Explore the best rated trails in Thompson Falls, MT, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Austin Woodhouse Scenic Loop and Tarkio Flats Trail . With more than 9 trails covering 4429 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Discovered this comfortable place with great accommodations for two bike travelers. They offer a pullout sofa if you do not wish to share a bed. Indoor bike storage with a comfy bed and a hot shower! Distillery right next-door and two restaurants to fuel up in the morning to get back on the trail. Close to the panhandle of West Virginia. Their name is Harmony Trail Haven on Airbnb.
I rode this trail with a few friends on May 2-3 2026. We had breakfast at The Gateway cafe, which is in sight of the trailhead in Plummer, and I would definitely recommend. Their generous breakfast portions fueled us up for the trip ahead. We parked at the Plummer trailhead, and on the first day we rode all the way to Wallace, which is a cool town with a beautiful historic downtown. On the way, we stopped for lunch at the Timbers Roadhouse in Cataldo, which had some great sandwich options and worked well with our pacing for a lunch stop. For the ride, weather was perfect and we enjoyed amazing views and saw deer, turtles, birds, and a moose alongside the trail.
On the second day, we rode from Wallace to the Mullan trailhead in the morning before returning to Wallace to pack up our Airbnb. This section mostly follows the road, but is separate and in the trees enough to still be enjoyable. The ride back to Plummer was as good as the first day and we stopped in Harrison for lunch at the Lakeside Grill and ice cream at the Creamery, both places I'd recommend checking out if you find yourself in Harrison.
If you're planning to ride the full trail as we did, be sure to take as much water as you think you'll need, as well as some snacks to keep your energy up. The towns with resources are pretty far apart, so you don't want to be caught out unprepared.
Everyone in my crew thoroughly enjoyed the experience and agreed that this would be a great trail to ride again.
What an amazing day we had on the Hiawatha last month. We were there the last week of their season and chose a good weather day for the ride. My husband and I are in our mid-fifties, of average physical shape, and rode mountain bikes I’d just inherited. After reading another review regarding the trail, We elected to ride approximately 13 miles down the trail and then back up, which saved us the transport fee. It was a great workout, but doable. With many stops for pictures, water, and snacks.. it took us 4 hours.
This is a wonderful ride. This is an easy 15 mile descent with amazing views. Expect to get dirty and wet going through the tunnels. Pack a lunch. E-Bikes have no need to shuttle. Highly recommend.
When I first heard about this trail MANY (27) years ago, I said, "This must go on my bucket list!" This late July I crossed it off, finally. All I can say is that this trail is all that it is cracked up to be and MORE!! I was definitely living the dream!
The only bummer was having to rent bikes because we flew out! They were not the best because, of course, one gets comfort from their own ride. My husband's bike kept breaking. We had to fix it once on the trail side, with the help of volunteer Trail Patrol (Yep, they got 'em) and again at the bottom before our ride back up. We had decided to make the dream last.
I recommend checking out their web site, as there is very much needed info and you will know about special events that may hinder your experience.
We saw quite a few families with littles as young as 5 years old. The slow decent makes it ideal for them and there is a shuttle bus service to take you back up.
I just might ride again but I'll bring my own bike next time.
I rode this in the reverse direction from Taft to Mullan as part of a bikepacking trip in July 2025. The NorPac was one of the highlights of the trip, with smoother gravel than the Old Milwaukee Trail or the Route of the Olympian. From Taft (the freeway exit for the Hiawatha Route), the trail is fairly easy to find. Just go back on the frontage road past some large industrial buildings, and the trail will start up the mountain underneath I90.
The Borax Tunnel is indeed closed, however, it would be very difficult to even access it. The bypass road is very clearly the only route to take, and while steeper than the rest of the trail, it is not long or too steep (6-7% gradient). The original trail to the tunnel is blocked by a huge piles of old trees at the bottom and a large berm at the top.
Lookout Pass has a few snacks, similar to the East Portal trailhead of the Hiawatha. Staying on the gravel road on the otherside of the parking lot, it eventually narrows and once again you're descending on smooth dirt down the Idaho side. It would be difficult to get lost. There is a major junction with a hard right turn and another instance where the trail bypasses the Shoshone Park road.
If you're coming from the Idaho side to start, the easiest way to describe how to access the trail is to navigate to the Fish Hatchery, and then make a 90 degree turn to the left and enter the trail through the trees.
I rode this route in both directions on a bikepacking trip in July 2025. The first leg, we started at the East Portal Parking lot and rode all the way down to Saint Regis. The gravel is smooth and fast going downhill until about Saltese. Around Haugan, the mountains open up, the gradient drops close to 0%, and you're a bit more exposed to the sun. The worst conditions were the last six miles into Saint Regis. Noise from I90 was never an issue, and we passed less than three motorized vehicles the entire time. I'd highly recommend the section from East Portal until the Old Dominion trestle. Would be a nice addition to the Hiawatha for those seeking a bit more distance.
I rode this trail in the opposite direction as part of a multi-day bikepacking trip in July 2025. In general, the whole thing is pretty flat/slightly uphill, with the section between Marble Creek and Avery on Siberts Old River Road adding a little bit of up and down hills. The road is rocky and tough on the arms. I had 700x40 inch tires on a carbon gravel bike and definitely felt it that night. We averaged around 11 MPH, imagine you could do better going the downhill route. Spectacular views, particularly between Pearson and Avery, where you go through about seven tunnels and have towering pine-covered mountains and a deep river canyon below.
We were on our way to vacation in northern Idaho and decided to stop along the way to explore this attraction. We are very glad we did; the views were amazing and the tunnels were quite interesting. The first tunnel is the longest and gets quite cool inside, but after that, the tunnels are shorter. The easy downhill grade makes the experience very enjoyable. Overall, it was a first-rate experience.
Me and my family grew up camping on Lake Chatcolet and biking this trail. We love making a stop in Harrison for the delicious ice cream at Harrison Creamery & Fudge Factory
From the jump this trail is unforgettable.
You start out by pedaling the 1.6 mile pitch-black Taft Tunnel, only seeing what’s illuminated by the lights you bring.
The temperature drops. You hear nothing but the sound of your spinning wheels and the echoes of dripping water and distant voices. Close to an out-of-body experience, no toad licking needed.
You emerge into blinding sunlight and stunning beauty including a waterfall.
You will cross sphincter-clenching train trestles and will encounter wildlife and more tunnels, though none as extreme as the Taft tunnel (which you will pass through again at the end of the ride).
The return shuttle trip will test those sphincters one last time, or you could choose to ride the gentle grade back up.
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