Idaho state parks - a beautiful place to play and stay!

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People from all over the world come to Idaho to enjoy mountain and road biking in some of the most pristine and tranquil locations imaginable.  

 

For mountain bikers, Idaho has more than 12,000 miles of single track trails and at least twice that in 4-wheel-drive dirt roads.  

 

For road bikers, the Trail of the Coeur D'Alene's  is a 72-mile paved path that extends from Plummer, Idaho, to Mullen, Idaho. And don't miss the Coeur d'Alene Parkway.  The parkway is part of the nationally famous North Idaho Centennial Trail, a multi-use recreational trail system that meanders for 24 miles from the Idaho/Washington state line.   Several of Idaho state parks are excellent base camps for a road or mountain bike adventure. 

In Idaho, you can support your sport by purchasing an Idaho Mountain Bike license plate. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will use the proceeds for the preservation, maintenance and expansion of recreation trails in Idaho.

 

Mountain Biking

Several Idaho State Parks offer single track mountain biking.  
 
 

 

Idaho City Area Trails and Yurt System

Another  excellent way to enjoy mountain biking is to take advantage of the Idaho City Area Trails and Yurt System where you can mountain bike by day and spend the night in a backcountry yurt by night. Click here to learn more.
 

Mountain biking on public lands

Mountain bike trails can also be found on trails located in federal lands, which cover 70% of the state.  
 
Boise National Forest mountain bike trail map http://www.fs.fed.us/
Bureau of Land Management trail maps http://www.blm.gov/.

 

Road biking in and around Idaho State Parks

Idaho is a biker's oasis with miles of hard surfaced non-motorized bike trails, many of which are 'rails to trails' projects or old railroad grades converted to pathways.  Three of Idaho's state parks are excellent places to road bike:

Heyburn State Park - Camp at Heyburn and spend a week riding the bike paths of northern Idaho that reach from one side of the state to the other.  

Ponderosa State Park - Take off from Ponderosa State Park to access hard path trails in and around the park.

Lucky Peak State Park -  Pack a picnic and ride from downtown Boise to Lucky Peak State Park on the famous Greenbelt. 

 

Other great road bike trails in Idaho

Northern Idaho:
Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes - at 73-miles, this trail is the world's longest continually paved trail! 
 
Central Idaho:
 
West Idaho:
 
 
 

Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes Snapshot 

Location
Begins in Plummer, ID
Ends Mullan, ID
There are 19 trailheads and 18 scenic waysides along the trail
 
Elevation
3,400 - 2,200
 
Trail length
72 miles
 
Trail top
10-foot wide asphalt
 
Types of use
Walk, bike, in-line skate, electric wheelchair
 
Overnight
Camping prohibited on trail, but there are several public and private operated facilities within easy distance
 
Idaho State Parks nearby
Heyburn State Park, Coeur d' Alene's Old Mission State Park
 
What to bring
Water, daypack, sunscreen, high-energy food, small first-aid kit, trail map, camera and sunglasses
 
Safety tips
Bikers and in-line skaters should always wear helmets
Always use lights at night
Obey road crossing signs
 
Winter
Nordic and snowshoe
 
Learning
Interpretive signage, Heyburn State Park, Coeur d' Alene's Old Mission State Park (Sacred Encounters Museum Exhibit)
 
Pets
Yes on leash and under control at all times
 
 

The Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes is a 72-mile paved trail spanning the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It was created through a unique partnership between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U. S. Government, and the State of Idaho. The trail begins in the historic Silver Valley, continues along the Coeur d'Alene River past scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene and through rolling farmlands to Plummer. Twenty developed trailheads provide entry points, and there are seventeen scenic waysides along the route for picnicking.

Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Commission Member
Downloadable Application

 

People from all over the world come to Idaho to enjoy mountain and road biking in some of the most pristine and tranquil locations imaginable.  

 

For mountain bikers, Idaho has more than 12,000 miles of single track trails and at least twice that in 4-wheel-drive dirt roads.  

 

For road bikers, the Trail of the Coeur D'Alene's  is a 72-mile paved path that extends from Plummer, Idaho, to Mullen, Idaho. And don't miss the Coeur d'Alene Parkway.  The parkway is part of the nationally famous North Idaho Centennial Trail, a multi-use recreational trail system that meanders for 24 miles from the Idaho/Washington state line.   Several of Idaho state parks are excellent base camps for a road or mountain bike adventure. 

In Idaho, you can support your sport by purchasing an Idaho Mountain Bike license plate. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will use the proceeds for the preservation, maintenance and expansion of recreation trails in Idaho.

 

Mountain Biking

Several Idaho State Parks offer single track mountain biking.  
 
 

 

Idaho City Area Trails and Yurt System

Another  excellent way to enjoy mountain biking is to take advantage of the Idaho City Area Trails and Yurt System where you can mountain bike by day and spend the night in a backcountry yurt by night. Click here to learn more.
 

Mountain biking on public lands

Mountain bike trails can also be found on trails located in federal lands, which cover 70% of the state.  
 
Boise National Forest mountain bike trail map http://www.fs.fed.us/
Bureau of Land Management trail maps http://www.blm.gov/.

 

Road biking in and around Idaho State Parks

Idaho is a biker's oasis with miles of hard surfaced non-motorized bike trails, many of which are 'rails to trails' projects or old railroad grades converted to pathways.  Three of Idaho's state parks are excellent places to road bike:

Heyburn State Park - Camp at Heyburn and spend a week riding the bike paths of northern Idaho that reach from one side of the state to the other.  

Ponderosa State Park - Take off from Ponderosa State Park to access hard path trails in and around the park.

Lucky Peak State Park -  Pack a picnic and ride from downtown Boise to Lucky Peak State Park on the famous Greenbelt. 

 

Other great road bike trails in Idaho

Northern Idaho:
Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes - at 73-miles, this trail is the world's longest continually paved trail! 
 
Central Idaho:
 
West Idaho:
 
 
 

Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes Snapshot 

Location
Begins in Plummer, ID
Ends Mullan, ID
There are 19 trailheads and 18 scenic waysides along the trail
 
Elevation
3,400 - 2,200
 
Trail length
72 miles
 
Trail top
10-foot wide asphalt
 
Types of use
Walk, bike, in-line skate, electric wheelchair
 
Overnight
Camping prohibited on trail, but there are several public and private operated facilities within easy distance
 
Idaho State Parks nearby
Heyburn State Park, Coeur d' Alene's Old Mission State Park
 
What to bring
Water, daypack, sunscreen, high-energy food, small first-aid kit, trail map, camera and sunglasses
 
Safety tips
Bikers and in-line skaters should always wear helmets
Always use lights at night
Obey road crossing signs
 
Winter
Nordic and snowshoe
 
Learning
Interpretive signage, Heyburn State Park, Coeur d' Alene's Old Mission State Park (Sacred Encounters Museum Exhibit)
 
Pets
Yes on leash and under control at all times
 
 

The Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes is a 72-mile paved trail spanning the Idaho panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It was created through a unique partnership between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Union Pacific Railroad, the U. S. Government, and the State of Idaho. The trail begins in the historic Silver Valley, continues along the Coeur d'Alene River past scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene and through rolling farmlands to Plummer. Twenty developed trailheads provide entry points, and there are seventeen scenic waysides along the route for picnicking.

Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's Commission Member
Downloadable Application