Great American Rail-Trail In Idaho

Idaho is primed to carry the Great American Rail-Trail across its state, with the vast majority of the preferred route already existing. When complete, the trail will create a seamless connection from Mullan to Plummer and the Idaho-Washington border.

The host trails that make up a majority of this route include the NorPac Trail and a Rail-Trail Hall of Fame inductee, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, which was part of a historic environmental mitigation and cleanup effort led by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Known for their exceptional views of the rugged and beautiful Idaho landscape, the trails have helped to spur outdoor tourism and recreation across the Idaho Panhandle.

RELATED: In Northern Idaho, two ‘epic’ bike routes showcase the success — and potential — of the rails-to-trails movement (Washington Post Travel)

Idaho stories along the Great American Rail-Trail

Idaho’s Weiser River National Recreation Trail

When someone says “Idaho,” most people think of potatoes, but the Weiser River National Recreation Trail demonstrates there is so much more to the landscape and the people. Traveling 84 miles—from forested terrain through canyons and onto the high prairie in the west-central part of the state—there is an ever-changing beauty that evokes an appreciation of the region and the forward-thinking individuals who sought to preserve the corridor.

Best Of: Great American Rail-Trail Adventures With the Traverses

In June 2021, my husband, Pat, and I began our trek on the Great American Rail-Trail® in Seattle, Washington, at the western end of the 3,700-mile developing route.

Take an American Adventure on 10 Presidential Pathways

Just in time for Presidents’ Day, here are 10 multiuse trails that share ties with some notable U.S. heads of state.

The “Great American” Route Through Idaho

Trails Along the Route

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Click the links below to view full trail descriptions of Idaho’s host trails on TrailLink.com.

• NorPac Trail
• Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

Gateway Trail

Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, managed by the state of Idaho in partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, offers one breathtaking vista after another on a nearly 72-mile route across Idaho’s Panhandle. The paved pathway earns its Hall of Fame Rail-Trail reputation as it crosses Lake Coeur d’Alene on the stunning Chatcolet Bridge, traverses the rolling foothills of the Palouse prairie and traces the shoreline of the Coeur d’Alene River.

Route Reveal Celebration

Great American Rail-Trail Preferred Route

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