The “Route of the Hiawatha” is a 15-mile long mountain bike and hiking trail with 10 train tunnels and 7 trestles. It is located near Lookout Pass Ski Area in the Bitterroot Mountains near the Idaho-Montana state line.
Highlights:
- The trail starts with a trip through the 1.661 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel, also known as the Taft Tunnel.
- The trail is mostly downhill and shuttle buses are available to transport you and your bike back to the top.
- The trail is family-friendly and can be enjoyed by a variety of people.
Access and Availability:
- Trail passes, shuttle tickets, and mountain bike rentals with lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area.
- The Lookout Pass Lodge and Bike Rental Shop opens at 8 AM (PDT).
- The trail is open 8:30 AM to 5 PM (PDT) daily starting May 27 through September 18, 2022.
- Phone: 208.744.1234.
Awards and Recognition:
- The Route of the Hiawatha was named a “Hall of Fame” trail by the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, one of only 15 trails designated as such in the country.
- It was called one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country.
Development:
- In May 1998, the first 13 miles of the trail were opened to the public for hiking and biking.
- The St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel opened for trail traffic with a Grand Opening ceremony on June 23, 2001.
- Motorized vehicles are not allowed in the tunnel.
- The main parking area is at the East Portal of the tunnel, 2 miles from Taft Exit 5 off I-90.
- The distance from the East Portal trail head to the bottom trail head at Pearson is approximately 15 miles.
Options:
- Visitors can park their cars at the East Portal parking area (in Montana) to access the Idaho portion of the Hiawatha trail via the tunnel.
- Another choice is to drive up and over the tunnel for 5 miles via FS Road 506 and park at the Roland trail head.
Facilities:
- Trail passes, shuttle tickets, and mountain bike rentals with lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area.
- The Lookout Pass Lodge and Bike Rental Shop opens at 8 AM (PDT).
- There is a scheduled shuttle bus that provides transportation for riders and their bicycles from Pearson to Roland.
- Complimentary bike racks are available for guests to transport rented bikes to the trailhead.
- There is also a food court and gift shop available at Lookout Pass Ski Area.
Reservations:
- Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on busy weekends and during peak season.
- Guests are responsible for transporting bike rentals from Lookout Pass to the Hiawatha trailhead at East Portal.
- Make your reservations on our website a minimum of 24 hours in advance and ideally weeks or months in advance as some dates sell out very early.
- Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more who make a reservation in advance.
- For groups over 50 people, you can call 208.744.1234 x 19, 8am to 5pm to learn more.
Safety:
- Lights are required and helmets are highly recommended for all trail riders and required for those younger than 18 years of age in compliance with Idaho state law.
- You may bring your own or rent a 300-400 lumen light and/or helmet from us.
E-bikes:
- Class 1 E-bikes and Class 2 e-bikes with disabled throttles can be used on the trail.
- Class 3 E-bikes are prohibited at all times.
Transportation of personal bikes:
- Guests are welcome to bring their own bikes and take them on the trail and shuttle.
- The shuttles are equipped to transport regular bikes from the Pearson Trailhead to the Roland Trailhead or vice versa.
- E-bikes and fat bikes are considered oversized or heavier, and an additional $10 fee will be charged for transportation.
- Note that all bikes and other conveyances transported using the shuttles are transported at your own risk.
Shuttles:
- Shuttles for people are not available from Lookout Pass Ski Area to the Hiawatha trailhead, they only run from the Pearson trailhead (which is the bottom of the trail) up to Roland.
Overall, the “Route of the Hiawatha” is a must-visit destination for any mountain biker or hiker looking for a scenic and challenging trail. With its beautiful views, historic train tunnels and trestles, convenient shuttle service, and available bike rentals and safety equipment, it offers a unique and memorable outdoor experience. It is important to plan ahead and make reservations for bike rentals and shuttle tickets, especially during peak season. E-bikes are allowed on the trail, but Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited. Visitors can also bring their own bikes and take them on the trail and shuttle, but an additional fee may be charged for oversized or heavier bikes like e-bikes and fat bikes.
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