Entry No. 27 — the Spokane file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Mudgy Moose Trail
Five life-size bronze statues of Mudgy the Moose are scattered along a 2.25-mile route from the base of Tubbs Hill through downtown Coeur d'Alene to Independence Point. They illustrate a local children's book, "Mudgy & Millie in Coeur d'Alene," and each statue has a placard with the matching storybook page and a trail map, turning the walk into a self-guided story hunt. The bronzes are the work of Coeur d'Alene native sculptor Terry Lee. As you follow Mudgy searching for his playmate Millie the mouse, the twist is that she's been hiding in his antlers the whole time — a reveal saved for the final statue at the lakeshore.
The story
You're looking at a 2.25-mile outdoor story hunt disguised as a public art installation. Local author Susan Nipp teamed up with Coeur d'Alene-native sculptor Terry Lee and the city parks department to translate her children's book, *Mudgy & Millie in Coeur d'Alene*, into a physical trail anchored by five full-size bronze statues.
The premise seems simple: a moose named Mudgy wanders through town looking for his mouse companion, Millie. But the punchline built into Lee's bronze cast work gives the walk its charm. Mudgy spends the entire route looking everywhere for Millie, entirely oblivious to the fact that she has been sitting inside his antlers the entire time. Each statue features a metal plaque displaying the matching book page and a route map, so you can track the visual joke step-by-step.
The path tracks through downtown Coeur d'Alene and along the waterfront, starting at the base of Tubbs Hill near McEuen Park and concluding at Independence Point. You don't need a copy of the book to follow the joke—the bronzes reveal the story on their own as you hit the lakefront finish.
What it's like
Expect an easy, flat 2.25-mile paved walk through downtown Coeur d'Alene that takes roughly 1 to 2 hours. You'll start near McEuen Park at Tubbs Hill, tracking the five bronzes along sidewalks and park paths down to Independence Point on the lakeshore. It's an open public route, but aim for dry weather—winter slush can obscure the detailed bronzes and plaque maps along the water.
The move: Follow the trail signs from statue to statue along the lakefront, racing to spot tiny Millie at each Mudgy before reaching the lakeside finish.
📍 Before you go Free, outdoor, ~35 miles east of Spokane in Idaho; allow 1-2 hours to walk the full 2.25-mile loop. Best in dry months.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Begins at the base of Tubbs Hill, near McEuen Park, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Sandpoint's Statue of Liberty (Lady Liberty of the Lake) — Continue the North Idaho waterfront oddity circuit by headquartering up to Sandpoint to see a miniature Statue of Liberty standing guard over Lake Pend Oreille.
- Garbage Goat — Trade bronze moose statues for functional public art by heading west into Spokane to feed trash to a vacuum-powered steel goat.
- The Childhood Express (Giant Red Wagon) — Keep the oversized storybook momentum going with a visit to Spokane's 27-foot steel-and-concrete wagon slide.
- Mary Lou's Milk Bottle — Cap off your outdoor Coeur d'Alene walk by driving into Spokane's Garland District for dairy bar classic food inside a giant 1930s milk bottle.
Good to know
How much does it cost to walk the trail?
It is completely free and open to the public along city sidewalks and park pathways.
Where does the Mudgy Moose Trail start and finish?
The route begins at the base of Tubbs Hill near McEuen Park and ends 2.25 miles later at Independence Point along Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Do you need to buy the storybook to follow the trail?
No. Each of the five bronze statues has a plaque mounted next to it showing the corresponding book page and a map to the next statue.
How long does the walk take?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours to stroll the entire 2.25-mile route, find all five statues, and take in the lakefront views.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · cdaid.org · booksmakeadifference.com · rollercoasteralley.com · spokesman.com
last checked: 2026-06-24