TRAILS -- The Route of the Hiawatha rail trail over the Montana-Idaho border closed for 2016 on Sunday setting a season visitation record of 43,849 riders.

The 15-mile trail on an abandoned Milwaukee Road railway has garnered worldwide attention for features seven trestles and nine tunnels, including the absolute blackness of the 1.66-mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel.

Bicyclists can enjoy the all-downhill route with shuttle bus service back to the trailhead, or pedal the route both ways.

"The new record represents an 11.2 percent increase over the previous record of 39,401 visitors set in 2015," said Phil Edholm of Lookout Pass Ski Area, which administers the concession.

The Route of the Hiawatha is one of 15 trails in the country to achieve Rail-Trail Hall of Fame status from the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy based in Washington D.C.

"Our estimates indicate the trail generates approximately $8 million in tourism dollars to the regional economy," Edholm said.

The trail is expected to reopen for the 2017 season on May 27.