I wrote about our August 2020 trip previously. During the heights of COVID-19, our little Ross family took a trip through the northwest. The night before Seaside we stopped and played at Rialto Beach. Earlier that same day we were at Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest. Six days before at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. The next day would find us in Astoria, Oregon. In the middle, Superior, Montana. Here is another post I still needed to do for Seaside and Cannon Beaches in Oregon. I am posting this 4 years after the visit, boy how the kids have grown.
Seaside Oregon from the Pacific Ocean
We arrived in the afternoon at Seaside and found our hotel. We grabbed a bite to eat at a little Thai place in town. The next morning we ventured out to Seaside Beach to play.
Shadow of Paul Ross at Seaside Beach on 8 August 2020
Hiram and Aliza Ross playing in the ocean, Amanda walking out to supervise, Lillie trying to fly her kite at Seaside Beach
James Ross playing in the sand at Seaside
Lillie and Aliza got into the digging action with James, Hiram is running to join!
After Seaside, we checked out of our hotel and headed to Cannon Beach.
Hiram, Lillie, Amanda, James (under Amanda), and Aliza Ross at Haystack Rock
By this point in the day it was warmer and more pleasant than the colder water and mist at Seaside. We flew kites and played at Cannon Beach until we had to get on the road to make good progress back to Idaho. I may have even taken a nap in the sun and breeze.
Aliza flying a kite at Haystack Rock near Cannon Beach, Oregon
Overlook along Washington coast, Aliza, Lillie, Hiram, James, and Amanda Ross
I wrote about our August 2020 trip previously. During the heights of COVID-19, our little Ross family took a trip through the northwest. The night before we stopped and played at Rialto Beach. Earlier that same day we were at Hurricane Ridge. Six days before at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. The next day would find us in Astoria, Oregon. In the middle, Superior, Montana. I have another post I still need to do for Seaside/Cannon Beach.
This day we drove inland to visit the Hoh Rainforest inside Olympic National Park. For us living in the Idaho desert, this was a strange new land.
A grove inside Hoh Rainforest
It was fun to visit the Visitor Center and walk the paths. We saw slugs, bugs, ferns, and plenty of moss.
Ferns, moss, and growth in Hoh Rainforest
With as much driving as we did on the trip, the kids generally welcomed any opportunity to get out of the van and go for a walk. Each stop was something new and interesting.
Amanda, James, Aliza, Lillie, and Hiram Ross walking below a mossy tree in Hoh Rainforest
It would be fund to try and find these locations in 10 years, or more, to try and recreate some of the photos of this trip. Perhaps the kids might remember a site or two.
Taft Tunnel, Hiram, Aliza, Lillian, Amanda, and James Ross
A little over two years ago, we did a trip through the US Northwest. One of our stops was the Route of the Hiawatha trail. We were a bit concerned initially as the kids were 9, 8, 5, and 3. But that turned out to not be a problem. Hiawatha had bikes for us, a tandem bike for Lillie, and a bike trailer for James.
Montana entrance/exit of the Taft Tunnel.
You have to book your tickets at the nearby Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area. We rented our bikes there as we did not take bikes with us on our trip. They delivered the bikes to the beginning of the trail so we did not have to worry about getting the bikes from Lookout Pass to the trail. The night before we stayed about 45 minutes away in Superior, Montana.
James in the bike trailer riding behind me.
As an interesting side note, we ran into Clay Handy and his family at Hiawatha. I hadn’t expected to run into anyone from Cassia County on the trail, let alone the parking lot!
Route of the Hiawatha literally follows the old train line from Chicago to Seattle. The last passenger train passed through in 1961. Afterward the rail lines were removed and much later the idea of a biking trail was conjured. That is why the trail is so agreeable with so many people, it is train grade. Starting on the Montana line it is literally downhill for the entire time! Those who get to the end and do not want to ride all the way back uphill can take a bus back to the Taft tunnel. Then you only have to ride the mile tunnel through St. Paul Pass back to the trail head.
Aliza, Hiram, Amanda, and Lillie coasting down the train grade.
There were some breathtaking views, which is one of the draws of the trail/ride as well.
You can see one of the trestles below which we would also cross over later in the trail.
The bike trailer turned out to be pretty convenient. James slept the entire time! All 15 miles! But he kept our backpacks company.
Lillie and Amanda about to enter a tunnel.
The Hiawatha trail boasts 10 train tunnels, 9 that you actually get to ride through.
