How To Cycle The Hiawatha Path [An Unforgettable Rail-To-Trail]

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Ring that bell, swap in your headlamp, and begin pedaling – it’s time to bike experience the Hiawatha Path, one of the crucial well-known rail to path bike paths within the USA, which takes you thru beautiful mountains of Northern Idaho.   

Our household is all the time saying sure to outside actions that assist us unplug to reconnect and create lifelong tales to inform like…

“Do not forget that time, after we cycled by means of the virtually two-mile, pitch-black tunnel and Savannah got here out the opposite facet coated in mud?”

And that was proper at the start earlier than we even hit the sky-high trestles bridges with beautiful views of the rugged Bitterroot Mountains.

The Route of the Hiawatha Path in Idaho, so far as adventures go, was cruisy – targeted extra on enjoyable than exhausting bodily exertion.

What’s the Route of the Hiawatha?

The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15-mile cycle route following a rail-trail. This implies it follows a former railroad, which has swapped tracks for tarmac, providing a easy and family-friendly experience.

Now don’t freak out on the 15-mile half. This bike experience is all downhill.

It runs by means of the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains at a gradual 1.6% common downhill grade and drops 1,000 ft over the 15 miles. Too simple!

The Milwaukee Railway Firm constructed this stretch of railroad between 1906 – 1909 to develop its West Coast choices. It price $234 million {dollars} and took 9,000 males from nationalities everywhere in the world to construct it.

At its time, it was a real engineering marvel.

After a long time of monetary struggles, the final practice ran by means of in 1980, and one of the crucial scenic stretches of railroad by means of this rugged mountainous terrain was deserted.

Quickly after, it opened to bike riders and hikers. The practice observe is now not, however the route you’ll observe in your bike is simply because it was within the 1900s when trains chugged by means of.

It was inducted into the “Corridor of Fame” by the Rail-to-Path Conservatory, and is one among solely 15 trails within the nation to obtain this designation.

You possibly can see the route prematurely within the following path map:

The place is the Hiawatha Path in Idaho?

You possibly can e book your entry passes, and different requirements from Lookout Cross Ski Space. They may even manage return shuttle providers, and mountain bike leases, together with helmets and lights.

Lookout Cross Ski Space is situated proper alongside Interstate 90. Take Exit 0, on the Idaho-Montana state line. It’s 12 miles from Wallace in Idaho, 33 miles from St. Regis in Montana, and 56 miles from Coeur d’Alene in Idaho.

The beginning of the Hiawatha Path is a brief 7-mile drive from Lookout Cross Ski Space. Drive down I-90 East to Exit 5 in MT after which observe the Hiawatha indicators on a mud/gravel highway two miles to the East Portal Parking Space/Taft Parking Lot.

There isn’t any shuttle service to the Hiawatha from the Ski Space. You will have to drive there!

Getting Began On The Route Of The Hiawatha

The Route of the Hiawatha is situated on the Montana Idaho border. You’ll start your experience alongside the previous railroad route on the East Portal Trailhead/Taft Parking Lot, on the Montana facet.

If you happen to’re hiring bikes, you’ll choose them up firstly of the path. They are going to be transported by the rent firm in Lookout Cross Ski Space, and the workers will undergo your security checks.

You need to completely reserve your bike rental on-line beforehand, as they’re typically absolutely booked in the summertime.

You possibly can lease e-Bikes should you’re unsure you’ll be capable of pedal the entire method, or mountain bikes, and you may as well lease tag-a-longs when you have younger youngsters. You may also lease helmets and head torches.

You should definitely examine your flashlight correctly. I didn’t and ended up biking by means of these practice tunnels tailing Kalyra to make use of her gentle. It was waaay darker than I believed it could be and fairly scary utilizing solely her gentle.

The Route Of The Hiawatha Expertise

The experience begins at St Paul Cross, or Taft Tunnel, the one tunnel everybody remembers by identify as it’s nearly 1.7 miles lengthy, chilly and pitch black.

Fairly the thrilling approach to begin (and end) this journey.  

That is the place Savannah got here out caked in mud. She was on a tag-along bike behind Craig who cycled shortly by means of the tunnel not realizing she was catching all of the mud splash.

Kalyra didn’t wish to get her new Vans muddy, so she and I cycled reaaaallly (painfully) slowly by means of it. I used to be grateful on the finish as our garments didn’t want further soaking within the tub.

The path goes by means of one other 9 tunnels, none so long as the primary. Though most nonetheless fairly darkish to cycle by means of so keep in mind to flip the sunshine swap.

The journey your complete method is picturesque and ambling.

You cycle throughout 7 trestle bridges spanning 230-feet above the steepest components of the valley ground. These are enjoyable to cease at in your photographs and views down into the valley.

