The Route of the Hiawatha
The Rails to Trails Crown Jewel
About
The Route of the Hiawatha and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes are part of a 300K Rail to Trail System known as the Bitterroot Loop. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a paved 73 mile, mostly flat trail that wanders through the Silver Valley, the Coeur d’Alene River Valley, the Chain Lake Region, and along Lake Coeur D Alene. The crown jewel of the Bitteroot Loop, and perhaps the crown jewel of the entire Rails to Trails system, is the Route of the Hiawatha. The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15 mile downhill route, beginning in Montana and ending in Idaho. The packed dirt and gravel path takes you over spectacular soaring train trestles and into miles long deep dark tunnels. See waterfalls and remnants of the people who built the West all while gliding through the hills and forests of Idaho and Montana’s National Forest land.
Riding the Hiawatha
Tickets & Shuttle
The Route of the Hiawatha is managed by Lookout Pass. Lookout Pass rents bikes and sells trail and shuttle passes. Most people choose to buy a shuttle pass so they can ride the Hiawatha one way downhill and then be shuttled back to the top. Trail and shuttle passes can be purchased online. Remember, the Hiawatha is one of America’s most popular biking trails so its important to get your trail and shuttle passes early. Trail passes are required, even if you don’t plan to ride the shuttle.
Getting There
Once you have everything you need, you’ll head to Exit 5 of I-90 in Montana. At the exit, follow the brown signs to the East Portal of the Hiawatha. The East Portal is the beginning of the Hiawatha and is located 2.6 miles south of Exit 5 on Rainy Creek Rd 506.
Be Prepared
The Hiawatha’s 10 train tunnels make it one of the most unique biking experiences in the world. In particular, the 1.661 mile St Paul Pass tunnel (Taft Tunnel) is truly spectacular. The tunnels can be pitch black and remain cool and wet even during the heat of the summer. During the late Spring and early Fall they can be downright cold and muddy. Lights (flashlight, headlamp, or bike light) are required to ride the trail. It’s also a good idea to bring a change of clothes since you’re likely to get muddy.
The shuttle buses at the bottom of the Hiawatha fill up quickly and riders have reported as long as 2 hour wait times during prime times (1PM – 4PM in June, July, & Early August). Consider riding the trail first thing in the morning (8:30AM) or during the off-season (Early September) to avoid the crowds.
E-Bikes
Class 1 E-bikes are allowed on the Route of the Hiawatha. Class 1 E-Bikes are pedal assist E-bikes with a max speed of 20 MPH. They do not have a throttle. Class 2 E-Bikes are allowed provided the throttle has been disabled. Lookout Pass will inspect the bike to ensure the throttle has been disabled. Class 3 E-bikes are prohibited.
Lookout Pass charges an additional $10 fee to carry E-bikes on their shuttle. E-bikes may also be deprioritized over acoustic bikes. Given this, it’s recommended that if you plan to use an E-bike that you don’t use the shuttle and ride the Hiawatha both downhill and uphill.
Bike Rentals
Most people rent bicycles for the Hiawatha at Lookout Pass and E-Bikes from The Spokehouse in Wallace. There are days that Lookout Pass does not have availability. Other times, riders want to ride both the Hiawatha and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. In these situations, renting a Hybrid bike from The Cycle Haus might be the answer. Hybrids are a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, making them a good option for the paved Trail of the CDA’s and the compact dirt of the Hiawatha. See our Hiawatha rental options below. Please note that the Cycle Haus is located in Harrison, ID approximately a 1 hour drive from the Route of the Hiawatha, so you’ll need to arrange for transportation of your bike. The Hiawatha is a muddy trail, and bikes often get damaged on the bus ride back to the top. For this reason, we only allow certain bikes on the Hiawatha and the rental rate is slightly higher than our Trail of the CDA rentals.
Hiawatha Bike Rentals
Diamondback Clarity: Hiawatha
Price: 8hr: $60 | 24hr: $70 | 2 Days: $105 | 3 Days: $150 | 4 Days: $195 | 5 Days: $240
Height: 5'4"-6'1" | Weight: Up to 250lbs
Diamondback Edgewood: Hiawatha
Price: 8hr: $60 | 24hr: $70 | 2 Days: $105 | 3 Days: $150 | 4 Days: $195 | 5 Days: $240
Height: 5'10"-6'4" | Weight: Up to 300lbs