Heyburn State Park is the oldest park in the Pacific Northwest, established in 1908.
We chose Hawley's Landing campsite for our home base as we explored this park over six days. Heyburn is a beautiful park with diverse ecological interests and history 0f the Coeur d'Alene Indians who once inhabited the area.
The drawing card to this park was the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes, a 72 mile paved bike path across the Panhandle of the State of Idaho. This amazing trail took us through cedar, hemlock and white pine forests; past wetland marshes, lakes and prairie vistas. Over 3 days I clocked 65 miles on my bicycle.
We had to cross the Chatcolet Bridge where it crosses the St. Joe river where it flows into Lake Coeur d' Alene. The 3100 foot bridge was a former swing railroad bridge which is used today only by bicycles and pedestrians.
Harebells along the trail.
Wild flowers were in abundance and I should have walked to capture them all.
Water lilies
Water Iris
Our bike crew resting at the top of the bridge.
High in the bridge girders nest a family of Osprey.
To create a softer incline and decline on the bridge it was designed in wavy stair climbs.
Weary after a long bike ride we shared tea and stories in our campsites.
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