Scenic Hiawatha Trail Mountain Bike and Hike

Journey through the historic Hiawatha Trail, where spectacular views and thrilling tunnels await on this gentle downhill biking and hiking path.

Last updated: Apr 2024

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Adults $20-$40, Children $13-$28; includes trail and shuttle pass. Extra fee for special bikes.
More than 500 Miles from you
National Star: Exceptional experiences within the country that are must-dos for adventurers
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Description

Embark on the Hiawatha Trail for an unforgettable biking or hiking adventure, featuring breathtaking tunnels and trestles amidst the Bitterroot Mountains. Journey through the historic Hiawatha Trail, where spectacular views and thrilling tunnels await on this gentle downhill biking and hiking path. The Route of the Hiawatha, known as the "Crown Jewel" of rail-to-trail adventures, is a family-friendly 15-mile trail that offers an easy, mostly downhill ride through the Bitterroot Mountains. Starting with the 1.66-mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel, riders enjoy a scenic journey featuring 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles. Available from May 24 through Sept. 15, 2024, this trail is suitable for all ages and skill levels, with shuttle buses available to bring you back to the starting point. Trail passes and rentals are obtainable at Lookout Pass Ski Area.

Perfect for

For solo

For two

For groups

For families with kids

Outdoorsy

Exciting

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Itinerary

Arrive at Lookout Pass Ski Area for passes and rentals.
Start at the East Portal Trailhead, riding through the St. Paul Pass Tunnel.
Enjoy the downhill trail with minimal pedaling required.
Use the shuttle service from Pearson back to the start or ride back if on an e-bike.
Optional: Explore additional trails extending into Montana for a longer adventure.

Location

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area: 1-90 I-90, Mullan, ID 83846

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Packing List

Comfortable riding/hiking shoes
Warm clothing for the cooler tunnel environment
Headlight for biking through tunnels
Water and snacks
Camera for capturing scenic views

4.4 ● Google reviews

Nice trail with lots of rookie riders and kids. The tunnels were nice. Ride down and back for a round trip of just shy of 30 miles. Uphill grade is very shallow so not hard. On the way down it was very easy - rarely needed to pedal. Scenery was spectacular.

Beautiful scenery and a super fun, easy bike ride for the whole family. Renting in advance online is a must, but you'll still wait to get your bike and to shuttle back to your car. The tunnels and trestles can be a bit scary for some but it's worth it for the great views and well researched historical markers along the way. The staff was a mix of incredible (Joanne, the shuttle driver, gave an in depth history overview and nature talk as she maneuvered around traffic--A+) and just bad (the dude giving us our bikes was stoned, bored, or both --D-)

5/5 stars. First time. This was a bucket list item. We went June 7. Went with a large group of 15 people. A little confusion about parking because they had a foot race going on, but everything worked out due to the volunteers. The trail was fantastic, with lots of volunteers on the trails to help with medical or other issues. I took my 7yo and 12yo and they could do this without problems. My 7yo daughter loved the dark tunnels. I was on a front suspension mountain bike and my wife was on a beach cruiser. It didn't make any difference, the trail is super easy to ride. And the beach cruiser had a lot nicer seat than my bike. The shuttle driver was fantastic and funny as well.

This is a great biking trail with spectacular views. The path is a gravel road with old train tunnels and bridges you can ride through and across. They will bus you back to near the beginning for a fee. They charge extra for hauling E-bikes. You will need lights to see in the tunnels while riding. Bring a change of clothes. The tunnels are wet and almost everyone ends up with a mud store down their back and pants from the thin layer of mud in the tunnels. It is easy to ride through, but gets everywhere. Also, the bathrooms are nauseating and we only saw two with one being at the beginning, and another near the halfway point of the 14.5 Mike ride. You ride near cliffs and bridges with rails that you should not lean upon, so watch children.

This has been on our bucket list about 4 years now. We were able to finally ride it today. So beautiful, you really won’t even need to peddle down, pretty much coast the whole way. Going through the tunnels and over the bridges was really cool. Just being in the mountains was awesome. Definitely recommend.

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