Entry No. 49 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: outdoor-weird
Settlers Grove of Ancient Cedars
A hidden grove of western red cedars up to 7 feet across and over 600 years old, tucked along the West Fork of Eagle Creek deep in the Coeur d'Alene River drainage. It's the only old-growth cedar botanical area in the district and famously slipped past the catastrophic 1910 fire that leveled the surrounding forest. A 2015 burn moved through the area and the grove later reopened; many scorched giants survived and still tower over an easy interpretive loop trail of roughly 3.4 miles. The drive out past the old gold-rush town of Murray is half the adventure.
The story
Deep in the Coeur d'Alene River drainage, past the near-ghost gold town of Murray, sits a damp, quiet botanical sanctuary that shouldn't exist. In August 1910, the Great Fire—the 'Big Burn'—erased three million acres of timber across North Idaho and Montana in a roaring hurricane of fire. Yet when the smoke cleared, this pocket of western red cedars along the West Fork of Eagle Creek was somehow still standing. Trees that sprouted before Columbus set sail survived unscathed while the surrounding mountains were incinerated to ash.
The Forest Service designated Settlers Grove as a protected botanical area in 1970—the only old-growth cedar sanctuary in the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District. Its luck was tested again in August 2015, when the Grizzly Complex fire swept into the canyon. Firefighters scrambled to deploy sprinkler systems before fire forced them to evacuate. The blaze charred the thick, fibrous bark and cooked shallow roots, but the ancient giants—some measuring over seven feet across and stretching back 600 years—refused to die. Today, soot-stained trunks stand shoulder-to-shoulder with vibrant green canopies, living proof of an ecosystem that outlasts infernos.
What it's like
The drive out via Coeur d'Alene River Road and unpaved Forest Road 152/805 sets the tone: no cell reception, potholed gravel, and mountain creek air. The road dead-ends at a small parking lot equipped with a vault toilet and a bench, but no trash cans or running water. Once you step onto Interpretive Trail #162, the temperature drops instantly under the dense, shadowy canopy. Rustic wooden footbridges crisscross West Fork Eagle Creek, where you can dip your boots in icy water. The core cedar loop is flat and under 1.5 miles round trip, making it an effortless walk past massive eight-foot root wads and charcoal-streaked trunks. It is rarely crowded—you will likely hear only the creek, the wind in the canopy, and your own footsteps on damp pine needles.
The move: Pack a picnic, drive the dirt road out past Murray, and take the easy loop hand-in-hand among the ancient cedars, touching the bark of trees older than the country.
📍 Before you go Reached via unpaved forest roads past Murray; check current Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District road and access status before going, as the area has had fire-related closures. Best in summer/early fall; no facilities at the trailhead.
- 📍 Murray
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Eagle Creek / Forest Rd, Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District, near Murray, ID
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Chimney Shaped Like Idaho — Pair a morning spent beneath 600-year-old trees with a quick roadside stop back in Coeur d'Alene to inspect a 1950s motor court chimney built in the outline of the Gem State.
- Cisco's Gallery — After walking through the old gold-mining backwoods near Murray, head to downtown Coeur d'Alene to explore floor-to-ceiling frontier antiques and historic taxidermy.
- The Idaho Lumberjack, American Worker & Idaho Farmer Statues — Connect the living old-growth timber at Settlers Grove to North Idaho's working heritage at this trio of larger-than-life bronze worker statues in McEuen Park.
- Museum of North Idaho Cemetery Walking Tours — Follow up your hike through trees that survived the 1910 Big Burn with an eerie dusk walking tour through Coeur d'Alene's historic burial grounds.
Good to know
How long is the hike at Settlers Grove?
The primary interpretive loop through the ancient cedar grove is an easy, flat walk of under 1.5 miles round trip. Hikers wanting a longer trek can follow Trail #162 past the botanical area for roughly 5 miles along Eagle Creek toward the Montana border.
What kind of vehicle do I need to get to the trailhead?
While standard cars can often make the drive in dry summer conditions, high-clearance or AWD vehicles are recommended due to large potholes, gravel, and occasional shallow water running across the unpaved forest service roads.
Are dogs allowed on the trail?
Yes, dogs are permitted on Trail #162. Hikers are asked to keep them under control and pack out all pet waste.
Are there amenities or picnic tables at the site?
There is a vault toilet (outhouse) and a shaded bench at the trailhead parking area, but no formal picnic tables, drinking water, or trash service. Pack out everything you bring in.
When is the best time of year to visit?
Summer through early autumn is ideal. Unpaved forest roads become impassable due to snow in winter and spring, and road closures can occur after heavy storms or fire activity, so check road status with the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District before going.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: fs.usda.gov · alltrails.com · spokesman.com · idahotrailsassociation.org
last checked: 2026-06-24