Hikng the Mineral Ridge Trail Near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Mineral Ridge Trail is a 3.3 mile (5.3 km) loop trail that offers stunning views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.  The trail has an elevation gain of 767 feet (234 meters) and starts with a series of switchbacks up to the viewpoint at the top of the ridge.  We drive 11 miles (18 km) outside Coeur'Alene, park at the trailhead, and start up.

Starting up

Rest stops along the trail

Views of the lake as we climb

We reach a spur trail to an abandonded mine and take the short diversion.  Prospectors begain filing hard-rock mineral claims on Mineral Ridge around 1891, inspired by regional gold and metal discoveries.  Many of the test pits and horizonal prospecting tunnels into the hillside still exist, but never found payable ore deposits and never developed a producing mine.

Mining operation

We return to the main trail and contuinue up the hill to Caribou Cabin, on the ridge overlooking the lake.

Caribou Cabin

Just before the cabin, the Nelson Trail leads north to a view point and we take another diversion to see what is there.  The view is spectacular and we rest and enjoy it before returning to Caribou Cabin and  continuing on the Mineral Ridge Trail along the ridge overlooking the lake.

Viewpoint

Continuing along the ridge

More mineral exploration pits

At the end of the ridge, we descend to the parking lot and the lakeshore view.

Descending

On the shore

We return to Coeur d'Alene and take a scenic lake cruise, leaving from a dock near our hotel.  We sit outside on the upper deck of the ship and learn the story of the lake and the people and wildlife who live here.  Some of the mansions along the lake are among the most expensive residences in the state of Idaho.

Lake cruise

As we return on the opposite side of the lake, the ship travels along the shore where we rode bicycles yesterday, giving us a lake view of the scenery we previously observed from land.

Returning on the opposite shore

Map of Lake Coeur d'Alene

(on the door of the lake-tour ticket office)

Coeur d'Alene is only a brief stop at the start of our journey, but it is a great experience to launch us into the rest of the trip!