Northern Idaho Adventures

We had an awesome trip to Northern Idaho last week.  I detailed the trip in our family blog at Tree Squirrels so go take a look.  For the sake of consistency, I thought I'd add a few pictures from the trip here.

Spokane River Rafting
14 Miles

(Sorry, no pics.  We didn't want to get the camera wet.  We sure got wet though.)

Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes / Osborn, ID
22 Miles

We found a logging road above Osborn with a 2,000 ft climb over 5 miles and we couldn't resist.  We pedaled 4 miles along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes from Wallace to Osborn and then cranked it up Capital Mountain near the top.  The directions we got from the internet were less than helpful so we turned around before hitting the summit to make sure we got back before dark.  The views were incredible.

Looking down on the valley below.  We started at the bottom.

This is near the top just before we turned around.

The Route of the Hiawatha
30 Miles

The Route of the Hiawatha is a rail line that was converted to a hiking/biking trail over some pretty rugged terrain.  It was the most expensive section of the entire rail line from Chicago to the West Coast.  The 15 mile stretch includes 10 tunnels and 7 steel trestle bridges.  There were several more trestle bridges along the trail that were filled in during the rail line operation.  The views were amazing.  We started at the bottom and cranked our way up the 15 miles and 1,000 feet of climb to the top.  The trail ended with a 1.7 mile long tunnel straddling the Idaho/Montana border.  It was a surreal experience.

View from one of the trestle bridges

Looking down from the tallest bridge

One of the bridges off in the distance

A trestle bridge ending into a tunnel

Cruising along the trail

Sarah infront of the waterfall just before the long tunnel

Entrance to the St. Paul Pass (Taft) tunnel - 8,771 ft long

Incredible.  Can't wait to do it again.