Allison has always dreamed of riding the Hiawatha Bike
Trail. In fact, it has been on her
bucket list since 2012 when she first saw it featured in a travel
magazine. The trail’s namesake is taken from the Hiawatha luxury passenger
train that once traveled the
same route through the Bitterroot Mountains, on the Idaho-Montana border, up
until 1961. It opened to the public in
1998 as a rail trail and features fifteen miles of graded trail (that is mostly
downhill), with ten tunnels (the longest being 1.7 miles) and seven high
trestles (highest is 284 ft). It
certainly lived up to its hype and gave us an amazing adventure!
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| The Hiawatha Bike Trail starts near Mullen, Idaho which is about an hour east of Couer d'Alene . . . This was our view of Couer d'Alene Lake as we left town on our way to the Trail |
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| After an easy check-in process, we picked up our bikes, helmets and lights . . . we are ready to go! |
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| Our first challenge is to make it through this 1.7 mile long tunnel . . . There are no lights, it's dripping water, muddy and pretty chilly . . . other than that it wasn't too bad! |
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| This gives you a good idea of what it looked like inside the tunnel . . . Now, imagine it pitch black with only a bike lamp and a headlamp to light your way! |
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| Once you come out the other side, you are greeted by this waterfall . . . Make's one wonder if this didn't have something to do with the tunnel's dripping?? |
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| There are several trailheads where you can start the Hiawatha, if riding through the tunnel makes you nervous |
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| We were warned not to ride too fast or we would "rooster tail" mud on our backsides . . . It made us smile when we saw this young lad, from New Zealand, and his speckling of mud . . . Seems he didn't have much of a choice riding behind and attached to his father |
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| One of our first trestle views . . . We will be riding over this one in a couple of hours |
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| Here's a more typical tunnel along the way . . . In general, once through the "big guy", you could see "light at the end of the tunnel" on most of the others |
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| Every half mile or so there are point of interest signs that were fun to stop and read (Click on this picture and it may enlarge it enough to read . . . if you're curious about what it says) |
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| This picture gives a good feel of what it felt like riding through the Bitterroots . . . And the excitement that lays ahead as your next trestle crossing comes into view |
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| One of the many trestle crossings |
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| Another tunnel |
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| This placard explained that most of the trestles were originally constructed of wood . . . Most of these burnt down from sparks thrown from the train and it wasn't long until they were rebuilt with steel |
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| Here's a good view of a typical trestle you will cross on your adventure . . . Make sure to stop and take time to look over the railing . . . you're a long ways up there! |
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| Kent exiting yet another tunnel |
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| We found the trestles every bit as interesting as the tunnels . . . Can you imagine the work (and craftsmanship) that went into building all these tunnels and trestles? |
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| The last tunnel before coming to the "end of the line!" (The last time this tunnel was used by a freight train was 1980 . . . the last passenger train was 1961) |
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| We paid to have our bikes and ourselves transported back to the trailhead . . . Many people choose to turn around and ride back uphill to make the journey last a little longer . . . |
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| Guess where they drop you off? That's right, at the big tunnel! You have to ride 8,771 ft back through the mountain to return your bike and bike lamp . . . In this picture you might notice a light in the back of the tunnel . . . It's not light coming from the other end, but someone riding towards us! |
We had a great day riding the Trail of the Hiawatha! We're glad Allison kept this adventure on her bucket list for thirteen years . . . it certainly was one we wouldn't have wanted to miss. Don't let the fifteen miles of biking intimidate you . . . it's all downhill! Just take some time to stretch, enjoy the views, and read a few informational placards. Our leisurely pace took us about four hours to complete the ride.
