Nate Narrates: What is the Hiawatha Trail?
Nate’s recap of a unique bike ride through the mountains of Montana and Idaho.
September 16, 2025
Saltese, Montana
“He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
The Hiawatha Trail is a trail where a railroad used to be. You can walk or bike it.
It is 15 miles downhill with 10 tunnels.
The first tunnel is one mile long and really wet.
The exact middle of the tunnel is the state border between Montana and Idaho, which is crazy.
Mom’s note: What makes it ‘crazy’ is that over a hundred years ago, builders started constructing the tunnel from both sides of the mountain pass. Remarkably, the tunnels met exactly on the state line of Montana and Idaho.
One of the tunnels (not pictured) is closed because it was built on a fault line.
When you get to the bottom, there is a hiker/biker shuttle. A trailer brings your bike back up to the top, and you go back through the first tunnel into the parking lot.
Muddy bikes!
Mom’s travel note: The Hiawatha Trail is an attraction operated by the local ski resort. Check out their website for parking, trail logistics, and ticket information.
All smiles starting the three-mile downhill trek from the top of Mount Washburn in Yellowstone
A Poem about Hiking
by Nate Roberts
knees dying
feet dying
legs dying
uphill
kills me
downhill
makes me
feel alive
Roberts on the Road
For those just finding us, hello! Inspired by the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, our family is on a yearlong RV road trip in 2025-2026 to celebrate my husband’s retirement after 20 years in Naval Special Warfare, as well as our 24 years together during the ups and downs of it all.
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