Canfield Mtn Natural Area Loop Trail, ID

Overview: The Canfield Mountain Natural Area is a 24-acre park in Coeur d'Alene. It is near (but not part of) the IPNF Canfield Mountain Trail System, and also borders the Cancourse Biking & Hiking trails. The Natural Area has one official trail, which forms a lower and upper loop.


Hike: The loop trail is signed at the start and immediately starts to climb uphill on an easy incline. The loop can be completed in either direction, but this guide follows it counter-clockwise. Stay right at the fork for the loop as you head east. There are a couple of tight switchbacks as you ascend. Note, other social trails run thru the area, so staying on the official route can be tricky at times. Truly getting lost would be next to impossible, as there are neighborhoods on the west and south (downhill) sides of the park.As the trail reaches the southeast boundary of the park, it makes a tight turn north and heads north, then west. Roughly half a mile into the hike, the trail passes a short wood fence and a bench. Just above this bench, there is a junction. Continuing north keeps you on the lower loop. Turning east puts you on the upper loop. Turning east, stay right and continue uphill on the upper loop. The trail heads east, then switchbacks north towards the northeast corner of the Natural Area. At the northeast corner, the trail makes a sharp left. It's not super obvious, but the turn is near the second sign that directs you to either stay on the upper loop (left) or private property, which is the Cancourse, to the right.

Making the sharp left, the trail heads west and downhill, winding back to the junction near the bench. It does some long, lazy switchbacks along the way. Once back at the bench, head right to stay on the lower loop. The lower loop heads north, then curves back south to complete the loop near the trailhead. The second half of the lower loop seemed to have the most rocks on the trail surface, but it was all easy hiking.

While a very short hike, it is pleasant, and does provide easy access to the Cancourse trails and the National Forest Trails on Canfield Mountain.

2026-03-16 LindaAnn