Mullan – History and Trails in the Idaho Panhandle

Mullan combines local history with trails and landscapes in the Idaho Panhandle. For planning your trip, there are two distinct areas of focus: historic sites and the history of the Mullan Road on the one hand, and parks and routes on the other. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mullan, these topics can offer a starting point for planning your stay.

Local History Along the Mullan Road

The historic Mullan Road ran through what is now the town and was the first road across the Rocky Mountains. In northern Idaho, it is significant for its role in transportation development, early exploration, settlement, military activity, engineering, mining, and the history of Indigenous peoples. Today, the Mullan Road is also associated with outdoor recreation: it runs alongside Shoshone Park and serves as a hiking and snowmobile trail.

The Captain John Mullan Museum is located in the IOOF building at 229 Earle Street. Exhibits include historic furnishings, vintage clothing, photographs, newspapers, and mining artifacts. There are also mementos from local school and sporting life, as well as items related to the fire department and drugstore. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is at 104 Hunter Street in East Shoshone Park. Its building was originally constructed as a schoolhouse and converted into a church in 1892. The Old Mullan Cemetery, also called Pioneer Cemetery, is the oldest cemetery in Mullan and dates back to 1897. It is located on a wooded hillside.

Shoshone Park and Its Surroundings

Shoshone Park lies at the foot of Runt Mountain, a peak in the Bitterroot Mountains, about three miles east of Mullan. The road runs along Friday Avenue and continues on Larson Road. The wooded park has a stream, reservable kitchen shelters, and a historic cabin belonging to Captain John Mullan. A 20th-century structure is also part of its history: the West Kitchen Pavilion was built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park brings together natural features and historic structures, while allowing you to appreciate these different aspects separately.

Compare Routes by Their Features

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a paved trail that runs through the Idaho Panhandle between Mullan and Plummer. It has twenty developed access points and twenty scenic rest stops with tables. The Route of the Hiawatha is about six miles east of Mullan. It is a 15-mile downhill biking and hiking route with ten tunnels and seven high trestle bridges. The two trails therefore stand out for different features: the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes for its surface and rest stops, and the Hiawatha Route for its downhill grade, length, and structures. This information can help you choose between the routes based on what you’d like to experience along the way.

Discover more destinations: Kellogg, Wallace.

Go to the overview of destinations in the area: Shoshone County.