falls Boulevard. You hear that? That's the Spokane Falls. Highly recommended.

Kayak the St. Joe [River]- This is the highest navigable river in the world and an absolute must for anyone interested in kayaking. There are guides if you need them, or kayaks in our sporting goods department. Another "must" in CDA.

Count the trestles to Taft Tunnel- Also called "St. Paul Pass Tunnel," this is nearly two miles of perfectly straight tunnel that comes out in Montana. Go see it. You will pass over many beautiful trestles and experience the rich mining history Idaho has to offer.

Fish Trout Creek- This is a trail restricted to equestrian and foot traffic only. No motorized vehicles. This is a great area to camp, to hunt and fish although foresters and logging personnel may be in the area during hunting season.

Walk a dog on Tubbs Hill [Nature Park]- Publicly owned peninsula that extends out into the CDA Lake. Beautiful spot for all water recreation with trails for birding. No motorized vehicles or biking. Take your dogs, but remember to keep them on a leash.

Climb Q'emlin Park- Bring your long webbing as this is the spot to go for rock climbing with most trails with top rope anchors. Nothing over a 12c here. This park also has a boat launch and extensive hiking trails winding through beautiful river gorge landscape.

Enjoy a summer getaway to Wolf Creek- At an elevation of 9,400 feet this campsite is laid out under fir and aspen trees. Great for picnics, but be aware that do to its height on the mountain spring comes late and winter comes early.

Climb Wardner Peak & Kellogg Peak- The two mountains that make Silver Mountain.

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