Hiawatha Trail opens up
Photo by Jason Shueh The Hiawatha Trial, which opened Saturday, has eight rock tunnels, some as long as 1.7 miles. The Hiawatha Trail, which used to be part of Chicago’s Milwaukee Railroad also has seven trestles, some as high as 230 feet. The trail can see anywhere from 500 to 700 visitors a day and more than 23,000 visitors a year.
It could be said that mountain biking is a sport founded upon tangible substances, namely, dirt, sweat and the occasional pint of spilt blood. In fact, most beginners find the learning curve to be as steep as the slopes they tumble down.
This is why the Route of the Hiawatha mountain bike trail, that opened Saturday, is a unique treasure in the category of epic mountain bike rides.
The trail flattens out the learning curve, specifically, into a 15 mile, 1.7 percent grade with a host of scenic panoramas and a network of long tunnels burrowed into the hillsides.
The trail itself used to be part of Chicago’s Milwaukee Railroad, later the Olympian Hiawatha Railroad, but was converted into a mountain bike path through the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 1998. The Hiawatha trail dates back to the early 1900’s when the Milwaukee Railroad was looking to expand its company into the west.
After hearing all the praise for the trail, I had the opportunity to ride it for myself Sunday. Arriving at Lookout Pass Ski Resort, where riders buy their trail passes, I was skeptical. I had seen the many photos posted on the trail’s Web site and wondered what the winding wide gravel trail could offer.
There weren’t any rocky drops, no lung popping climbs or narrow cliff sides that are the typical staples of good mountain bike trails. Weather conditions didn’t boost enthusiasm either, the temperatures were resting at a nippy 45 degrees and there was snow along the roadway.
Yet, despite doubts, by rides end, I found that the trail not only lived up to the acclaim, it surpassed it. On the downhill ride the path turns into a blur of verdant green punctuated by chiseled rock croppings.
There are also 230-foot high wooden bridges and handfuls of waterfalls. Then of course, there are the elaborate rock tunnels, some as long as 1.7 miles, which connect the trail through one hillside to the other. In total, there are eight tunnels and seven trestles. With only a few stops I was able to complete the trail in about 45 minutes from the Rolland East Portal entrance to trails bottom in Pearson, Idaho.
Brian Elliot-Pearson, the communications officer for Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, said that during the summer there will be anywhere from 500 to 700 people on the trail per day and that more than 23,000 people visit it from around the world each year.
He also said that it usually takes families and beginners about two to two and a half hours to complete the downhill trip. There are buses that shuttle weary riders back to the East Portal entrance throughout the day, making trip easier for all abilities.
Also, along the way there are numerous signs that describe some of the unique history in the area.
Looking back on the ride, I would classify it as the epic family trail. It provides all the sights and views of more advanced trails, yet has a family-friendly terrain. This is an adventure everyone can enjoy.