Cataldo Mission
Do you have that one weekend or day off that you could squeeze in a day trip but have no plans? We’ve got a suggestion that combines history and a hike! Plus, an optional quick beach visit! Win, win, win.
Get your snacks and morning coffee prepared and head out for the two-hour drive up to the Cataldo Mission. It is the oldest standing building in Idaho. Construction began in 1850 and was finished three years later. The Jesuits came there in response to a delegation of Nez Perce that traveled East to meet with William Clark back in 1831. You can take a self-guided tour around the Mission and the house as well as watch a short informative video on the history and construction of the Mission. They include fascinating details on how Antonio Ravalli used the materials he had on hand to decorate the church. With no nails available, they fashioned pegs from wood to attach the beams. To create wallpaper, they simply painted newspaper. And the light fixtures were created from tin cans. The light blue, high ceiling was dyed using huckleberries. Enjoy a view of the Coeur d'Alene River from the Mission. Be sure to snap some pictures before loading back up for the short 30 min drive to the Pulaski Trail. The Pulaski Trail is a 4-mile (round trip) hike that covers part of the trail Ed Pulaski led his men on during the fire of 1910. The trail is open year-round so you can pack your snowshoes in the winter! Be sure to bring your own water bottles as no water is available on site. The elevation change is 800 ft and brings you to the Pulaski Tunnel overlook. It was there that Ed Pulaski saved 39 of his 45 men from the great fire of 1910 by leading them into a mine and keeping them from leaving by guarding the entrance at gunpoint. Ed Pulaski was himself severely injured. A tool Pulaski created (which was a combo ax and hoe) became widely used by the forest service 3 years after the great fire. The tool is named the Pulaski and is still used to fight wildfires today. The hike follows along Placer Creek and includes some steep inclines.
You’ll naturally be hungry after all this, and there’s nothing like a hearty grilled cheese after an excursion. Metlz Grilled Cheese fits the bill! It is located by a gas station, but don’t let this dissuade you! The food and customer service are top notch. They have numeros decadent grilled cheese combinations- “The Oinker” will give you all the meat and cheesy goodness you might need! Finish it off with a scoop from Panhandle Cone and Coffee and enjoy a little cool off time at the Coeur d’Alene city beach!
Time: 2 hrs drive from Moscow to Cataldo. 30 min to Pulaski Trail. 1 hr back to CdA. 1.5 hrs back to Moscow. 5 hr total drive time. 2-4 hike time.
Cataldo Mission
31732 S Mission Rd, Cataldo, ID 83810
Pulaski Tunnel Trail
NF-456, Wallace, ID 83873
Meltz Grilled Cheese
1735 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
Panhandle Cone & Coffee
849 N 4th St, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Sources: usda.gov, https://tig.iri.isu.edu/ViewPage.aspx?id=608&rebuild=true,https://nwtravelmag.com/hiking-the-big-burn-in-wallace-id/