Come grab a ride on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Bikes like these can be rented at the Friends of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Non-Profit Centre in Wallace.
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a 72-mile paved trail that runs from Mullan to Plummer.
The trail is something of a Mecca to trail riding bicycle enthusiasts who enjoy a challenging, but smooth ride with tons of places to stop and see from one end to the other.
The Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Trails have opened up their shop in Wallace to give even more people the chance to enjoy the spectacular trail.
The FCDAT has been around for quite some time, working to help maintain and promote the trail, as well as many other local biking destinations.
Now, with the help of many local businesses, they have several bike rentals and other Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes gears that can be purchased.
Sheena Braulick has taken on the role as coordinator of the FCDAT shop in Wallace and uses her influence to promote the trail, as well as many of the other awesome riding locations in the Silver Valley.
That being said, she really is hoping that when people rent the bikes and equipment from them that they keep it on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and not use it on some other trail.
“I want to see the bikes we have used locally on our trail and not thrown in the back of a truck and taken somewhere else,” Braulick said.
The shop had historically struggled to stay open consistently due to the volunteer nature of the organization, but that has since changed along with the organization’s board itself.
“It was hard for them to always have people here, and then people just get used to you not being open at all,” Braulick said. “We are wanting to change that perception and give people who live here or who are just traveling through, another option for something to do while they are here.”
The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes spans the Idaho Panhandle between Mullan and Plummer and was created through partnerships between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U.S. government and the state of Idaho.
The trail begins in the Silver Valley, continues along the Coeur d'Alene River past Lake Coeur d'Alene and to Plummer.
The trail boasts 20 developed trailheads to provide easy access-type entry points, as well as 17 scenic waysides along the route.
The Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Trails Non-Profit Centre is located at 413 Sixth St. in Wallace and is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.
For more information visit their website at friendsofcdatrails.org or call them at 208-512-1021.