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Family Trip - Coeur D'Alene, Idaho 7/25-30/24

Writer's picture: Emily HackenEmily Hacken

Updated: Aug 15, 2024

Biking the Route of the Hiawatha, playing at the beach at Sandpoint, sleeping in a Tipi and more!!! All the details for an instant 6 day family vacation.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Drive to Island Park (5 hrs)

Idaho Falls - Stop for lunch (Smitty's) and walk Idaho Falls Walkway to stretch legs

Mesa Falls - Hike

Island Park - dinner and sleep

Optional Activities

Hike - Big Springs Interpretive Trail

Hike - Box Canyon Trail

Harriman State Park - hiking, biking trails along streams and lakes

Henry's Lake - dinner picnic

Yellowstone NP

Hike - Johnny Sack's Cabin

Raft/Paddle/Float - Henry's Fk River


Day 2 - Drive to Coeur D'Alene (6 1/2 hrs)

Missoula - Stop for lunch (Notorious PIG) and Carousel

Coeur D'Alene

     Hike/Swim - Tubb's Hill

     Dinner - Fire Artisian Pizza (walking distance of Tubb's Hill)

     Hike - Floating Boardwalk in the evening (can walk from Tubb's Hill area)


Day 3

Coeur D'Alene

Bike - Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes


Day 4 - Drive to Sandpoint (1 hr)

Sandpoint

Swim/Paddleboard/Kayak - Sandpoint City Beach Park

Boat tour of lake - Lake Pend Oreille Paddleboard/Boat Tours

Jetski - Action Sports


Day 5

Mullan

Bike - Hiawatha (the Classic!)

Wallace

Silver Mine Tour

Stay in Wallace, Kellogg, or Missoula


Day 6 - Drive Home

Lava Hot Springs - Evening/late afternoon float and dinner


Directions:

Day 1 -

Idaho Falls


Day 2 -

Missoula

Coeur D'Alene

Tubb's Hill (north east small free parking area is best; north parking area is near playground and more central but costs $2/hr)

     Floating Boardwalk in the evening


Day 3 -

Coeur D'Alene

Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes (see Trip Report)


Day 4 - Sandpoint

Jet Ski - Action Sports


Day 5

    Bike - Hiawatha, East Portal (last portion is dirt but doable with cars)

Stay in Wallace, Kellogg, or Missoula


Day 6 - Drive Home

Lava Hot Springs - Dinner and evening/late afternoon float


Activities:

Day 1 -

Hike Idaho Falls walkway

Hike Mesa Falls - 0.4 mile loop. Paved, stairs. (see Trip Report)

Optional Activities -

Hike Big Springs Interpretive Trail - 2.4 mile out and back along river. All Trails Trip Report

Hike Box Canyon Trail - 4 miles, gorge

Picnic Dinner @ Henry's Lake shore

Yellowstone NP

Other Attractions in Island Park


Day 2 -

Missoula

Play - Carousel (1 block from the Notorious PIG restaurant) -$1 per ride (purchase at the gift shop - $5 min with card, open year round, covered, there is a dragon with rings in it's mouth if you catch the last one you get a free ride). $1/hr parking nearby with card or free if you are also parking at Notorious PIG and walk over. Also a great park nearby.

Coeur D'Alene

Hike/Swim - Tubb's Hill - 2 mile loop with beaches. (see Trip Report)

Dinner - Fire Artisian Pizza (walking distance of Tubb's Hill)

Hike - Floating Boardwalk in the evening (can walk from Tubb's Hill area)


Day 3 -

Coeur D'Alene

Bike - Trail of the Coeur D'Alene's (beginner to advanced paved trail out and back with cool bridge - see Trip Report)


Day 4 -

Sandpoint

Swim/Paddleboard/Kayak - Sandpoint City Beach Park - north sandy beaches, bathrooms, volleyball courts, trees for shade, bouy area for swimmers. Boat dock on east side.

Jetski - Action Sports


Day 5

Mullan

     Bike - Hiawatha, East Portal - 14.5 miles (see Trip Report)

Wallace

     Silver Mine Tour - $18 pp, $10 kids - get a cool mining rock core

Stay in Wallace, Kellogg, or Missoula


Day 6 - Drive Home

Lava Hot Springs - Evening/late afternoon float and dinner


Accomodations:

Island Park - Starlight Retreat Yellowstone (Tipi's and Bell Tents)

Coeur D'Alene - suburbs are cheaper (we stayed at the Silver Inn in Kellogg)

Sand Point - Round Lake Campground (camping with own private lake)

Wallace - Stardust Motel (space theme)


Food:

Idaho Falls - Smitty's (German Pancakes, Cafe food, only open for breakfast and lunch)

Island Park - Cafe Sabor (Mexican, get's packed at dinner time)

Missoula - Notorious PIG (BBQ)

Coeur D'Alene - Fire Artesian Pizza (Honey Badger was crazy good - get to go and eat at the park)

Wallace - 1313 Club (pub grub - poutine is awesome)


Mesa Falls


Island Park


Tubbs Hill


Boardwalk


Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes


Sandpoint Beach


Jetski


Route of the Hiawatha


Wallace and Silver Mine


Lava Hot Springs


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