Hilly Nilly Gravel Ride Series

Hilly Nilly Gravel Ride Series Hilly Nilly gravel bike rides begin April 13th. Start location and course map are posted a week before the schedule ride.

These monthly spirited rides(April to June) are self-supported group rides on mixed road surfaces around the Coeur d'Alene area.

People have already asked what do the 3 options look like on 1 map
05/16/2026

People have already asked what do the 3 options look like on 1 map

The only positive thing about this Sunday's Hilly Nilly is that the gravel won't be dusty. It will be cold(high 40's at ...
05/16/2026

The only positive thing about this Sunday's Hilly Nilly is that the gravel won't be dusty. It will be cold(high 40's at 10am sunday start), and it will be wet and muddy in spots, AND maybe white and slushy too.

So, we are expanding this Sunday's May Hilly Nilly to include both this weekend and next weekend(Memorial Day) weekends. This Sunday the route will be wet, quiet, and cold. Next Sunday will be warm, crowded(marathon race along lake trail) but much warmer. But you also have next Monday and all this week to ride one or all these routes.

So here are the options and you have all week and 2 weekends to ride one or all of them.

Ride the big loop(63miles) if you live anywhere in Hayden, Dalton Gardens, or Coeur d'Alene. This ride could start at your driveway.
Head out to Wolf Lodge and up FS 202 to Wolf Lodge Saddle. Then ride north on FS 434 to Windy Ridge then take FS406 to Burnt Cabin Saddle and then west down 206 to Hayden Creek and then back home.

The 43 mile loop would return you to Michael D's if you drove and started there. Don't do this route on Sunday the 24th unless you want to join the Marathon runners. Save this route for next saturday or Memorial Monday(or during the week).

The 14 mile "add-on" loop is if you want to try that Windy Ridge to Burnt Cabin down to the gold mine and back to Windy Ridge loop. Do this one as an add on to the other large loops or shoot up Blue Creek to Fernan Saddle(Skip Wolf Lodge Saddle) then over to Windy Ridge then left on 406 to Burnt Cabin Saddle then down to the gold mine and back to Windy Ridge to Fernan Saddle then down to Michael D's.

Lots of options and a lot of time to cover one or all. Watch the weather and don't settle for the cold and wet if you can wait for the warmer and drier.
Remember to be self reliant and have all your emergency repair and nutrition on you. This week you are on your own to pick your time, your day, and your route. And have fun!!!

05/14/2026

Here we are again ready to ride this Sunday and the weather is not cooperating.
But we are going to ride anyway. We know Wolf Lodge Saddle is clear but we think we might have a hike-a-bike area between Wolf Lodge Saddle and Windy Ridge. Saturday's weather looks wet like today So have your fenders ready to strap on Sunday morning.

We will do some recon and post a course with options Friday. Meantime think warm thoughts about Wolf Lodge Saddle.

Stay Tuned.

Laps over Fernan Saddle are snow free but just a few curves above Fernan Saddle and it's still winter. Even Burnt Cabin ...
04/20/2026

Laps over Fernan Saddle are snow free but just a few curves above Fernan Saddle and it's still winter. Even Burnt Cabin Saddle is clear.
We will try again 3rd Sunday in May.

We were all excited anticipating the Burnt Cabin Saddle loop early this morning. But this strange no winter, winter had ...
04/20/2026

We were all excited anticipating the Burnt Cabin Saddle loop early this morning.

But this strange no winter, winter had other idea.

The weather is still looking good for Sunday's Hilly Nilly and I've been asked if their is a shorter distance option if ...
04/18/2026

The weather is still looking good for Sunday's Hilly Nilly and I've been asked if their is a shorter distance option if the 50 miles is too long.
And yes there are several options that are slightly less by a few miles or there is this Blue Creek to Fernan Saddle direct route and not going the additional smaller loop to Burnt Cabin Saddle.
This loop is 29 miles and and still has a great climb to get the Hilly part to the Hilly Nilly.
The link for TCX or GPX for this shorter loop is found here. ttps://www.strava.com/routes/2962048873821917528

Hopefully this loop will still encourge riders to join in this Sunday at 10am behind Michael D's Eatery

This Sunday's weather looks amazing compared to the last week. So we are going LONG and up the hill.Expect patches of sn...
04/16/2026

This Sunday's weather looks amazing compared to the last week. So we are going LONG and up the hill.
Expect patches of snow and mud with maybe a few trees down in the upper Burnt Cabin Saddle Loop. But we have gravel bikes, so who cares.
If 50+miles is too long you can shorten by going up Blue Creek to Meyer then Fernan and I'll have that alternate loop up later.
But 50+ miles is plan A. Pack a sandwich or two.
The lower big loop along Wolf Lodge Creek is counter clockwise(up the steep side of Meyers) and the Burnt Cabin Saddle Loop is clockwise. I'll add arrows to the handout map.
10am Sunday morning start behind Michael D's.

Link to find the TCX or GPX is https://www.strava.com/routes/3479959236512493600

Here we are again trying to map a gravel course during a wet and cold weather pattern.4 days ago Burnt Cabin Saddle look...
04/13/2026

Here we are again trying to map a gravel course during a wet and cold weather pattern.
4 days ago Burnt Cabin Saddle looked great(see below), and we had a course going over the saddle. But we now have to wait until Thursday's weather forecast goes by before we can confirm.
So be thinking about riding Burnt Cabin but we will confirm the course Friday.
Then prepare your gravel machine for a Sunday(19th) 10am start from behind Michael D's Eatery east end of Sherman Ave.

As always come self supported, fully ready for hills of gravel and maybe some muddy snow.

Stay tuned for April 19th Hilly Nilly Gravel course.

Everything is looking much better for Hilly Nilly this coming Sunday.Meyer Saddle dirt is looking marvelous. Alder Creek...
03/18/2026

Everything is looking much better for Hilly Nilly this coming Sunday.
Meyer Saddle dirt is looking marvelous. Alder Creek should be fine all the way to 4th of July Pass.
And the elk should be out to cheer us on.
10am start behind Michael D's Eatery. See you then.

03/14/2026

Well Darn!! If we had known if we had scheduled a January Hilly Nilly, we would have had a real winter. Thursday recon drive was just perfect. The elk were out and Meyer Saddle dirt was champagne smooth.
But then Friday we awoke to WiNTER!

Sunday morning forcast at 10am start is only 22 degrees (after melting most of Saturday) will create the most magnificent bike handling ice rink surface seen on any Hilly Nilly in March.

But wait just one week until March 22nd and I see 59 degrees and sun. So that's the plan. Wait a week and spring will return.

Mean time, Bluebird Fat bike and skiing today. Hilly Nilly returning March 22nd!

Pass it On!!

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Coeur D'Alene
Idaho
83814

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10am - 2pm

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