Adventures in the Area
What to do and where to do it around Harrison.

Osprey photo courtesy of Ron Wicker
Birdwatching
For a short cycle trip, get off the main trail and check out Thompson Lake Wildlife Refuge on the edge of town to spot and photograph osprey, eagles, white swans, and other wildlife.
Download the Checklist of Birds along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes provided by the Coeur d'Alene Audubon group. Then go to All About Birds, where you can click on a recording of their songs and see if you can identify them in your surroundings.
A checklist of birds in Heyburn State Park is available at Park headquarters. The Park is open year round. There is a daily parking fee. Please note that the Park is most directly accessed from Harrison by boat or an easy 7.5 mile bike ride on the cycle trail. If you drive, it's an hour and 10 minutes.
Explore the Idaho Fish and Game's Idaho Birding Trail map
See Idahobirds.net which provides an overview and links to the Idaho birding scene.


The approach to Heyburn State park seven miles south of Harrison. Photo courtesy of Estar Holmes.
Cycling
Harrison is a mecca for cyclists and roller bladers on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. This 72-mile paved rail-trail stretches across the Idaho Panhandle from the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation in Plummer, to Mullan, a few miles from the Montana border.
The Harrison trailhead is at mile 15.3. Refer to the map.
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For a full day's cycle trip, ride the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes northeast along the Coeur d'Alene River to see the displays at Idaho's oldest standing building, Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission and the fascinating Sacred Encounters multi-media museum near Cataldo. The museum is not right on the trail, but it's about three miles west -- a flat and easy ride from Cataldo's Mission Inn restaurant.Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission.
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Access the 300k Bitterroot Loop from Harrison
In 2010, the Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails created a loop of rail-trails and multi-use roads that form the 300k Bitterroot Loop. It connects the CdA Trail with the Route of the Hiawatha and the Old Milwaukee Route through Avery, Idaho, and along the scenic St. Joe River to St. Maries and Heyburn State Park.
Hiking
Bell Bay Campground Day Use Area
There is a scenic one-mile hiking trail on a forested hillside at Bell Bay Campground, six miles north of Harrison. Find the trailhead 25 paces east (left) of the parking area. The trail leads up to a viewpoint and the Upper Loop Rd. Another trail entrance on the west side of the restroom leads down to the lake, dock and picnic area maintained by Kootenai County Parks and Waterways Department.
Springston Trailhead
Get a bird's eye view of the Coeur d'Alene River, Thompson Lake Wildlife Refuge, and Anderson Lake on this steep hike near the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Springston Trailhead. The trail is primitive, free, and not signed. Springston Trailhead is three miles from the Harrison Trailhead on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, or an easy four-mile drive from downtown Harrison.
To drive there from Harrison, head north on Hwy 97 and cross the bridge two miles from town. Turn right onto Blue Lake Rd. after the bridge. From there it's 1.8 miles east to Springston Bridge. Turn right over the bridge to the trailhead parking area. Walk toward Anderson Lake on the dirt road and look for a trail on your left that leads uphill. Follow it around to the right for a good climb.
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Heyburn State Park
Heyburn is Idaho's oldest state park and has beautiful forest and lake access with 13 miles of trails. Some are dedicated hiking trails. Most are shared with cyclists and horseback riders.
The most direct route to the park from Harrison is to bike 7.5 miles south along the lake on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. After riding over Chatcolet Bridge, continue one mile to Indian Cliffs Trailhead. Here you will find several hiking trails, including the 3-mile Indian Cliffs trail that climbs through light timber and over some wooden bridge crossings, for a spectacular view of the lakes and St. Joe River at the top. The trail is easy to follow with fairly mild elevation gains People report this trail is a good family hike with young kids. However, if they are very young or new to hiking, you might want to stick with the easier one-mile CCC Nature Trail from the same trailhead. It circles through a mostly level area with many species of trees.
Cycle a mile further south on Chatcolet Rd., the main road through the park, to reach headquarters and the visitor information center. There are additional trails along the way.
Adventures Abound
Red Horse Mountain Ranch

Red Horse Mountain Ranch is the perfect escape for families, couples, and adventure-seekers to unplug and reconnect. Nestled in the stunning Idaho wilderness, our ranch offers personalized horseback riding, thrilling outdoor activities, cozy accommodations, and made-from-scratch meals—all designed to create lifelong memories.

Since 1935, N-Sid-Sen has welcomed thousands of children, youth and adults to their home on the lake for summer camp and year-round retreat experiences. We hope you’ll join us in the coming months!
The Cycle Haus: Bikes & Brews

A bike shop and restaurant on the Trail of the Coeur D Alenes in Harrison Idaho

Boat rental delivery anywhere on Lake Coeur d'Alene!