4th of July Pass - Killarney Mountain Ride

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This little ride is located on the top of the 4th of July Pass. At only 18 miles east from the city of Coeur d' Alene, this ride allows you quick access into the deep forest and get a good feel of the North Idaho mountain landscape while offering a fun, fast rolling experience. It's an easy trail ride mixed with a primitive and main forest road taking you back to your vehicle.

Trail 3016 is a part of this ride and is a Non-Motorized trail. This ride and trail is also a part of a Nordic Ski and Snowshoeing area in the winter.

Take the off ramp exit on top of 4th of July Pass. Take a right and follow the signs to the parking lot. The parking lot has plenty of room for many cars and has a vault style bathroom. The ride officially starts on Forest Service Trail 3016. The trailhead lies at the western end of the parking lot.

This part of the trail is really fast rolling and wide. This trail is an old decommissioned forest road that now has turned into some smooth singletrack down the center. There are a few little views of the surrounding mountains but mostly you'll be sightseeing in a beautiful, lush green forest that is quiet and peaceful.

Along the way you'll come across warming huts and a bathroom that are used during the winter for the nordic skiers and those who snowshoe. You'll climb a little and then descend a little as you roll along this 5.2 mile trail section.

You'll know you are near the end of the trail when you come upon a large, A-framed warming hut labeled Ian's Eagle Hut. Pass the warming hut on the left and the trail continues up to the left about 30 feet pass the hut. The trail climbs sharply at this point using a couple of small switchbacks and it gets a little brushy. Continue up a little more and you'll pop out onto an old forest road. This forest road is Forest Road 1575 and will only show up on older maps.

Take a left onto Forest Road 1575, heading north and cruise along the gentle slope for approximately 1.2 miles taking in some views. You'll dead end into Forest Road 614, which is the main forest road that leads you back to the parking lot. If you take a left you can end the ride short by heading to your vehicle.

If you choose to continue on the ride, take a right and follow Forest Road 614 approximately 0.75 miles looking for Forest Road 2335. Take a left onto this Forest Road and you'll head to the top of Killarney Mountain. This is an active Electronic Transfer Station. Once on Top you can head back down the way you came. Be careful on Forest Road 614 as this is the main road into this area. Have fun bombing back down to you vehicle while taking in some views.

There are some Historic references in this area about John Mullan who was the topographical engineer who explored this route and developed the roadway in the mid-1800's that is now Interstate 90. These guys were amazing pioneers!