Cycling The Palouse

Bike passage across Lake Coeur d'Alene

With summer temperatures arriving early, Nancy and I loaded up the bikes and set off for a Sunday afternoon spin across Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Yes, across Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Today's route would take us from Plummer, ID to Harrison, ID along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's (TCdA) bike path.  The TCdA is a marvelous facility having a trail head in Plummer and then heading east for about 70 miles first across Lake Coeur d' Alene and then meandering along the Coeur d'Alene River through Idaho's Silver Valley.

Sunday's cycling route

TCdA is fashioned on an abandoned railway bed so inclines are gradual.  One of the focal points of the ride from Plummer to Harrison is the trestle bridge crossing the lower portion of the lake.  

Converted railroad bridge crossing Lake Coeur d'Alene

From the trail head outside of Plummer, the trail descends for about seven miles along Plummer Creek Canyon before spilling out at lakeside.  From there, the trail crosses the lake via the old railway bridge and then hugs the eastern shore until turning inland at the small community of Harrison.

Lake Coeur d'Alene looking south
with bridge in distance

View across lake from Harrison

Rather than beginning at the Plummer trail head, we began at the small marina on the western shore only a few hundred yards from the trestle bridge.  We would cross the lake and then head north along the shore to Harrison for a stop and bit of refreshment before retracing our path back to  the marina.  Round trip distance from marina to Harrison is about 17 miles.

Harrison Marina

Even though the trial along the lake is virtually flat, the terrain is not.  A number of deep railroad cuts dot the landscape.  Beautiful country!

Railroad cut along the lake

After returning to our starting point following a leisurely ride, we loaded up Nancy's bike onto the car rack and I set off for an eight mile uphill time-trial to the Plummer trail head.  Nancy would then meet me at the trail head and we would make the 45 minute drive back to Spokane.

Route up Plummer Creek Canyon
from Marina to Plummer Trail head

With temperatures in the low 90's F, by the time I reached the trail head having pushed my body up the never yielding slope, I was drenched in sweat and ready for a long cool drink.

View from Harrison looking north

Although less in both distance and effort from my regular daily rides, this was an enjoyable half-day spent on the bike with my wife.  Hopefully, this is only the first of many such joint, summer biking excursions.  To compensate for my expected, reduced effort on the bike, I diligently put in 20 miles on the stationary bike at an early morning gym workout before the day's lake excursion.