March 31, 2021 - The Route of the Hiawatha Trail is a 15-mile (24km) trail located near the Idaho-Montana border, not far from the town of Wallace. The trail is one of only 15 trails in the United States to be named a “Hall of Fame” trail by the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy and is a family-friendly cycling destination.

The off-road trail follows an old railway line that was known as one of the most scenic lines in the country. The trail is named after the trains that used to travel through the area. The trains in turn took their name from The Song of the Hiawatha, which was loosely based on the legend of pre-colonial Native leader and co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy, Hiawatha.

Due to its location among the Bitterroot Mountains, the trail passes through 10 train tunnels, as well as seven trestle bridges that can reach up to 230 feet high. The surrounding landscape makes for some truly stunning views.

The Route of the Hiawatha Trail is operated by the Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area from May to September. Trail passes can be purchased on-site and are $13 US for adults and $9 US for children aged 5-12 years. 

Starting at Lookout Pass, the trail is downhill on a modest grade of about 1.6%. Riders have the option of cycling the trail as a loop, or cycling one-way and booking a shuttle for the return journey. Shuttle tickets are $12 US for adults and $8 US for children. If you are riding an e-bike, fat tire bike, recumbent, trike, or a larger/heavier bike, a higher shuttle fee of $18 US applies. 

Bike rentals are available on-site, as are pre-packed picnic lunches for the journey.            

Not surprisingly, this trail is immensely popular. In 2020, the trail experienced its biggest year ever with almost 70,000 people riding the trail. This exceeded the previous annual record of nearly 60,000 riders.