North Dakota only has one railroad tunnel and it was never even used. Despite being built to allow passage of trains, a train has never been through it – not once. What has been through it, however, is hundreds of people using it as part of a hiking trail that has become a special feature of the state. The area is scenic, the tunnel is one of a kind, and the experience is unlike any other.
Unfortunately, this may not be forever. You should act fast if you want to take the hike through this tunnel. As time takes its toll on the tunnel, repair costs have gone up, and though there are groups fighting to save the tunnel the outlook currently does not look good. Check it out before it’s gone:
To take this hike, you will have to head to the very western edge of North Dakota near the town of Cartwright. Here, you will find the Fairview Lift Bridge.
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The bridge is within the Sundheim Park and Recreation Area, which has created a hiking trail across the bridge and to North Dakota’s only railroad tunnel. Both were built over a century ago in 1913.
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Along with the tunnel and bridge, the trail includes a park among the rolling prairie hills of western North Dakota. It is truly a quiet, peaceful, and beautiful hike.
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The tunnel itself can be a bit daunting to some - it is completely dark, and as of now is falling into disrepair and may not be able to be fixed.
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The walk through the Cartwright Tunnel is still popular and many people want to save it before it gets sealed off or imploded. As of now, you can still hike it - and you may never have the chance to do it again.
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If you can’t get out to do this hike, watch the video below to get an idea of the experience.
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The tunnel never saw any trains go through it despite being built for just that purpose. Soon, it may never even see any people through it either. You can check out Friends of the Fairview Bridge for more information on trying to save the tunnel. If funds can’t be raised to repair it, it will no longer be able to be hiked and will be the end of North Dakota’s one and only railroad tunnel.
Click here for more awesome historic spots in the Peace Garden State.
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Address: 15834 ND-200, Fairview, ND 59221, USA
