Route of the Hiawatha Bike Trail! Can't believe this exists!

In this vid, we finally get a chance to ride The Route of the Hiawatha rail trail in Idaho. We do an out and back and take a look at a number of the trestles and tunnels! Pretty crazy that it exists!

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[johnsampson]

I’m here in Boise in Oct. 2023, and have been watching all the videos that I can find of the Hiawatha Trail. This ride has been on my list to do since 2019, when at 56 I started cycling again after a 3-decade hiatus. I’m looking at doing this ride next June, and plan on starting at the Pearson trailhead and riding to the top and back like you did.

Thank you for taking us along on your ride. 😄🚴‍♂

[stevesaucedo]

I am from Texas and have done ths ride twice and love it. It is an easy ride and beautiful. Would recommend it to anyone.

[dezdawg]

The rails to trails program is a great thing.

[petesjk]

The original Hiawatha Train route started in Chicago, and went through Milwaukee, Wisconsin to St. Paul, Minnesota, and then west from there. The Chicago to Milwaukee section of the Hiawatha train route still runs today, and goes through my town.

[samuelimus]

This is one of the best, rides that Idaho has to offer. It’s also in my backyard.
Thank you for doing this review. I love your guys’ unbiased content.

[AmericanRailfan-gboq]

The Route of the Hiawatha Trail was constructed in the 1890s as part of the Pacific Extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, more commonly referred to as the Milwaukee Road. In 1905 after a forrest fire in this section of the Bitterroot Mountains, this section of the Milwaukee Road mainline from Harlowton Montana and down into what is now Avery Idaho. This route stayed active on the Milwaukee Road from 1890 up until the year 1980, when the Milwaukee Road voted to discontinue service to the Pacific Northwest United States. The rails were ripped out in a very short time following the vote. The Milwaukee Road itself was bought out in 1986 by the SOO Line Railroad Company. Today the entire Milwaukee Road Mainline between Seattle and all the way to North Dakota is ripped up. This truly was one of the most beautiful stretches of railroad in the United States.

[Henrywildeberry]

What a fun looking trail! It's great to see these old railroad trestles being kept up and used for something enjoyable. I hope to see the trail from Washington to Montana materialize.

[jeffkatzer]

Howdy Russ, almost a year after watching your video we had a chance to ride this outstanding trail. It was our traditional schools out camping trip with our grandsons. Then we continued on to the National Bison Range... and finally a visit to Adventure Cycling where I had a chance to shake hands with Laura and tell her I was one of your "fan boys". Oh, and that hug she gave you was from me. Thanks for all the great content on your channel.

[davidcummings]

I’ve done this with children thrice, once with a trailer and trail-a-bike and when they got bigger, both kids on trail-a-bikes. Then once more with middle school kids on their own bikes. We went early to ensure enough time for resting and breaks. Allow extra time for kids, but very doable. Definitely a bucket list ride.

There is also primitive camping with only a pit toilet along the river near the trailhead, but I imagine it fills up quickly on weekends.

[jeffozimek]

If you dug this you need to come out to visit the Myra Canyon Trail in Kelowna, BC. We biked it this past fall and it will knock your socks off. Part of the Great Trail of Canada.

[nthonyholden]

Those views from the trestles look INCREDIBLE.

[VanJolene]

in the middle of the long upper Taft tunnel is a cool info sign marking the ID/MT border. On my first trip there (with ACA in 2010) we were told to slow down entering the Taft tunnel so our eyes could get used to the dark, since there is a curve in it. One guy barreled through and ended up in the water ditch and needed ER care. I love how cool the tunnels are on a hot day.

[routeofthehiawathascenicmt]

Thanks again Paths Less Pedaled for riding the trail and for sharing it with your followers. Wish I would have known you were here to show you a few more interesting tidbits about the trail. Cheers!

[jongolsteyn]

Great looking trail. I loved your video, great job. Thanks for sharing.

[Cakeboy]

This is an awesome video. Thank you for sharing your experience of the route of the Hiawatha. 😀

[KAMJ]

Great video guys! I love when you combine bikes a railroads, whether it’s rail trails or Amtrak rides to biking destinations. Keep up the good work!

[smalldogbarking]

Gorgeous! In Canada, we have the Trans-Canada Trail which is comprised of a ton of rail trail! This video had me itching for my next trip! Cheers!

[davegehr]

One of the coolest rides you've documented so far. Loved it!

[angelomarfa]

You can combine the Hiawatha with the trail of the Coeur d'Alaine for the Bitterroot 300K loop.

[WildOutdoorLiving]

I've been meaning to get myself over there for some time now. Looks like so much fun. I've ridden the entire length of the Yellowstone Branch Line Trail from West Yellowstone to Victor Idaho (in different sections) which is fun but super remote and very rugged in sections. The Hiawatha looks a lot more relaxed.