The Route of the Hiawatha is one of the most impressive rails to trails projects in the U.S. The route was the last transcontinental railroad completed during the early 20th century, linking Chicago with the Pacific Northwest.

The trail runs 15-miles downhill through the Bitterroot Mountains, starting near Lookout Pass Ski Area on the Idaho-Montana border and running through 10 train tunnels and over 7 trestles on an easy 1.6% grade, dropping about 1,000 feet from the West Portal to the bottom. It is managed by Lookout Mountain Ski Area, which provides shuttles, bike rentals,and charges the fees for trail use and the shuttle.

Route of the Hiawatha Trail Facts

• Length: 15 miles, mostly downhill, with a shuttle back to the top
• Tunnels: 10, including the St. Paul Pass (Taft) Tunnel — 1.661 miles (8,771 ft) long, 19 feet high and nearly 15 feed wide, cold and pitch dark inside; a light is not optional
• The St. Paul Pass (Taft) Tunnel starts near the East Portal trailhead in Montana and finishes across the state line in Idaho, so the rest of the trail is in Idaho
• Trestles: 7, the tallest reported at 850 feet long and 230 feet above the ground
• Waterfall: There’s a small, but loud and rushing waterfall just outside the exit of the St. Paul Pass (Taft) Tunnel that is a very popular photo spot with riders
• Grade: 1.6% downhill, dropping roughly 1,000 feet over the ride
• Location: starts near Lookout Pass Ski Area, about 12 miles east of Wallace, Idaho
• 2026 season: open 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, May 22–September 20, 2026

The Fee Has Changed Structure, Not Just Gone Up

When we rode it, the price was a straightforward $10 trail fee plus $8 for the shuttle back to the top. The pricing on this trail has changed structure since we rode it, not just the amount — see the corrected fees below before you budget for a visit.

For the 2026 season:

• Adult Trail Pass (ages 13+): $20/person Monday–Thursday, $40/person Friday–Sunday and holidays — the weekend price already includes the shuttle back to the top
• Adult Shuttle Pass, if you’re riding your own bike and just need the ride back up: $20/person on weekdays only (it’s bundled free into the weekend Trail Pass); $35/person for e-bikes or oversized bikes
• Child Trail Pass (ages 5–12, must ride with a paying adult; 4 and under free): $15/person weekdays, $30/person weekends and holidays
• Child Shuttle Pass: $15/person weekdays, included free on weekends
• Adult Combo Pass (trail, shuttle, and bike rental together): $70/person booked online, $79 day-of
• Child Combo Pass: $53/person booked online, $59 day-of

Booking online in advance is meaningfully cheaper than paying at the gate across every tier, and a weekday visit is half the price of a weekend for the base trail pass. Shuttle service runs on a schedule — last shuttle departs 4:15 p.m. on weekdays and 5:45 p.m. on weekends/holidays — so plan your ride time around it rather than assuming shuttles run continuously until close.

Riding the Route of the Hiawatha

This is one of the most dramatic rail-trail rides in the country, and the numbers back it up: ten tunnels, seven trestles, and a grade gentle enough that riders of nearly any fitness level can enjoy it. The ride starts with the St. Paul Pass Tunnel itself — over a mile and a half of total darkness and genuinely cold air even in summer, a strong opening to the ride before you ever see a trestle. From there, the trail alternates between forested cuts and the open-air trestle crossings, each one giving a different angle on the Bitterroot Mountains dropping away below.

Thanks to Debbie Mears and Ken Baker for pointing us toward this one — it’s the kind of trail that’s easy to miss if you don’t know to look for it, tucked into the Idaho-Montana border country between bigger-name destinations.

Photography Notes

• The trestles are the shot. Put a rider on the trestle itself for scale against the drop-off, or shoot from one trestle back toward the next to show the string of crossings in sequence.
• Bring a flash or shoot at a very high ISO inside the tunnels. There’s essentially no ambient light once you’re more than a few hundred feet in.

Know Before You Go

• Bring a real bike light — the Taft Tunnel is over 1.6 miles of total darkness, not a quick dim patch
• Dress for cold in the tunnels even on a hot day — the temperature drop inside is significant
• Book trail and shuttle passes in advance through the official site; weekday visits are half the price of weekends
• Pairs naturally with the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes — the eastern trailhead here is a short drive from where that trail starts in Mullan

Is the Route of the Hiawatha Worth It?

Yes, without reservation — we ranked it #1 on our list of 10 Best Rails to Trails. This is a genuinely unique ride that most rail-trails can’t match, with tunnels and trestles both. Budget the pass price into your day; it’s worth it either way, but go on a weekday if the schedule allows for half the cost.

Current pricing, hours, and reservations: Ride the Hiawatha.