Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Coeur d'Alene National Forest, Daytrip, Dogs, Easy, Hikers, Hiking, Loop, None required, Unprotected

Fourth of July Pass Mullan Interpretive Loop

Posted by Scribe on
The Mullan Loop is an easy half-mile interpretive trail showcasing parts of the old Mullan wagon road, built in the 1860s to connect Fort Benton with Fort Walla Walla, and newer Highway 10, built in 1916.
Location
  • Coeur d’Alene Mountains
Rating
2.1 out of 5
Difficulty
Easy
Distance
0.4 miles
Duration
0:12 hours moving time (Hiking)
Elevation Gain
54 feet
High Point
3,167 feet
Low Point
2,993 feet
Features
Outing Type
  • Daytrip
    • Trail Type
  • Loop
    • Trailbed
    Packed dirt, packed gravel
    Trail#
    Water
  • None
    • Camping
    • There are pit toilets near the trailhead
    Conditions
    • Excellent
    Administration
  • Coeur d’Alene National Forest
    • Status
  • Unprotected
    • Maps
    USGS
  • Lane
    • Fees & Permits
  • None required
    • ()
    Open To
  • Hikers
  • Dogs
    • ()
    Directions
  • Take I-90 exit 28, Fourth of July Pass and if coming from Coeur d’Alene take a left, cross the freeway, then head right. If coming from Rose Lake, take a right at the stop sign. Cross the large parking lot and bear right (downhill) to the second parking lot and trailhead. There is plenty of parking and an RV turnaround.
    • Season
    Year-around
    Resources
      Date
      July 30, 2017

      Admittedly, this isn’t much of a hike, or stroll for that matter, but the forest service did a great job showcasing some of the history along an otherwise busy freeway. The loop is literally minutes off the freeway ramp and lets you walk on remnants of the original 1860 Mullan Trail and the first “real” road built in 1916.

      Next time you cross the Fourth of July Pass, take a few minutes and check out the trail. There are four interpretive signs along the path and a small monument where once stood the tree into which Captain Mullan carved JULY 4 1861, naming the pass, the creek, and the canyon.

      Alternate Routes

        Things to Consider

          Not so great

            Trailhead
            Old Highway 10 roadbed
            Brook
            Captain John Mullan
            Much of the loop is single-track
            Geocache
            Roadbed of the orginal Mullan Road
            4th of July inscription in Mullan Tree
            Here once stood the Mullan Tree
            There’s a picnic table near the trailhead
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            2 Comments

            1. montucky says:
              July 31, 2017 at 5:50 pm

              I pulled off there once during a storm but didn’t take a walk around. Next time!

              1. naughtyhiker says:
                July 31, 2017 at 5:52 pm

                It’s well hidden…. And who knew, there was once a tunnel under the pass! Built in 1932 and filled in in 1990

            Comments are closed.