Vacations Blog

Easy riding on the Hiawatha Bike Trail

First thing they do each morning is clear out the bears.

Because you really don’t want to meet a bear while you’re biking through one of the dark mountain tunnels of the Hiawatha Bike Trail in North Idaho.

The Hiawatha is the ultimate family bike trail in the United States.  According to me, anyway.  The trail winds along 17 miles of abandoned railbed, through nine tunnels, across seven high trestles, and among some of the most stunning mountain scenery you can imagine.

One of many tunnels on the Hiawatha Bike Trail

You start your adventure about two miles off Interstate 90, right across the Idaho-Montana border.  After parking your car and paying a trail use fee, you’re immediately faced with a black hole in the side of the mountain.  It’s the 1.7-mile Taft Tunnel, the longest and darkest of the many tunnels you’ll experience on the trail.

This is where you’d better have some good flashlights strapped to your bike.  We rode through the Taft Tunnel with one good light and several weak ones.  My son took the strong light and the lead, and we followed a tiny flashing red light clipped to his backpack.  It didn’t take long for me to start hallucinating as I followed that bouncing little light into the pitch black.  In the cool, quiet center of the mountain, you start to feel like you’re cycling off into space.  And you miss the spot, about halfway through, when you cross from Montana into Idaho.

Eventually, as the tunnel curves, you see a little white dot of sunlight on the other side, and you exit the tunnel to find a lovely little waterfall and creek.  Here’s where the scenery begins as you start your descent of 1000 feet over the course of 15 more miles on a compact dirt and gravel trail.  With a 2% grade, it’s an easy ride for everyone, regardless of experience and skill.  My son easily did it at the age of 7.

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I like parks to offer more than a play structure and a couple of swings.  These Seattle parks are located in cute neighborhoods for lunch or snacks and offer natural or unique man-made entertainment. You decide if you need to bring your swimsuit, your bike or both to take advantage of what these beautiful parks offer their visitors.

Alki Beach Park – Alki Beach Park is “a long beach strip that runs from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. It’s a great spot for a 2.5 mile walk any time of year, and in the summer draws joggers, rollerbladers, volleyball players, beachcombers, sunbathers, bicyclists and strollers out to enjoy the sun.”  I like this beach because of the views and the surrounding neighborhood.

Gasworks Park near Lake Union-I like this whimsical park.  Some visionary turned a gasworks plant that originally  turned coal into gas into a city park. The Seattle Park & Rec dept. says, “The boiler house has been converted to a picnic shelter with tables, fire grills and an open area. The former exhauster-compressor building, now a children’s play barn, features a maze of brightly painted machinery”  It also has a sun dial and is a great place to fly kites.  Nice winds, but not too gusty.

Madison Park near Lake Washington- Madison Park offer a play structure for the little ones, a bit of grass to play on, swimming or wading in the lake, views and lifeguards during the summer. 

Washington Park Arboretum (near the University of Washington)- pack a picnic and wander the grounds of this lush, verdant park. In the spring wander through the aptly named Azalea Way or walk the Shoreline trail through the freshwater marsh.  You can also rent canoes at the University of Washington and paddle along the shoreline.

Waterfall Garden Park–I happened upon this jewel of a park during my first job out of college when I was dreaming of the great outdoors and not the dull work in my in box.  The park features a 27′ waterfall with beautiful stonework and benches.  It is a surprising oasis in the midst of the concrete desert and high rise buildings. Leave that in-box way behind…

Green Lake–Walk, run, ride and skate around the lake at this park.  The lake is small enough for most elementary age kids to get around if you go their chosen pace.  You can also snag a treat at the Starbuck’s (actually local in Seattle) or grab dine al fresco at several restaurants near the lake.

These parks are fun for a romantic date, a family of four or anyone wanting to enjoy some solitude surrounded by the beauty of Seattle.

Ready to pack your bags? Here is a great resource for flights to Seattle.