Great American Rail-Trail In Idaho
Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes | Photo by Lisa James
Idaho is primed to carry the Great American Rail-Trail across its state, with the over 88% 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.
Idaho stories along the Great American Rail-Trail
The “Great American” Route Through Idaho
The Great American Rail-Trail travels through the northern Panhandle of Idaho, primarily along developed rail-trails. Idaho has just one trail gap to complete, a connection from the city of Plummer to the Idaho–Washington state line. The state of Idaho and local officials will need to continue to work with landowners through the Lovell Valley to find an opportunity to complete the 10.5-mile connection between the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.
90.7
Total Miles80.2
Existing Miles10.5
Gap Miles88.4%
Complete
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment (2026)
The Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment 2026 defined the preferred route of the Great American Rail- Trail as more than 3,700 miles—with 2,086 miles of existing trails and 1,674 miles of trail gaps.
Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail Report (2022)
Investments could generate more than $229.4 million in visitor spending, $104 million in labor income, and $22.8 million in new tax revenue.
Trails Along the Route
Gateway Trail: Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, inducted into RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2010 (with the Route of the Hiawatha, also in Idaho), covers 71 miles of paved rail-trail through Idaho’s scenic mountains and valleys. The area has a rich mining, railroading and Native American history, and the Coeur d’Alene tribe was instrumental in the development of the trail. The trail originates in Mullan at 2nd and River streets and terminates in the west at the city of Plummer in a public park with interpretive signage on tribal history. View trail map on TrailLink.
NorPac Trail
The Idaho portion of the NorPac Trail runs 9.2 miles through the state, heading west from the Montana–Idaho state line. The separated trail ends at Beacon Light Road, about 4 miles from the eastern endpoint of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in Mullan. Trail users can follow the low-volume Larson Road/Friday Avenue west into Mullan, where a separated trail picks up along Earle Street and connects to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes trailhead at 2nd and River streets. View trail map on TrailLink.
Listen To Oral History:
Great American Rail-Trail Preferred Route
