The Route of the Hiawatha Scenic Bike Trail
the Trail
THE "CROWN JEWEL" OF RAIL-TO-TRAIL ADVENTURES
The Route of the Hiawatha - Scenic mountain bike or hike trail is 15 miles long with 10 large and dark train tunnels (Nine that you ride your bike thru.) and 7 sky-high trestles.
The ride starts with a trip through the 1.661 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel, also known as the Taft Tunnel. It is a highlight of the trail that follows the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains near Lookout Pass Ski Area. The best part is.... it's gently downhill with shuttle buses available to transport you and your bike from the bottom of the trail back to the top. This family friendly trail is easily enjoyed by a wide variety of people from young children to super seniors.
Trail passes, shuttle tickets and mountain bike rentals with lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area located right alongside Interstate 90. (Take Exit 0, at the Idaho-Montana state line to stop at this location.) The actual start of the Hiawatha Trail is a short 7 mile drive from Lookout Pass down to Taft, MT & then 2 miles up a dirt road (Rt 506) to the parking area.
Lookout Pass is located just 12 miles east of historic Wallace, Idaho, a unique small town that offers lodging, dining and an enjoyable bar scene.
The Route of the Hiawatha was named a "Rail-Trail Hall of Fame" trail by the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, one of only around 30 trails designated as such in the country.
Spectacular Scenery
It was called one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country. When the Milwaukee Railroad was operating, the trains traversed through 11 tunnels and over 9 high trestles, covering a 46 mile route that crossed the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The "Route of the Hiawatha" is most famous for the long St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel which burrows for 8,771 ft. (1.66 miles) under the Bitterroot Mountains at the state line.
Development of the Idaho Section
In May, 1998 the first 13 miles of the trail were opened to the public for hikers and wilderness biking. This stretch of the trail between Roland and Pearson went through 8 open tunnels and traveled over 7 Sky High trestles following the mountainous terrain along the Loop Creek drainage. The portion of the trail from Moss Creek to Pearson is open only to non-motorized traffic. The ride from Roland (just below the West Portal of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel) to Pearson is a very gentle ride on an unpaved gravel road. Being on a railroad grade, this portion of the trail follows a very easy 1.6% downhill grade from 4,160 ft. at the West Portal to 3,175 ft. at Pearson, for a total drop of a little less than 1000 ft. in a distance of 13 miles. For those riders not interested in riding the trail back up the gentle grade from Pearson to Roland, there are regularly scheduled shuttle busses that provides transportation for riders and their bicycles from the bottom back up to the tunnel. The Shuttle bus drops you off in Roland allowing you to ride back through the 1.66 mile long St. Paul Pass/Taft Tunnel to reach the parking lot at the East Portal.
Opening of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel
The St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel opened for trail traffic with a Grand Opening ceremony on June 23, 2001. This cavernous, dark tunnel under the Bitterroot Mountains connects Idaho and Montana, and is 1.66 miles long. Motorized vehicles are not allowed in this tunnel.
The main parking area is at the East Portal of the big tunnel, 2 miles from Taft Exit 5 off I-90, just follow the signs. The distance from the East Portal trail head, which is the top trail head, to the bottom trail head at Pearson is an approximately 15 mile ride - but - not easy as it is a 1 lane road in sections with a max of 20 mph speed limit. .
With the opening of the St. Paul Pass tunnel, riders have some additional options. They can park their cars at the East Portal parking area (which is in Montana) to access the Idaho portion of the Hiawatha trail via the tunnel. This is what most visitors do. Another choice is to drive up and over the tunnel for 5 miles via FS Road 506. This is a twisty turny road with steep drop offs that get you up over Roland Summit. You will then park at the Roland trail head. This is a good option for those wishing to bypass the big tunnel. Highlights of the St. Paul Pass tunnel include an interpretive sign, located mid-tunnel on the right side wall, that is located on the Idaho/Montana state line. This sign also discloses which crew first reached the center of the tunnel in 1907.
NOTE - there is a beautiful waterfall at the West Portal of the tunnel (a great place for photos of your group).
