Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene is a small city on beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho, just a few miles from the Washington state border. While this walk is in Idaho it very much feels like you are still in Washington State, so much so that, unlike the rest of the state, the Idaho panhandle is in the Pacific rather than the Mountain time zone. 44,000 people now call the city home. In recent decades Coeur d'Alene has completed its transformation from a mining town to a resort community, with construction of the Coeur d'Alene resort, creation and remodel of two large city parks in the downtown area, and refurbishment of the old downtown. The city's citizens had the good sense to retain Tubbs Hill, adjacent to downtown, as a natural area. This 3.7 mile walk goes through downtown Coeur d'Alene, along the lakefront resort area, through City Park and McEuen Park, and around Tubbs Hill. There is some moderate topography in Tubbs Hill - otherwise the walk is pretty level.

The walk starts at the west end of City Park, at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Park Drive. To the west, behind you, is a neighborhood of fancy homes. City Park is a beautiful forested parcel along the lake with a small outdoor concert venue among other attractions. Start walking along the lakefront path. Lake Coeur d'Alene was formed by the catastrophic Missoula floods at the end of the last Ice Age.

If you are fortunate enough to do this walk in the Fall you will enjoy the pretty foliage on the deciduous trees in the park.

Continue along the lakefront and go through Independence Point, at the east end of City Park. Among the other sights is this statue of Mudgy the Moose, one of five throughout downtown Coeur d'Alene. The statues are intended to illustrate the story of Mudgy and Millie, a moose and a mouse playing hide-and-seek in Coeur d'Alene.

Continue, veering right, onto this floating walkway going out into the lake and then back in a loop. The walkway has panoramic views of the lake to the right  and the Coeur d'Alene resort and marina to the left. Looming ahead is Tubbs Hill, where you will be going later on the route.

The Coeur d'Alene resort and marina are clearly not of ancient vintage - the resort opened at this location in 1965 and has been added to significantly since. The resort's golf course, with its famous "floating green," is located several miles to the east.

After the long walk on the floating marina turn right at its end and head into McEuen Park. The park consists of a 20 acre green space with public gathering spaces along its edge. It was extensively reconstructed and reopened in 2014, with apparently much local controversy. The Veteran's Memorial at the west end of the park includes this statuary of an eagle.

Turn right from the Veteran's Memorial toward the Harbor House at the west end of the park, adjacent to the lake. Next to the Harbor House is this entrance to Tubbs Hill, which is the land mass directly in front of you. The hill is named for Tony Tubbs, an 1880's German immigrant and one of the founders of the city. The stones at this entrance to Tubbs Hill bear the names of civic-minded residents who contributed to its preservation. The colorful history of their efforts to preserve Tubbs Hill is found here.

Once past the boulders go up the trail and keep to the right. You will be circumnavigating Tubbs Hill and enjoying spectacular views of the lake. The 120-acre natural park is criss-crossed with hiking trails.

Continue along the trail that stays near the shore, which has some moderate ups and downs. Once on the east side of Tubbs Hill keep to the right and as you exit the park you will pass this private marina on the lake.

Continue out of Tubbs Hill park as the trail flattens out. Soon you will pass by this statue, which appears to be of a beehive. However there isn't any information I can find about the story of how this work of art came to be.

Eventually the trail empties out onto Tenth Street. Turn left on Pine Avenue, then turn right onto Eighth Street. While on this route my path crossed with this gaggle of turkeys; perhaps you will run into them as well!

Continue on Eighth Street to Mullan Avenue, and then turn left into the east end of McEuen Park, by the Coeur d'Alene City Hall. Follow the trail as it curves to the right. On your left is a giant children's play area, and on the right is this fancy new Coeur d'Alene public library, opened in 2007.

Continue on the pathway to the intersection of Sixth Street and Front Avenue, then leave the park. At the corner of Sixth and Front is this very new (installed in 2014) statue, "The American Worker."

Proceed one block north on Sixth Street, then turn left onto Sherman Avenue. Sherman is Coeur d'Alene's traditional downtown "Main Street", with many shops and restaurants in 100-year old buildings.

At the corner of Second Street and Sherman Avenue is a vacant lot with this colorful mural on the wall of the adjacent Hudson Hamburgers restaurant building. The vacant lot was the site of the historic Wilma Theater, which was demolished in 1997 after a heavy snow collapsed its roof. This blog post presents a very colorful picture of a very different downtown Coeur d'Alene in the 1980's, when the theater still stood.

Continue on Sherman Avenue as it curves to the right and becomes Northwest Blvd. Cross the street at Lakeside. To your right is a fancy new multi-story residential complex. Once across the street you will be in front of the very nondescript Museum of North Idaho. However this industrial sculpture graces the front of the building. Go around the museum back into City park and follow the trail through the park back to your starting point.