MONTANA, HIAWATHA RAILS TO TRAILS

After breakfast in St. Regis we head for the Hiawatha Trail.  This is a rail to trail that has been called one of the most scenic in the country.  It's a 15 mile route that crosses the rugged Bitterroot Mountains.  It's best known for its 1.7 mile long "Taft" tunnel that burrows under the state line between Montana and Idaho.  It goes through nine tunnels and over seven trestles between St. Paul Pass to Pearson.

The trail starts right at the big tunnel.  Headlights are required but I don't have one so I try to stay in the shadow of Peggy's.  After I lose ambient light I start to have trouble.  We've heard stories of people without lights running into the wall so by the time we reach the other end I look like a wabbling idiot. The return trip back through isn't any easier.

This is the last thing on our bucket list for this trip so we start heading east.  We stay the night at a city campground in Drummond, Montana.

The Route of the Hiawatha

Taft Tunnel, 1.7 miles.

Bicycling out of the tunnel.

Wobbly Mitch after riding through the tunnel.

Many of these butterflies were 'puddling' along the trail.

View from the trail.

Crossing the trestle.

Shuttle bus that takes you from Idaho, back to the Taft tunnel where you
have to ride back through and then are back in Montana.

How the bicycles are transported in the shuttle bus.