There are a number of locations alongside the path the place you may cease to take photographs overlooking the trestle bridges additional forward because the path winds right down to the valley ground.

Savannah had probably the most enjoyable of all! There have been no complaints of “are we there but?” from her.

As she was 8, we put her on a tag-along with Craig, considering the 15 miles could be an excessive amount of for her to cycle on her personal. She cruised and sang nearly your complete method.

I do assume she might have executed it on her personal bike, however generally it’s finest to go for the “simply in case” possibility.

Preserve an eye fixed out for wildlife as you experience alongside the Route of Hiawatha. There’s a good likelihood you may even see deer. We rounded a nook and noticed one quietly munching on the leaves by the facet of the highway.

You’ll be unhappy as soon as it finishes. It’s in all probability the one 15-mile bike experience you’ll do the place you barely break a sweat and don’t get a sore bum!

Wait a minute. How do you get again?

You may have two selections to get again. It depends upon how you are feeling, how a lot time you may have, and who you might be with.

These with countless time, vitality, and fewer little folks, might wish to cycle the 15 miles again uphill.

You could be shuddering at that thought, as I used to be. I used to be shocked at how many individuals I noticed flip round and begin driving again.

It impressed me to maybe give it a go on our subsequent experience – maybe on an electrical bike?

Fortunately, for the weary, there are shuttle buses ready for you on the finish, on the Pearson Trailhead, which takes you again to the primary tunnel.

Save your vitality as you’ll have to cycle again by means of the 1.7-mile Taft Tunnel on the finish although.

Be warned, there might be fairly the road for the shuttle. We waited an hour as soon as we completed our experience. All value it although! Be sure to buy your shuttle tickets prematurely as it can save you a few {dollars} off the worth. Click on right here for more information.

Suggestions For Doing The Route Of The Hiawatha

A very good stage of health would all the time be preferable, however because it’s downhill, so that you gained’t have to fret an excessive amount of about it being tough.

There are some things you wish to make sure you’ve packed in your Route of the Hiawatha journey to make it simpler for you.

• Jacket: Temperatures within the first tunnel common 47 levels year-round. If it had been a a lot shorter tunnel, you could possibly in all probability zip by means of it with out zipping up, however as it is going to take about quarter-hour, you’ll be pleased about the additional heat.
• Flashlight: A flashlight is an absolute MUST. Once they say the primary tunnel is darkish, they imply it.
• Pack loads of snacks and water
• All path customers should buy a ticket and show that ticket in your bicycle, whereas on the path. You possibly can pre-purchase on-line.
• You should definitely take away sun shades and activate lights earlier than getting into the tunnels.
• Transfer to the facet if stopping to gawk on the views.
• Go early to keep away from further lengthy strains on the finish of the day. You additionally don’t wish to miss the final shuttle!
• Plan for a minimum of half a day so you may amble and revel in these views.
• You possibly can take your personal bikes or rent them from the Lookout Cross ski space. Verify present costs there.
• Heavier bikes incl Fats-tire, E-Bikes are charged further charges.
• The path is open from roughly Mid-Could by means of Mid-September. The path, trailheads, and amenities are open from 8:30 AM to five PM PDT.

Video: Route of the Hiawatha

The place To Keep For The Route Of The Hiawatha Path

There are quite a few campsites (primitive and paid) within the historic Wallace space and nearer to the trailhead. Wallace affords the simplest entry because it’s solely a 12-mile distance from the trailhead.

You’ll discover websites for self-contained RVs within the Lookout Cross Ski.

You’ll discover a number of lodging choices in Wallace. We stayed on the cozy Wallace Inn.

Factors Of Curiosity Close by

I’d say that biking the Hiawatha Path takes about half a day, so should you’re searching for different issues to do close by, listed here are a few of our prime options.

Wallace

The close by historic city of Wallace, Idaho is the perfect base camp so that you can discover the wonder and marvel of the Silver Valley and surrounding Bitterroot Mountains.

For the previous 100 years, Wallace has been the world’s largest silver producer and the richest mining city nonetheless in existence. It’s a quaint city with historic buildings, attention-grabbing museums and nice breweries and eating places.

Wallace can be surrounded towering mountains and thick forest providing world-class recreation trails for mountain bikes, ATV, and snowmobile trails.

Enjoyable Truth – Wallace is one among solely 4 cities in america that’s totally listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.

Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene was one among our favourite locations to go to in Idaho. It’s an exquisite lakeside city within the Northern panhandle area.

It has a vibrantly, younger faculty city really feel with loads of eating places and bars with reside music spilling out onto the pavement. We cherished the entry to the lake for swimming, paddle boarding and sundown cruises.

Extra Idaho Journey Suggestions

Remark: Have you ever skilled a rail path like this earlier than? Do you like these sort of adventures with your loved ones? Go away any questions you will have!