Coeur D’Alene River Paddle Tour (Enaville To Mission Flats)

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Distance: 9-1/2 miles

Difficulty: Mostly easy

Paddling time: 1-1/2 - 3 hours

Season: Virtually year-round

Maps: USGS Cataldo

Info: Enaville Resort, (208) 882-3453

PADDLING TRIP NOTES

Access: To take-out: Drive on Interstate 90 between Coeur d’Alene and Kellogg and take Exit 39 toward Old Mission State Park. Go 3/4 mile, following frontage road paralleling I-90, past historic mission, to Mission Flats boat ramp.

To put-in: From Old Mission Park exit, drive east on I-90 4 miles to Kingston Exit 43. Head north on Coeur d’Alene River Road, pass Enaville Resort, and turn right on Old River Road at 2 miles from I-90. Bear left at Y and cross bridge over Coeur d’Alene River. Put in near Bert’s Place Tavern. (Stop at tavern to ask permission and for directions to preferred parking area.)

Attractions: Flows in this section of Coeur d’Alene River typically high enough for good paddling most of year. (Exceptions to rule include low flows during extreme winter cold and during dry weather in late August or September.) Rated Class I, with no serious rapids. River parallels roads, but swings away for decent stretches of solitude. Some splashy riffles for play. Water generally clear, allowing sight of bottom even in deeper holes. Most bridges festooned with swinging ropes. Area prized for cutthroat trout fishing.

Hazards: One sharp turn with turbulence at rock wall, easily avoided with short portage if desired. Mission Flats area contaminated with heavy metals from Silver Valley mining. Swimming, playing in dirt discouraged there.

Comments: This stretch of river popular with swimmers and floating vessels of all types on hot summer weekends, but virtually unused fall through spring.

Floating fairly straight forward, although some riffles can be rocky in low water. Last straight stretch to Mission Flats take-out moves slowly; on verge of being slack water backed up from Lake Coeur d’Alene.

River’s worst floods have been caused by rain-on-snow events during winter; for example 79,000 cfs during the flood of 1974 and 40,000 cfs during the recent flood in February.

However, high average runoff flows tend to be around 7,000 cfs at Enaville for about two weeks sometime from late April through early June. Lowest average flows tend to be around 145 cfs in August or September.

Floating river pretty much a no-brainer at 2,500-3,500 cfs. For flow information, contact USGS water resources office in Sandpoint, (208) 263-4123.

Route begins at elev. 2,159 feet; ends at elev. 2,132 feet.

Plenty of gravel beaches for stopping and picnicking. However, beyond high water mark, much of land along this stretch of river privately owned. Notable exception is Old Mission State Park, hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m., telephone (208) 682-3814. Park is worth a visit.

Gas and food services at Cataldo. Food at Enaville Resort (also called “The Snake Pit”).

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Map of paddle tour

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