Coeur d’Alene River
The Coeur d’Alene River extends up from Coeur d’Alene Lake east to Kingston, where it branches into the North Fork, stretching almost to Lake Pend Oreille, and the South Fork that flows east from almost the Montana border. Flowing through historic mining areas of the Silver Valley past numerous communities, it is a superb recreational river for numerous pursuits, from easy whitewater to paddling and, particularly in upstream stretches, fishing.
Trails: Most significantly, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes offers remarkable bicycling and walking on a paved path near much of the rivercourse downstream from Mullan all the way to the big lake and beyond – 71 miles in total. For hikers, there is an embarrassment of riches in the drainage, with more than three dozen trails ranging from easy day hikes to strenuous backpacking. See the USFS Trails for more.
Camping: In the Coeur d’Alene River area most campgrounds open from May through September 30, with some winter camping available. The Forest Service maintains more than a dozen campgrounds, including RV camping, group camping and five cabin rentals.
Fishing: Brook, rainbow, cutthroat and west slope cutthroat trout are all commonly caught in the Coeur d’Alene; other species include chinook salmon (lower reaches), kokanee salmon and bull trout. Upstream of Yellow Dog Creek no bait fishing is allowed and barbless hooks are required. The North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene is a renowned fly fishing destination, and several outfitters offer guided fly fishing trips.
More information
Bicycling: Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
Trails, camping and picnicking: Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Fishing: Idaho Fish and Game