Trail 258 - IPNF, ID

Overview: Trail 258 is an easy trail that connects Beauty Carlin #257 and Caribou Ridge #79 trails about halfway up Mount Coeur d'Alene. Popular with mountain bikers, it can also be used to hike a lollipop loop with the aforementioned trails up to the summit of Mount Coeur d'Alene.


Hike: Trail 258 can be hiked in either direction, but is described here from east to west, starting from the Beauty Carlin side, and finishing on Caribou Ridge. To get to the start of the trail, hike up Beauty Carlin for approx 1.50 miles, where the trail reaches an old logging road. While not marked, the road leading to the right is the eastern start of Trail 258. The road initially heads to the northeast, before soon curving around to the northwest, where it traverses the northeast slope of Mount Coeur d'Alene, reaching Caribou Ridge on the north side of the mountain.The trail is in excellent shape, and is mostly flat, making for very easy hiking. Views are limited due to the dense trees in all directions. At about 1.50 miles, you will cross Caribou Creek. Luckily, the water flow is piped well below the trail, and the creek is in the ravine below you, so no wet shoes to worry about. In fact, other than the sound of running water, you'd hardly know you crossed over a creek.

After crossing the creek, the trail begins to gradually gain elevation, more notably than the first half of the trail. As you approach Caribou Ridge, the trail leaves the old logging road and begins climbing more steeply up several switchbacks to the spine of the ridge. Again, the intersection with Caribou Ridge Trail is not well marked, but is distinct. There was a small piece of wood marked with 258 affixed to an old log, but it was not easily noticed.

2024-06-13 LindaAnn