Fifteen miles of downhill rail trail through 10 tunnels and 7 trestles along the Bitterroot Mountains. One of America's great bike trails.
$55-$75 (trail pass + shuttle + bike rental)
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The Route of the Hiawatha is fifteen miles of former Milwaukee Road rail grade through the Bitterroot Mountains, all gently downhill, with ten tunnels and seven trestles along the way. It deserves its national reputation, and it's the activity golfers and non-golfers alike tend to cite as the trip highlight.
The trail starts at Lookout Pass on the Idaho-Montana border and descends through tunnels that range from short to the 1.66-mile Taft Tunnel at the summit. The trestles open suddenly onto mountain panoramas, and the rhythm of enclosure and exposure carries the full fifteen miles without losing momentum. The grade is consistent enough that anyone comfortable on a bicycle can do this regardless of fitness level. A shuttle returns you to the trailhead at the end. The tunnels are dark and cool; you'll want the headlamp that comes with the rental and a light jacket even in summer.
$55 to $75 covers trail pass, shuttle, and bike rental. Bring your own bike and you pay less. Three to four hours of riding plus the shuttle, plus a 60-minute drive each way from Coeur d'Alene, so plan a half-day minimum. Trailhead at Lookout Pass, I-90 Exit 0. The 2026 season runs May 22 through September 13. Arrive early in peak season to skip shuttle queues. Mountain or hybrid bikes only; the surface is packed gravel and not road-bike friendly.