Friday morning we bought our tickets to ride the Hiawatha Trail at the Lookout Pass ski lodge (freeway exit 0!!) on the Montana/Idaho border and went to Taft, Montana (exit 5) to meet the rest of the family and start the ride. Our group included a four year old, and a six year old–Garret Wade–who rode the entire trail by himself on a small bike–14 miles without a single complaint..from him…some of the rest of us complained a little!!
The trail was constructed in 1906-1911 as the Pacific extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad (all the mile markers are the number of miles from Chicago!!). The railroad went bankrupt in 1977 and the in the late 90’s the trail was abandoned and the bike trail constructed. Eventually 31 more miles will be added on the Montana side. The trail proceeds downhill at a 2 to 3% grade and is well groomed dirt and gravel. The trail includes 5 tunnels and 7 trestles, amazing views of the Bitterroot mountains, a waterfall, much good signage about the history of the railroad (“The Hiawatha” was the name of the train) and the 1910 fire which devastated the area. Recreation, education, beauty, fun.
The ride begins with the 1.7 mile St. Paul Pass tunnel which was long, cold, dark, a bit scary. Jennifer kept our spirits up by singing most of the way. The tunnel crosses the Montana/Idaho border from Taft, Montana, back into Idaho and when you FINALLY emerge there is a waterfall to greet you in the warm sun.
The panoramic views over the mountains are beautiful–you suddenly know you are really “out there”.
We rode from the St. Paul Pass Tunnel to Pearson. Two of our group continued on a dirt road 9 more miles to our eventual destination of Avery, Idaho, home of Roger’s sister Melissa and family.
The trestles and the tunnels provided the drama of the trip with our lunch being eaten in the middle of a long long trestle (the Clear Creek trestle which is 760 feet long and 220 feet high and scary–I had to concentrate on not panicking so didn’t take any photos of the lunch scene!).
The Russell Creek and the Bear Creek trestles are the “lines” seen in the distance.
Here’s the Clear Creek trestle. We had lunch just about in the middle of it.
Here’s the tunnel at Adair which luckily isn’t too long but IS very very dark.
There were many informative signs throughout the ride telling a variety of stories.
We began the ride about 11:00, stopped for the scary lunch, and finished about 2:30. Casualties were limited to a fall in the first long tunnel for Liz when her light slipped and blinded her momentarily, and a flat tire for George, which made him turn back. The rest of us made it down the 14+ miles and had a fun time.
On The Way 
This looks like a terrific ride! But Miss Amy could never make it – acrophobia. Thank goodness railroads can’t go much steeper that 2% or 3%…
WOW! What stunning views! This is the type of memory that sustains us on rainy Winter days! Simply gorgeous!