Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
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If you visit Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in the summertime and are looking for a place away from the crowds, head to Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park. You will find a lakeside trail with lovely views and few people.
About 15 minutes south of Coeur d’Alene (CDA) is a paved trail known as Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park. This trail is one of three trails in the Idaho State Parks system. At 5.7 miles, it is the shortest. However, it is part of the North Idaho Centennial Trail, which consists of 24 miles between Higgens Point and the Idaho-Washington border. This trail then joins the Liberty Lake Stateline Trail. So really, Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park is the beginning (or end) of a long, scenic trail through CDA and along the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene and parts of the Spokane River. This trail is also part of the Millennium Legacy trail system.
There is a fair amount of parking. However, it may fill up on busy summer days. They have restroom facilities and the usual picnic tables and such. For all of the specifics, check out the parks and rec’s website for Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park.
We visited the Parkway right at sunset. There were a couple of other people enjoying the beautiful sight, but we had plenty of room to maneuver. I am sure it gets busier during a warm summer day. But everything I have read says this is a good place to avoid the usual CDA crowds.
This park is an excellent place to spot bald eagles. Note: this is a wintertime activity. From November to February, bald eagles descend on the area. Why? Well, Kokanee, a landlocked small sockeye salmon, come to the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene to spawn and die. The eagles come to feast. Apparently, it is not uncommon to count 200+ eagles. Wow.
We can thank Washington State for this little trail and state park. It was their state parks system that started planning a trail along the Spokane River. They wanted to create a trail to celebrate Washington state’s centennial in 1989. As neighbors sometimes do, they started coordinating with Idaho to extend the trail in celebration of Idaho’s centennial in 1990.
Before heading to the park, we swung by Pilgrim’s Market in CDA to pick up some food. That ended up being a really good choice and we arrived at the park just as the sun was beginning to set. There were plenty of parking spaces so we grabbed one and made our way to one of the empty picnic tables. We then enjoyed our food while watching the sun set on Lake Coeur d’Alene. It really was lovely and very peaceful.
After dinner, we took a stroll on the Parkway. We walked a mile or so before it started to get dark and we decided to turn around. It was fun to see the houses along the water as well as the private docks. It was not so fun hearing the traffic. The trail runs alongside a busy road and it made for a less-than-peaceful experience. I’m not saying you shouldn’t take a stroll, but be prepared for your stroll to be a little noisy.
To be honest, we were a little let down by this park. It didn’t feel like it had as much to offer as some of the other parks and trails. Plus, the noise from the traffic was not enjoyable. However, that being said, we did not experience everything this park has to offer. Perhaps we will give it another shot the next time we are in town.
Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park is an interesting addition to the Idaho State Parks system. As a trail, it pales in comparison to its neighbors. However, its connection to the North Idaho Centennial Trail makes it worthy of a ride. It is not a big park, but it does provide access to Lake Coeur d’Alene and is a good place to get away from CDA’s summertime crowds.
Note: we visited Coeur d’Alene Parkway State Park as part of our Idaho State Parks Challenge. The challenge consists of visiting all of Idaho’s state parks in one year. We made up this challenge to see a bit more of our beautiful state and help alleviate the restlessness caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions. Feel free to join the challenge!
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