Hiawatha Trail

The Route of the Hiawatha Bike Trail is an old railroad route that has been converted into a bike trail. It is 15 miles one way of winding trails that travel through the Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. You go through 10 tunnels and over 7 high trestles. The most memorable part is going through the Taft Tunnel which burrows for 1.66 miles between the Montana/Idaho border. Steve and I have done this trail before we had kids and it is possible one of the greatest things I have ever done. We almost didn't get this trip in before school started. We talked about it all summer, but could never find a weekend. We bought the trailer bikes last year with this kind of trip in mind. We were finally able to coordinate with my parents and travel the trail round-trip. Yep, 30 miles of gorgeous scenery while pulling a 40 pound child behind me that didn't really help out too much with the peddling. The uphill grade is only about 2%, but 15 miles of that will really test your endurance.

We took off with our family Friday afternoon and drove to a really cool forest service campground with the pop-up to spend the night. Mom and Dad had left earlier in the week to bike around Couer d'Alene on their tandem bike. They were to meet us at our campground in the morning for breakfast and then to the bike trail. On the way into the campground, we saw a moose feeding in a pond. Of course, I didn't have the camera ready.

So, here are some pictures of our trip. We actually started at the bottom of the trail and rode the uphill first. The long tunnel is at the top of the trail. By the time we got to the top, my legs were screaming. Rylee however, was enjoying her leisurely ride! The girls were fascinated with the tunnels and trestles. There are enough along the way to keep them entertained. They didn't complain once. On the return trip down, we didn't stop on all the trestles like we did on the way up.

Here we are at the beginning--ready to go!

Our first tunnel--not a long one, but fun none the less!

Rylee, Steve, Kailen, Nana, and Papo on a trestle. Look at that background!



They made me get in the picture! I have to admit that those trestles can take your breath away if you are leery of heights--I got jelly-legs!




At one of the first trestles, a gentleman told the girls they needed to try to spit off of it. Well, here is a video of that. From then on we had to spit off each one we stopped at (with a mouth full of water). Of course, Steve had to show them how it is done for real--yuck!



If you look closely, you can see another one of the trestles in the background that we will cross

We finally made it to the Taft Tunnel. Here are the girls anticipating the long, dark, cold tunnel ride.

Here is the Taft Tunnel entrance. You have to stop to gear up--put on jackets and make sure bike lights are working properly. It is a little disorienting inside because it is so dark. Rylee was a little scared on the ride through the first time. She started crying about half-way through. On the way back through, however, she had a blast and wanted to do it again.

Here we are at the top. We stopped for a picnic lunch and a little rest time--then back on the trail.

Here we are riding out of the Taft Tunnel on the return trip--ahhhh downhill all the way!.

...and we made it--round trip--30 miles!

The girls talked about this trip for months. I think it is going to become an annual summer trip. Fun was had by all! I think it is kind of like childbirth--you forget about the pain you go through shortly after you have finished--actually, by the trip down. There were several times on the uphill that I was not a happy camper, but those were overshadowed by the joy from the girls.