Fourth of July Pass Mullan Interpretive Loop

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
Trail Type	Loop
Trailbed	Packed dirt, packed gravel
Water	None
Status	Unprotected
Administration	Coeur d’Alene National Foreast
Permits	None required
Conditions	Excellent
Camping	There are pit toilets near the trailhead
Maps	USGS tba
Trailhead	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. Google Directions (47.620041, -116.516806)
Season	Year-around
Squirrel Density	Fabulous!
Distance From	Coeur d’Alene 15.4 miles Lewiston 132.2 miles Sandpoint 60.5 miles Seattle 325.9 miles Spokane 48.1 miles
Resources	GPX track and elevation profile
Nearby Hikes	Eagle Hut Loop Fourth of July Groomed XC-Ski Loop Jeanette’s Jaunt Killarney Mountain
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.

Enjoy this hike? Let us know in the comments below!

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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