Entry No. 41 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: outdoor
Mudgy Moose Trail (Mudgy & Millie)
Five life-size bronze sculptures of Mudgy the moose and his mouse friend Millie, created by Coeur d'Alene native sculptor Terry Lee, are hidden along a 2.25-mile route from the base of Tubbs Hill through downtown to Independence Point. The statues mark spots from a local children's book where Mudgy pauses while searching for Millie, turning the lakefront into a real-world storybook hunt. The trail is free, self-guided, and marked with guideposts the whole way.
The story
Most towns throw a bronze plaque on a park bench and call it public art. Coeur d'Alene let Susan Nipp—the local author best known for co-creating the multi-million-selling Wee Sing audio empire—turn a 2.25-mile stretch of waterfront into a real-life hide-and-seek hunt. Inspired by Boston's Make Way for Ducklings statues, Nipp teamed up with illustrator Charles Reasoner and local sculptor Terry Lee to construct a five-statue trail. The kicker? Book and merchandise sales directly fund the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation, making the route a civic fundraiser disguised as a storybook walk.
The central premise of Terry Lee’s five life-sized bronzes is a exercise in dramatic irony: Mudgy the moose spends two miles wandering from the pine-lined base of Tubbs Hill through downtown to Independence Point, frantically searching for his mouse companion Millie. What Mudgy never notices—and what you'll spot immediately if you look closely at his head—is that Millie has been riding inside his antlers the entire time. Placed beside official trail guideposts and bronze book-page plaques, the route sneaky-guides you past the lakefront's best public spaces without ever feeling like a resort-sponsored tour.
What it's like
Start at the base of Tubbs Hill to catch the first bronze before following the trail guideposts along paved waterfront paths, McEuen Park, and downtown sidewalks. Walking the entire 2.25-mile route one-way takes about an hour to ninety minutes, depending on how long you linger at each bronze page plaque or stop at the park playgrounds along the way. It is flat, completely free, and simple to navigate, though summer afternoons bring thick pedestrian traffic near the boardwalk and Sherman Avenue. If you want to examine the antler details without dodging crowds, tackle the walk early on a weekday morning.
The move: Make it a scavenger hunt: race to find all five bronzes in order, with the loser of the count buying ice cream at the City Park end.
📍 Before you go It's a 2.25-mile walk one way along the lake and boardwalk; wear comfortable shoes and allow a couple hours if you stop at each statue.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Begins at base of Tubbs Hill, ends at Independence Point, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Tubbs Hill Natural Area — Since the Mudgy Moose Trail starts right at the trailhead for Tubbs Hill, you can seamlessly transition from hunting bronze statues to hiking the 165-acre wild lakefront peninsula.
- The Idaho Lumberjack, American Worker & Idaho Farmer Statues — As the storybook trail passes near McEuen Park, take a short detour to see three massive bronze figures honoring Idaho's working trades.
- Whispers Lounge — After finishing your 2.25-mile trek at Independence Point, step inside the resort lounge for a drink overlooking the lake.
Good to know
How long is the Mudgy Moose Trail and where does it start and end?
The trail is a 2.25-mile one-way walk that starts at the trailhead base of Tubbs Hill and ends at Independence Point along Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Is there an admission fee to walk the trail?
No, the trail is completely free, open year-round during daylight hours, and marked with public guideposts and map markers.
Who created the characters and the sculptures?
The story was written by local author Susan Nipp (co-creator of Wee Sing) with illustrations by Charles Reasoner, and the five life-sized bronze sculptures were cast by Coeur d'Alene sculptor Terry Lee.
Where is Millie the mouse located on the statues?
Millie is tucked inside Mudgy's bronze antlers at each of the five statue stops along the trail.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · cdaid.org
last checked: 2026-06-24