This lovely trail starts out with a bit of an incline, but nothing too crazy. I would expect it to manageable for someone in average shape, or just coming out of a Winter long hibernation. The width of the trail made it comfortable and easy to get around hikers of differing paces, though the trail is marked one-way so there wasn't a ton of passing to be done.
And there was lots to explore on this historic trail. You can check out the historic Caribou Cabin or take to spur to explore an abandoned mine. Robbie was much more interested in checking out the mine, Freki took some convincing since someone told him Bigfoot lives in caves. While Floki ignored them both and focused instead on stopping to smell the wildflowers.
And you just can't beat the view from the top. With lots of opportunities to pause for photos or just take in the beauty of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Mineral Ridge Trailhead was actually the first Idaho recreation site developed by the BLM in 1963.
Just a lovely 15 minute drive along the lake from Coeur d'Alene you can find the Mineral Ridge Trailhead. The is one of the first tails we got out to explore this Spring, and we weren't disappointed! The weather was a little chilly on that early Spring morning, but the view from the top made this wonderful 3.3 mile loop absolutely worth the effort.
Pros:
- Definitely a dog-friendly trail!
- The trail is short enough to be easy but steep enough to get your heart pumping.
- It's just a short drive from downtown CDA.
- The trail is wide and open that passing someone, even with dogs, isn't too challenging.
- The view from the top is spectacular!
Cons:
- It's only 3.3 miles, so if you're looking to get in a day long hike you might have to do a few laps.
- It's a well known trail with a relatively small parking area, could get tricky during the peak of hiking season to find parking.
- There were a lot of sticks (joking)
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