Cover photo by James P. Johnson
There are a lot of reasons to like Coeur d’Alene—among them, a couple of enjoyable, well-known, lakeside hikes. Tubbs Hill, with a main trail that follows the lake shore and is mostly flat, begins next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort downtown. But less-trafficked Mineral Ridge, which demands a little more effort, is a good choice for an appealing, elevated view of Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Mineral Ridge is so named because at one time it was thought to have viable mineral deposits. The search left prospectors empty handed, paving the way for construction of this pleasant trail in 1963, later deemed good enough to be designated a National Recreation Trail in 1982.
The trailhead has a roomy, paved parking lot on Beauty Bay at the east end of the lake. Its proximity to Coeur d’Alene, the great view from the top, and the well-maintained trail (gently-sloped, considering it goes to the top of a ridge), makes it a popular spot, especially on weekends, though generally less busy than Tubbs Hill and only a 15-minute drive from Coeur d’Alene.
The loop trail is 3.3 miles round trip, and you’ll gain about 700 feet of elevation. There used to be a summit sign-in log at the high point, but the log has long been discontinued. The shelter that housed it is still there though. Should a rain shower suddenly materialize, it’s a good place to keep dry.
After reaching the high point, the trail follows the ridgeline, slowly descending toward the west end. You’ll pass a prospecting pit along the way, dug many years ago in a search of evidence of minerals. When you reach the end of the ridge, the trail begins switchbacking down the steep slope. At this spot, thanks to sparse tree cover, great views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and points beyond can be had. This is the best place for a group photo, a selfie, or to just stare and say to yourself, “Wowza! This is really beautiful.”
More evidence of mineral exploration includes an abandoned prospecting tunnel you can visit by taking a marked spur trail on the upper half of the ridge that’ll add 5 to 10 minutes to your hike. The prospecting tunnel is short and not hazardous.
With a high point under 3,000 feet, there’s no accumulation of snowpack as there is higher up in the mountains, thus the trail is usually clear of snow by early spring. If you’re a high maintenance hiker (meaning you demand a trailhead with a grassy play area, a sheltered picnic table for your post-hike bag of chips, and bathrooms), you’ll be delighted with the amenities.
James P. Johnson has hiked Mineral Ridge many times and has yet to tire of the scenery.
