Route of the Hiawatha
The beautifully breathtaking Route of the Hiawatha bike trail is ~ 15 miles long, crossing 9 old train tunnels and 7 sky-high trestles, offering incredible mountain views the entire way. The first tunnel on the trail is over a mile long, and the trail is all downhill from there. Only a short drive from historic Wallace, this trail is a must-do for anyone passing through. People travel from all over the world to ride this scenic, historic rail trail.
On an e-bike, you can ride down the trail, turn around at the bottom, and zoom right back up it. Most people who ride regular bikes wait at the bottom of the trail for the Hiawatha shuttle bus. It can be upwards of a 3-hour wait for the shuttle, in the sun, with no cell service. An e-bike is the way to go, to avoid the lines, avoid the bumpy 1-hour drive back up the dirt roads, and enjoy the trail at your own pace. We do not allow our bikes on the Hiawatha shuttle, so if you were planning on just riding down the trail 1-way, please book a regular bike from the Hiawatha. You do not need an e-bike if you only want to ride downhill.
If you ride the Hiawatha, we will disconnect the throttle on your bike and may limit the top speed of the bike to meet the trail speed limit (for compliance). Pedal assistance will still work, so you can still cruise along with ease. Helmets and tickets are required to ride the Hiawatha. We do not sell trail tickets for the Route of the Hiawatha. Book your Hiawatha ticket online on the Hiawatha's website. Please be courteous and follow the proper etiquette on your ride.
Most groups do the out-and-back ride in 4 - 6 hours. We recommend budgeting 6+ hours for most groups, especially if you plan on taking photos, reading the informational signs, stopping for lunch, and taking it all in. We require Hiawatha riders to book a full day rental, so you can take as long as you need, and use as much battery as you want.
Be advised the tunnels in the Hiawatha can be wet, cold, and muddy. Our e-bikes are equipped with fenders to minimize the mud on your body. You will want to bring a jacket and possibly gloves for the tunnels. We do sell sweatshirts and gloves at our shop. Our bikes do have headlights, but it never hurts to bring an extra headlamp or light.
Some riders opt to ride down the Hiawatha, and proceed beyond the trail, via Moon Pass road, all the way back to our shop in Wallace. This is a bucket list scenic ride that we highly recommend. It ends up being ~ 40 miles total, passing through ancient cedar swamps, beautiful natural landscapes, and into historic downtown Wallace. The round-trip ride involves a steep 2-mile uphill climb up Moon Pass Summit. This route is best for experienced bikers and those who are physically fit. Since you ride right back to our shop, you can take as short or as long as you need to enjoy the ride. Book a 1-way drop off with your e-bike if you plan on doing the round trip.
See this video for a guided recap of the round-trip ride from Taft, down the Hiawatha, through Moon Pass into town.
You’ll need a way to transport bikes to the trailhead which is 19 miles from Wallace. We can load up to 2 electric bikes in your pickup truck for you to take, we can rent you a 2-bike car rack (requires a 2" hitch receiver), or we can drop your bikes off at the Taft Area in Montana, where you'd ride 2 miles to the trailhead at East Portal, and then pick you up later at the same spot. Adventurous riders may enjoy the round-trip ride, back to downtown Wallace via Moon Pass.
On an e-bike, you can ride down the trail, turn around at the bottom, and zoom right back up it. Most people who ride regular bikes wait at the bottom of the trail for the Hiawatha shuttle bus. It can be upwards of a 3-hour wait for the shuttle, in the sun, with no cell service. An e-bike is the way to go, to avoid the lines, avoid the bumpy 1-hour drive back up the dirt roads, and enjoy the trail at your own pace. We do not allow our bikes on the Hiawatha shuttle, so if you were planning on just riding down the trail 1-way, please book a regular bike from the Hiawatha. You do not need an e-bike if you only want to ride downhill.
If you ride the Hiawatha, we will disconnect the throttle on your bike and may limit the top speed of the bike to meet the trail speed limit (for compliance). Pedal assistance will still work, so you can still cruise along with ease. Helmets and tickets are required to ride the Hiawatha. We do not sell trail tickets for the Route of the Hiawatha. Book your Hiawatha ticket online on the Hiawatha's website. Please be courteous and follow the proper etiquette on your ride.
Most groups do the out-and-back ride in 4 - 6 hours. We recommend budgeting 6+ hours for most groups, especially if you plan on taking photos, reading the informational signs, stopping for lunch, and taking it all in. We require Hiawatha riders to book a full day rental, so you can take as long as you need, and use as much battery as you want.
Be advised the tunnels in the Hiawatha can be wet, cold, and muddy. Our e-bikes are equipped with fenders to minimize the mud on your body. You will want to bring a jacket and possibly gloves for the tunnels. We do sell sweatshirts and gloves at our shop. Our bikes do have headlights, but it never hurts to bring an extra headlamp or light.
Some riders opt to ride down the Hiawatha, and proceed beyond the trail, via Moon Pass road, all the way back to our shop in Wallace. This is a bucket list scenic ride that we highly recommend. It ends up being ~ 40 miles total, passing through ancient cedar swamps, beautiful natural landscapes, and into historic downtown Wallace. The round-trip ride involves a steep 2-mile uphill climb up Moon Pass Summit. This route is best for experienced bikers and those who are physically fit. Since you ride right back to our shop, you can take as short or as long as you need to enjoy the ride. Book a 1-way drop off with your e-bike if you plan on doing the round trip.
See this video for a guided recap of the round-trip ride from Taft, down the Hiawatha, through Moon Pass into town.
You’ll need a way to transport bikes to the trailhead which is 19 miles from Wallace. We can load up to 2 electric bikes in your pickup truck for you to take, we can rent you a 2-bike car rack (requires a 2" hitch receiver), or we can drop your bikes off at the Taft Area in Montana, where you'd ride 2 miles to the trailhead at East Portal, and then pick you up later at the same spot. Adventurous riders may enjoy the round-trip ride, back to downtown Wallace via Moon Pass.