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The Route of the Hiawatha trail opens Friday

May 24th is the season opening date for the Route of the Hiawatha trail in northern Idaho. Put this on your summer bucket list. Bring your own bike or rent one to follow an old railroad line under, over and through the mountains. It all starts in Montana. Where you immediately enter the Taft Tunnel and ride under a mountain. For more than 1.5 miles. Headlamps and flashlights are needed. No lights in the tunnel. It’s drippy, too.

It seems like a long time before you see the literal light at the end of the tunnel. About halfway through, there is this.

History of WHY and HOW the train tunnel was created. It was a competition.

Here’s the other side.

Once you emerge, you can see for miles in the Bitterroot Mountains. The trail winds through this scenery for about 15 miles and includes several tunnels and seven train trestles. Like this one.

My kiddo was not too sure about that one when we got there.

Pack a lunch. There are areas where you can take breaks. Did I mention the entire trail is downhill? Take a mountain bike, or a cruiser. Even kids on bikes with training wheels complete the journey. A bus takes you back up to the first long tunnel. So keep in mind, you will be in the dark and dampness twice before you are finished. Start early and you can bike back to the starting point. All uphill, of course, but it’s a gentle grade.

Trail pass: $12 adults, $8 children

Shuttle pass: $10 adults, $7 children



~Debbie

 

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