| Looking
in entrance to Taft Tunnel on the Trail Of The Hiawatha. Top of 2005 trip Next Reader comments & historical images of tunnel. It's amazing how popular this trail is, even though it basically doesn't go anywhere. It's fun, but so are other trails. Hardly anyone lives near the Hiawatha, but they flock to it for miles. Come from Seattle, Spokane, Missoula, with bikes strapped to their car top carriers. Bikes can also be rented at Lookout Mountain Ski Area. People even pay the $8 fee. This trail charges money. Parking lot, on Montana side of Taft Tunnel, was large. Almost looked like "parking at the mall." It was Labor Day Weekend and I heard that close to 600 riders were passing through. Advertising. See west trail end. |
  Lots of folks want
to say they "rode the
Hiawatha." Other trails offer similar sights, but not as
concentrated. In 15 miles, there are 9
tunnels, 7 high trestles, waterfalls and
interpretive signs.
It's a destination. Also one can make it an all downhill ride. Other trails could market themselves more. One can marvel at the draw of the Hiawatha, so far from urban centers. Web sites proclaim it's between two major airports, Spokane, WA. and Missoula, MT. I was drawn to the Hiawatha also, but I got there by bicycle. It was fun, but was a more "everyday" experience for me. After Trail Of The Coeur d'Alenes, I rode through Mullan, ID. Then took Saint Paul Trail, instead of I-90, over Lookout Pass. The last 5 miles, from Montana border, was on I-90's shoulder. Maybe I could have taken trails, but didn't figure that out. It was a fun, but just another nice trail for me. Met many other cyclists, something I hadn't experienced since the Portland Bridge Pedal. |