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<H2>CdA trail a top draw for cyclists </H2>
<H4 class=deck>Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes draws 78,000 in its first season</H4>
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<H5>More information </H5>
<H5>Trails online </H5>
<P>For more information on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, visit:
<A
href="http://www.friendsofcdatrails.org/">www.friendsofcdatrails.org</A>.</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
<P class=byline><SPAN class=name><A
href="http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news/bylines.asp?bylinename=James Hagengruber">James
Hagengruber</A></SPAN><BR>Staff writer<BR>November 13, 2004</P><!---------Code for Big Ads-------------------><!---------End Code for Big Ads------------------->
<P>A new, narrow strip of asphalt spanning the Idaho panhandle is becoming a top
draw for bicyclists.</P>
<P>In its inaugural season, the 73-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes drew at
least <STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>78,000</FONT></U></STRONG> riders,
according to estimates from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. </P>
<P>"This is becoming a real bicycle destination," said Bill Scudder, the state's
manager of the trail. "It's going to get a little bigger all the time."</P>
<P>The success is prompting a flurry of planning to connect the Trail of the
Coeur d'Alenes with other regional trails, including the Centennial and Hiawatha
trails. </P>
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<TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes was built atop a
decommissioned railbed and runs from Mullan to Plummer. Below the trail's
asphalt are toxic remnants from the days when the route was used to haul heavy
metals. But on either side of the pathway, eye candy is abundant: with
everything from clear mountain streams and dark cedar forests to small towns
straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. </P>
<P>The state based its ridership estimate using four laser counters. The number
is a ballpark figure, Scudder said, because many cyclists rode only portions of
the trail. The segment between Enaville and Bull Run Lake trailheads appears to
be the most popular. The 14-mile stretch follows the Coeur d'Alene River and
offers ample shade on summer afternoons. </P>
<P>Rider demographics have not been tracked, but Scudder said about half the
visitors appear to be from out of the region. </P>
<P>Jon Ruggles, president of the Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails, thinks
more than 100,000 riders pedaled the trail this summer. The state did not have a
counter near Harrison, a small town on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene that
has retooled its summertime economy around cyclists. The section between
Harrison and Plummer crosses Lake Coeur d'Alene and trailhead parking lots in
the area were often packed.</P>
<P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>Ruggles has conducted an economic analysis of
the trail and puts the first-year figure at $5 million for local
economies.</FONT></U></STRONG> Cyclists don't usually have much room to carry
gear, but cash and credit cards don't take up a lot of space, Ruggles said.
Cyclists are also typically from higher income brackets. </P>
<P>The popularity of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, along with the success of
other trails, is fueling hope that North Idaho could become a national cycling
mecca, Ruggles said. Planning is under way for connecting trails between the
region's major trails, including a possible link between Centennial Trail and
the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.</P>
<P>"We're developing into the next Moab," Ruggles said, referring to the
southern Utah cycling hotspot. "The potential is there, absolutely." </P>
<P>By midsummer, a network is expected to connect the Trail of the Coeur
d'Alenes with the Route of the Hiawatha, along the Montana-Idaho border. The
tunnels and trestles of the Hiawatha have developed a national reputation and
many of the cyclists are now spilling over onto the other regional trails,
Ruggles said. </P>
<P>Kellogg's Silver Mountain Resort opened a series of mountain biking trails
this summer that drew large crowds, said Greg Peak, manager of the resort's
retail shop. The mountainside trails range from beginner to double-black diamond
and riders are able to conquer the elevation using the resort's gondolas, he
said. More trails are planned for next year, Peak said. "We pretty much just
scratched the surface building trails."</P>
<P>Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint has already made a name for itself
among serious mountain bikers. About 1,400 riders converged on the mountain this
summer for a national circuit race. </P>
<P>One of the biggest missing trail links in the region is a connection between
the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and the Centennial Trail, which runs from Coeur
d'Alene to Spokane. Possible routes are being explored, including a path over
Fourth of July Pass, said Gene O'Meara, board member of the North Idaho
Centennial Trail group.</P>
<P>"It's still in the dream stage. But I say if John Mullan can do it, we can
follow his lead," O'Meara said, referring to the famous 19th century
trailblazer. "It'd be huge. You could ride a bike from far west of Spokane all
the way to Montana." </P>
<P>O'Meara said other connection possibilities also are being explored,
including a boat shuttle from Coeur d'Alene to the Harrison trailhead, or
equipping Coeur d'Alene Casino shuttle buses with bicycle racks. </P>
<P>"A lot of people call from all over the country and they want to know a good
way to get from one trail to the other," O'Meara said. "I really don't have a
good answer for them now." </P>
<P>More work is needed along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, said Mike Domy,
owner of Kellogg's Excelsior Cycle. The trail itself is in prime condition, but
many cyclists say there's a lack of lodging, campgrounds, shuttle services and
food stops along the route.</P>
<P>"We have a lot of the trails and places to go biking now but we don't have a
lot of tourist amenities yet," Domy said, adding that he expects to see more
investment soon. "I can't tell you how much I think this is helping the Silver
Valley."</P>
<P>The Enaville Resort has already made some changes because of the bicyclists,
said proprietor Joe Peak. The salad bar was expanded and healthier menu options
were added. Bicycle racks were placed around the facility. On summer weekend
afternoons more than half the clientele are now cyclists, Peak said. </P>
<P>"It's just had a real positive economic boost for us," Peak said. "The trail
has had more of an impact than even Silver Mountain, and I'm not putting Silver
Mountain down. It's just been awesome. Just
awesome."</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>