Directions from the end of the
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
in Mullan, Idaho, to the beginning of the
Route of the Hiawatha
at the East Portal of the Taft Tunnel in Montana
topographic map showing this area
This impressive mountain pass traverse
between Mullan, ID, and Taft, MT
may be seen from the air...
IF you have the
FREE Google Earth program installed.
This route starts at the east end of the
Trail of Coeur d'Alenes parking lot
in Mullan (0.0 mile). Looking
east, you will see a paved trail between the large brick building
on your left and the "Yuppie Trails" store on your right. Follow
this through town as you first approach and then join Earle Street,
which appears on your left. Ride past the ball park
(0.5 mile),
join the I-90 Business Loop road present on your right, and pass
by the freeway interchange, following the sign to "Shoshone Park."
Proceed past the Lucky Friday Mine and over a small stream to an
important fork in the road (1.5).
Take the lower road to the left.
It is Larson Road and will take
you through the "historic village" of Larson
(2.7), which today
consists of four houses and a barn. Stay right past first fork
and arrive at a junction marked "Shoshone Park"
(3.2). Make the
left turn and ride past this day-use park
(3.4) and arrive at the
Hale Fish Hatchery (3.8).
Did you remember to bring dimes for
the fish food dispensers? You will be sorry if you forgot! For
future reference: the road you did not take at the first fork is
called Willow Creek Road, and the road that continues past the
entrance to Shoshone Park is called Mullan Pass Road.
At the Fish Hatchery, turn off the pavement onto Forest
Road 133, which is packed dirt and gravel.
DO NOT take FR 6531 to the Little North
Fork! Stay on the old railroad grade to the right. Take care,
this area (3.9)
is full of moose, and they will insist on their
right of way! At another junction with Mullan Pass Road, go
straight across the intersection, to the west, onto FR 3026
(4.2).
{This is where our
$21K Grant for trail improvement
begins.}
You will pass under the interstate
(5.3), pause at a post card
view of Lone Lake Basin
(6.7), and proceed to a junction
with Willow Creek Road (7.2).
Note: If you take the wrong road at the important fork in
the road mentioned at the end of the first paragraph, you
will also end up here... after climbing a extremely steep
and rutted jeep trail. Perhaps it is only two miles long, but
I'm nervous in a jeep on this "road." I guess you could always
walk your bike... but really, take the longer railroad grade
and feed the fish.
Come back to this spot someday, and BACKPACK into primitive
camps at either Stevens Lake or Lone Lake. These two trails
are very steep 2 mile climbs into gorgeous cirque lakes blessed
with fish and solitude. A walking stick will be more useful
than a mountain bike on these trails. The trail to Stevens
Lake starts at the junction in question, while the Lone Lake
trailhead can be seen to the right (west) along the road about
100 yards distant.
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Back on your bike at the junction of Forest Road 3026 and Willow
Creek Road (7.2), make the hard left
switchback uphill to stay on
the railroad grade (FR 3026). The road becomes rougher. Don't
take the uphill road on the right (7.4).
The remains of a train
trestle may be glimpsed on the left
(7.6), and a great picnic spot
overlooking the Silver Valley presents itself shortly
(7.8).
Further up the old railway grade, are the remains of another
trestle bridge that made this 3% climb possible
(9.4). You will
pass another scenic vista and possible picnic place
(10.6) on
your way to the Lookout Pass Ski Area, where you will find rest
rooms, a bar, a cafe, and a bike rental and repair shop from late
May to early October (11.7).
Continue east on dirt road out of Lookout Pass parking lot.
Marvel at the beautiful view of Copper Lake Basin
(12.4), and
then after rounding a corner, the larger St. Regis Lake Basin
further to the southwest. The trail to lower St. Regis Lake
begins at the hairpin turn
(12.9) with several dispersed
campsites nearby. The steep trail into Copper Lake begins
further down the road (13.9),
again with dispersed campsites
nearby. Suddenly the trail enters a very dark and bumpy train
tunnel (15.7).
This is not a prepared hardpack tunnel floor
as you will find on the Route of the Hiawatha; it is a wet and
rutted jeep trail, so be prepared to stop and walk through
the tenth-mile-long tunnel. A hair pin turn heads you back
west with the interstate visible far below you to the right.
Soon, however, you will find yourself going under the freeway
(16.8), and heading east again.
After following the freeway downhill for a while, you will pass
within yards of a new Highway Rest Area with clean bathrooms
(19.7).
You will ride back under the interstate
(20.1) and
arrive at the junction (20.3)
of Nor Pac Road #4208 (which we
have been following since Lookout Pass) and Hanker Creek Road
#445, merging from the right. Soon old Highway 10 emerges out
of the gravel and leads the rider to the I-90, Exit 5 (Montana)
interchange area (20.6).
Continue around the huge "circus
tented" sandpile to the view the sign
"Route of the Hiawatha"
at the beginning of Rainey Creek Road #506
(20.9). Follow this
road approximately 2 miles uphill to the East Portal of the
Taft Tunnel. Have your $9 day-use fee
(up $1 from 2006 season)
ready to hand to the concessionaire's marshals when you see them at the West
Portal, 1.7 miles of darkness away.
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