[EXCURSION] Ride the Hiawatha Bike Trail

Ride the Hiawatha Bike Trail – Thursday, August 25, 2022 – Friday, August 26, 2022

Enjoy the beautiful Route of the Hiawatha Trail, located on the MT/ID border, along with your newcomer and non-newcomer friends!  The trail is 15 miles long with 10 train tunnels and 7 sky-high trestles, surrounded by the beauty of the Bitterroot Mountains.  We plan to start at the trailhead around 8:30 am.  It should take 3-4 hours to cruise DOWN the scenic trail, at the end of which, you (and your bike) can board a shuttle back up.  We will set up a no-host dinner the night before in Wallace, ID and a lunch stop on the way back after the trail ride, for those interested!

Date:  August 25-26, 2022

Cost:  No cost to register with GVNC

Advance Preparations:  You will need to purchase a $32 pass for Friday, August 26^th, to access the trail and to board the shuttle after the ride.  You will need to present the email confirmation (paper or on your phone) at the trailhead.  Buy your daily pass at https://www.ridethehiawatha.com/buy-passes-and-rentals

Note: the pass will cost $42 for oversized or electric bikes. Only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes with the throttle disabled are allowed on the trail.  For those that wish to rent a bike, helmet, or light, you can use the same website as above. it is recommended that you make reservations at least 2-3 weeks in advance.

How to get to Wallace, ID:  snag a friend or two or your significant other and make plans to drive out to Wallace, ID on August 25.

Where to stay the night of August 25:  You will need to secure your own lodging.  There are a handful of places to stay in the tiny historic town of Wallace, ID as well as a couple of options in neighboring towns.

Meet-up spot:  For those bringing their own equipment (bike, helmet, light), let’s plan to meet up at the East Portal trailhead (right before the 1.66 mil LONG Taft Tunnel) around 8:30 am. The earlier we get started the less likely we are to encounter a long wait for the shuttle at the bottom!  For those renting bikes, the timetable is much less predictable so it is likely you will not start your ride until an hour or two later.

How to get to the meet-up spot: there are a few options, you’ll need to figure out what works best for you.  If you are renting a bike, it’s best to talk to the rental folks and make arrangement with them.  If you bring your own bike, some hotels offer a shuttle service to the trailhead and there is also parking available at the trailhead (Exit 5 off I-90 – 2 miles down the road.)

Can I rent a bike and helmet:  Based on recent reviews, we cannot recommend, without reservation, the rental bikes that are available through Lookout Pass Lodge and Bike Rental Shop.  We encourage you to bring your own for the best experience.  However, if that is not an option for you, you can reserve a rental bike in advance at ridethehiawatha.com, just be aware the bikes might not be in the best condition (and it may take an hour or more to get you started on your bike journey).  The Lookout Pass Lodge and Bike Rental Shop opens at 8 AM (PDT).  The trail is open 8:30 AM to 5 PM (PDT) daily starting May 27 through September 18, 2022.
Phone: 208.744.1234.

How do I get from the bottom of the trail to my car:  Your journey starts with you biking through the 1.66 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel (AKA Taft Tunnel) and exiting at the West Portal in Roland. The Roland trailhead is a short distance (1/4 mile) below the West Portal. The distance from the East Portal trailhead to the bottom elevation trailhead, Pearson, is 14.4 miles. Pretty much downhill all the way. Shuttle buses transport you and your bike from the bottom trailhead at Pearson back up to the Roland trailhead. (This bus ride takes about 40 minutes one way.) After arriving by Bus at Roland, you will get back on your bike and pedal back through the St. Paul Pass Tunnel (again 1.661 miles) to reach your vehicle at the East Portal parking area!

To be included in all future communications about the trip, please register by TUESDAY, AUGUST 16.