Hiawatha to close early

The Route of the Hiawatha, a popular rails-to-trail bike path located on the scenic Bitterroot Divide along the Montana-Idaho border, will be stopping daily operations a week early this year. The last day of operations is Sunday, Sept. 26.  While the world-famous trail usually is open for bike riders and hikers through the first weekend of October, it will be closing early this year to allow for various USFS construction projects in the area. Those projects include construction of 139 new parking spaces at the Taft trailhead, to accommodate the record number of visitors that flock to the trail each year.

More than 30,000 people from all over the world are expected to ride the Hiawatha this year.  July and August were record setting months according to reports from Lookout Pass Ski Area, which operates the trail under a special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service.  The forecasted sunny days and cool nights this September are expected to bring out even more families to experience the fall colors and natural beauty surrounding the trail.

The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15 mile bike trail winding through 10 tunnels and over seven trestles in the rugged Bitterroot Mountains.  The route is best known for the Taft Tunnel that burrows for 1.7 miles under the state line. The trail winds through the mountains at a gentle 2% grade ending at the Pearson trailhead near Avery, Idaho.

You can find out more information about the Route of the Hiawatha, including hours of operation, fees for trail use, bike rental rates, pictures taken along the trail, and trail history by contacting Lookout Pass Ski Area at 208-744-1301 or www.ridethehiawatha.com. 

-Courtesy of Lookout Pass Ski Area