Just east of the City of Coeur d’Alene on the far east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene is Wolf Lodge Bay. A large creek ‘Wolf Lodge Creek’ feeds the bay. Interstate 90 is routed through the small valley after it descends from Fourth of July Pass on its way in to Coeur d’Alene. Most travelers never notice the small creek to the south.
I began today’s trip at the Mineral Ridge boat ramp off State Road 97 about one mile from it’s intersection with Interstate 90. Just east of the ramp was the staging area for one of the local dock builders. One of their tugs was named Super Triumph. Someone had removed the R,I and H from Triumph in the name. Wonder if we’ll see it in an upcoming boat parade.
The view from Wolf Lodge Bay looking back to the west. You have to cross less than a half mile of open water before you enter the creek.
The creek empties in to the lake right at the State Road 97 bridge.
The other side of the bridge is a different world. Extensive marsh lands with sizable areas of open water predominate. At first the route can be a little confusing, but if you hit shallow water (less than three feet deep) you’re on the wrong path.
As you move upstream away from the lake , the creek slowly gets narrower.
About a mile or so in you come to this little challenge. Believe me it’s no problem. It looks like there was an old foot bridge here and maybe a shed shelter.
As the creek narrows more it becomes very serpentine and passes under another private ranch bridge.
A little less than three miles in you come to the end of your paddle. If you’re gung ho, you can maybe make it past the Interstate bridge and struggle another couple of hundred yards to a private campground. Some folks launch there and float down.
This is what the creek looks like above the Interstate bridge.
After a pleasant paddle upstream you are rewarded with an even more relaxing trip back to the lake. There is a lot of bird life along the creek. On this trip I got to see Bald Eagles, redwing blackbirds and the first wood stork I’ve even seen in Idaho.
This little kayak spot is truly a hidden gem. Because it shares the valley with an Interstate Highway, most folks don’t even consider kayaking this fun little stream. The entire trip was just under six miles and over two hours long. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
