Route of the Hiawatha

Located just off I-90 on the Idaho Montana border, midway between major airports in Spokane, WA, and Missoula, MT, the Route of the Hiawatha Rail-Trail is a scenic section of abandoned rail-bed from the Milwaukee Road that the Taft Tunnel Preservation Society, a grassroots Wallace non-profit organization, and the U.S. Forest Service turned into a world class non-motorized trail.

Opened in 1999, and enhanced in 2001 with the inclusion of the 1.7 mile long Taft Tunnel, The Route of the Hiawatha has become a very popular adventure for locals and tourists. Depending on your enthusiasm, it is either a 30 mile round trip with 2000 feet of elevation change, or 17 miles of level and downhill dirt track with a shuttle bus ride to regain your 1000 foot elevation loss. For the round trip, most people will travel from Wallace and park at Pearson, overlooking the North Fork of the St. Joe River off Forest Road 456. You are thereby climbing the 2% grade during the cool of the morning. Those wanting the shorter experience (3-4 hours) will park at the East Portal, located ~2 miles off I-90 at the Taft Exit in Montana, 5 miles from Lookout Pass on the Idaho border. Since the shuttle connects the West Portal of the Taft Tunnel, a.k.a. Roland, and the lower trailhead at Pearson, riders who park at the East Portal must ride back to their vehicles from Roland.

The Route of the Hiawatha Rail-Trail takes you through 9 cavernous tunnels, around a forever-closed tunnel, and over 7 high trestles, past waterfalls, ridge top vistas and numerous interpretive signs. These detailed signs provide information about the rich mining and railroading history in this scenic passage way through the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains, famous between 1911 and 1961 as the "Route of the Hiawatha" on the Milwaukee Road between Illinois and Washington. More information may be found in Chapters 4 and 5 of Milwaukee Road in Idaho by Stanley W. Johnson, Museum of North Idaho, 2003.

Helmets and proper lighting equipment are required for bikers, and an $9 usage fee ($5 ages 3-13) applies to everyone. Fees are collected by the concessionaire's marshalls who also provide information, emergency help, first aid and water to those in need. However, wise trail users will make sure that they are properly provisioned with food, water, extra lights, and bicycle repair kits before embarking on this adventure. Dogs are not allowed on the Route of the Hiawatha.

The concessionaire maintains a shuttle bus service between Roland and Pearson Trailheads, for which there is a $9 charge ($6 for ages 3-13). The shuttle operates 7 days a week beginning June 23 with service on weekends and holidays before then. The shuttle normally runs from 11 AM to 4:15 PM, except during the peak season, June 30 thru September 2, when the hours are extended to 5:45 PM. The shuttle schedule is posted at both ends of the Route of the Hiawatha.

• Trail Map    
   
  
• Directions to Trailheads
   
  
• Trail Fees, Rentals, Shuttle Fees

• concessionaire: Lookout Pass Ski Area
   
  

• Summer Information The Silver Valley Sixth Street Melodrama Sprag Pole Museum in Murray Tourist Attractions in Wallace Silver Valley Mountain Biking TRAIL OF THE COEUR d'ALENES Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Photos Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes Links Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails ROUTE OF THE HIAWATHA Hiawatha Photos Hiawatha Trail Map Directions to Hiawatha Trailheads Hiawatha Trail Fees, Shuttle, etc. Mountain Bike Rentals Hiawatha Shuttle Schedule Rules of the Route Hiawatha Suggestions I-90 Exit 0 Camera View NOAA data: East WA & North ID Mullan/Wallace Weather Coeur d'Alene Weather Pacific NW Enhanced IR Image West Coast 4 hour Animation Lookout Pass Ski Area Silver Mountain Ski Area Historic Wallace Idaho Recreation near Wallace Recreation Photos Wallace & Silver Valley Festivals Depot Day 2007 Gyro Days Huckleberry Heritage Days Silver Valley Real Estate

• Winter Information Pacific NW Snowfall Forecast Pacific NW Enhanced IR Image West Coast 4 hour Animation I-90 Exit 0 Camera View/Loop Lookout Pass Ski Area Lookout: last 2007/08 Report Lookout: 2008/09 Season Pass Silver Mountain Ski Area Silver: last 2007/08 Report Silver: 2008/09 Season Pass 07/08 Ski Season Snowfall Log Skiing Photos 2007/08 Skiing Photos 2006/07 Skiing Photos 2005/06 Skiing Photos 2004/05 06/07 Ski Season Snowfall Log 05/06 Ski Season Snowfall Log 04/05 Ski Season Snowfall Log 03/04 Ski Season Snowfall Log 02/03 Ski Season Snowfall Log 01/02 Ski Season Snowfall Log 2000/01 Ski Season Summary Winter Sports Survey NOAA data for Mullan Pass Mullan/Wallace Weather Coeur d'Alene Weather Winter Festival 2003

The Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails is a non-profit corporation that was established in 2003 to promote, educate, encourage and assist in the development and maintenance of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and other north Idaho bike trails. They are currently distributing the fifth edition of their Recreational Trails of the Idaho Panhandle that includes a map of the Route of the Hiawatha, as well as a large map showing the new 72 mile long and FREE Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes paved bike path. In addition, the Friends are compiling a series of documented loop trips that may be downloaded for free, and they are working with the Rails to Trails Conservancy to complete a 200 mile loop that will include the Route of the Hiawatha as part of the Old Milwaukee Road rail-trail system.

The concerned citizens of Wallace were instrumental in developing the Route of the Hiawatha regional resource in concert with the Forest Service. Each year the Wallace Chamber of Commerce publishes a 56 page booklet about the town, its history and businesses, and the many regional attractions.

Lookout Associates, LLC, is the concessionaire for the Route of the Hiawatha.