www.ridethehiawatha.com

Where is Lookout Pass Ski Area located, and where is the Route of the Hiawatha trailhead?

The Ski Area is located adjacent to I-90 at the Idaho-Montana state line at Exit 0, 12 miles east of the historic town of Wallace, ID. The actual Trailhead for the Route of the Hiawatha is located 5 miles down I-90 into MT (Take Exit 5 Taft, MT) and then go 2 miles up (Rte 506), a dirt road to the Y and make a left to go up into the Hiawatha parking area. This area is called the Taft Trailhead and is located 500 yards off Rte 506.

What services, rentals, and amenities are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area, and what are their hours?

Bikes, helmets, and rental lights, as well as breakfast, lunch, and picnic food service, are all available at Lookout Pass Ski Area. Visitors can also access a retail and souvenir shop, along with purchasing day use passes and shuttle tickets. Both cash and credit cards are accepted. The Lookout Pass Ski Area base lodge is open from 8 am to 4 pm (PDT).

Where are bike rentals available for the Route of the Hiawatha, and what should visitors know about the East Portal Trailhead?

Bike rentals are only available at the East Portal Trailhead with prior reservation and payment of a delivery fee. The main trailhead (East Portal, also known as the Taft Trailhead) is located 7 miles to the east of Lookout Pass off I-90 at Taft, Exit 5 in Montana. To get there, follow the signs to cross the small wooden bridge and go up the Route 506 dirt and gravel road from the exit ramp to the East Portal trailhead. There is a large parking area and two restrooms at the East Portal—one restroom at the front, closest to the trail, and one at the back of the parking lot about 1/2 mile away.

Can bikes be delivered to the trailhead instead of transporting them yourself?

If you do not wish to transport bikes using your vehicle, you can arrange for delivery of bikes to the trailhead when making a reservation. There is a fee charged for delivery service. See the Rental Page of the website for details and fees. Please provide at least 48 hours notice for delivery requests so they can be added to the queue and delivered by 8:30 am. Later requests may be delayed due to other orders already in the queue that need to be handled first. Same day delivery can be accommodated, but please be aware there will be a wait time for all same day deliveries.

Are helmets and lights required to ride the trail?

YES, lights are required. You may bring your own, or rent a 300-400 lumen light and/or helmet from us. The use of Helmets is highly recommended for all trail riders and REQUIRED for those younger than 18yrs of age, to stay in compliance with Idaho state law.

Are E-Bikes allowed on the trail?

E-Bike Use on the Route of the HiawathaClass 1 e-bikes—and Class 2 e-bikes with fully disabled throttles—are permitted on the trail, subject to the requirements below. Lookout Associates operates under a Special Use Permit with the USDA Forest Service. Under this permit, only Class 1 e-bikes are authorized. A Class 1 e-bike is defined as a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling, and that ceases assistance at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes may be used only if the throttle is fully disabled for the entire ride and the bike is inspected and approved by Hi

How long is the Trail?

The ride from East Portal (top) to Pearson (bottom) is 14.4 miles and is a very gentle 1.6% to 2% downhill ride most all the way. You will then ride back thru the St. Paul Pass Tunnel after the shuttle drops you off at Roland, which ads another 2 miles to your ride. For most riders, the ride from East Portal to Pearson represents a leisurely 2.5 to 3.5 hour pedal. Add to this the time to get on your shuttle (average wait time is ~ 45 min. for a shuttle at Pearson), it will then take 30 minutes for your shuttle to drive you up to Roland. You then bike back thru the St. Paul Pass Tunnel adding a