Lillie and Amanda crossing a train trestle.
Hiawatha also boasts 7 sky-high trestles. That was a pretty exciting part of the ride. If you are afraid of heights, you can see the trestles are wide and have a road base. You can stay in the middle and then venture out to the side to safely take a picture.
You can see yet another trestle in the distance.
If you are really adventuresome, you can even look down below.
Looking down from one of the trestles.
Here is another view of crossing one of the trestles.
The view of another one of the train trestles.
As you can see, the trail is wide and safe. Even on the trestles they have ensured safety with the cables. Injury will come only to those who are reckless or careless. Some of the trestles are truly sky high.
Looking down from one of the train trestles.
Here is another view up from the trestle view above.
Beautiful mountain valley viewed from a train trestle.
Lillie was able to ride a tandem bike. Frankly, it was the perfect fit as she worried us if she had to be on her own bike.
Lillie on a tandem bike riding behind Amanda.
Some of the tunnels as you approached looked somewhat scary. But the closer you got you could see there was sufficient light in the tunnel.
Hiram waiting to go through another tunnel.
The trail is well maintained. You can see that they put some extra protection near the tunnels to avoid rocks falling on the trail.
The concrete tunnel with extra roofing to protect against rocks and snow.
The trail is only open during the best season. It opens in May and goes through September. These photos are from our visit on 3 August 2020.
Hiram, James, Aliza, Lillie, and Amanda Ross on a pit stop.
There are some restrooms along the trail. We had lunch at one of them. You can always pull over anywhere else if you wish. The trail has plenty of space. James even slept through snack time.
The end of the Hiawatha trail, the Pearson stop.
It was here at Pearson we loaded up on busses altered with bike storage in the back to haul us and our bikes back to the Idaho side of the Taft Tunnel. We had to go back through the mile long tunnel to get out on the Montana side. There we were able to turn over our bikes and be done.
Inside the Taft Tunnel, going through St. Paul Pass.
We stayed that night in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Other than our stop to visit the graves of family in Mullan, Idaho, we traveled the hour drive to CDA. I had a lengthy hearing the next day so I felt I needed to prepare. I would highly recommend the Route of the Hiawatha to anyone who needs a great opportunity to ride bikes, see nature, and experience train tunnels and trestles.
Aliza and Lillian Ross at Rialto Beach, Washington in August 2020
In August 2020, the heights of COVID-19, the Ross family took a little trip through the northwest. Earlier that same day we were at Hurricane Ridge. Six days before at the Museum of the Rockies in Montana. The next day would find us in Astoria, Oregon. In the middle, Superior, Montana. There are other posts I need to do regarding the Hiawatha Trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Seaside/Cannon Beach, and more.
This is an evening stop the Ross van made to Rialto Beach near La Push, Washington. It was getting later in the evening. I dropped the kids off and probably spent another 30 minutes trying to find a good spot to park and then walk to the beach myself. The kids had fun, it was getting dark, and starting to get cool at the beach. But they had another memorable occasion at a beach on the Pacific Ocean in 2020.
James, Lillie, Aliza, and Hiram Ross at the Museum of the Rockies
The morning of 2 August 2020 found the Ross Family in Bozeman, Montana. It was the first time any of us had ever been to Bozeman. I have family in Gallatin County, but I haven’t ever been there to visit them, only interacting with them at Andra family reunions.
We were headed west after a trip through Yellowstone National Park and headed to the Olympic National Park via Coeur d’Alene, which I will have to share photos from on another date. We spent that night in Superior, Montana after trekking up through Helena.
The kids enjoyed the Museum of the Rockies. We were there a couple of hours, which for our young children was long enough.
Siebel Tyrannosaurus Rex display at Museum of the Rockies
The kids were mesmerized by the massive dinosaur displays. Less so with the old west and history of Bozeman. There were some snakes and lizards they thought were fascinating.
Last year traveling through Montana, we stopped and spent the night in Superior, Montana. The next day was the Hiawatha Trail, which I have not written about yet.
We had trekked from Bozeman to Helena to Superior during the course of the day. The kids were done and didn’t want to do much. I went out for a little trip around Superior. Only a block from our hotel, I snapped this picture of the Mineral County Courthouse. I Did not know the tiny town of Superior was a County seat.
I drove east and across the river up the hillside. From there I took the following two pictures. Picturesque little town.
Clark Fork River from Superior, Montana, looking west.
Clark Fork River, Superior, Montana, looking east.
Sagacity 