Another trail built where once there was a railway. This time it was formerly the Olympic Hiawatha line. The trail passes across seven perching railway trestles and through ten railway tunnels, one of them, the Taft Tunnel which passes, over three kilometres underground the Idaho/ Montana state border. For the fitter cyclist, the route can be cycled as a round trip, but for the less adventurous, or people with less time the main rail track route covers almost forty kilometres on a gentle downhill slope, followed by a shuttle bus trip back laid on by the trail managers who will also charge you for the privilege of cycling their trail. It is open between May and October. Once the whole route has been resurfaced and re-opened cyclists will be able to ride form St. Regis, Montana through the rugged Bitterroot Mountains to Pearson, Idaho. It’s too dangerous to travel in the off season with the mountains covered in snow and the possibility of bears hibernating in the tunnels.

Written by  Kim Marsden.

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