Hidden away, out in McKenzie County, North Dakota, is a hiking trail unlike any other in the state. It is as eerie as it is beautiful and as fascinating as it is old. It leads to somewhere special, with a view unlike any other in the entire state: it’s the old Fairview Lift Bridge & Tunnel hike, and boy, is it something. This is more than just some hike to an abandoned tunnel in North Dakota; this is a trail with a story to tell if you’re willing to hear it. It’s one of my favorite hikes in North Dakota just because of how unique it is. Check it out!

This is the Fairview Lift Bridge, also known as the Great Northern Railway Bridge 3.2, and it's something to behold.
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Should you feel like exploring it, you're in luck: There's a hike that leads right to it.
Known as the Fairview Bridge & Cartwright Tunnel Trail, this delightfully spooky adventure leads you right up to the main attraction.
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It's easy to reach, too - just take State Route 200 to Sundheim Park, which is hard to miss thanks to its position on the Yellowstone River.
From there, you'll see it: The Fairview Lift Bridge, in all its wondrous glory.
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Folks who are fascinated by bridges are sure to absolutely adore this one. Even if you're NOT into bridges, I'm pretty sure you'll still be impressed (I was!).

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The view from up there is awesome and unlike anything you've probably ever seen in North Dakota.
Jbeaux/TripAdvisor
It's not every day you get to overlook an island out here. But hey, just because we're landlocked doesn't mean we don't have islands... apparently.
If you follow the path to the bridge, you can continue until you reach my personal favorite part: the tunnel.
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The bridge - and this tunnel - have been abandoned and unused since the 1980s, making for more than three decades of adventure for those brave enough to take it on.
The Cartwright Tunnel is a wonder in and of itself.
Jbeaux/TripAdvisor
It's just over 1,450 feet in length and it was dug - get this - mostly by HAND. It's the longest tunnel in all of North Dakota, and it, of course, has plenty of spooky legends surrounding it.
They say the body of J.C. Collins, a local outlaw, is encased in concrete in one of the abutments of the bridge.
NDfrmboy/TripAdvisor
Rumor has it that the entire area is haunted, and THAT'S why it was all left for gone; but no - there were many factors that led to the end of its lifetime (if you could say it ever had one).

The trail is obvious once you reach the bridge, so keep your eye out. For more information about the trail, its history, and what to expect, check out the information provided by the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy. Not sure what to bring along? No worries – our handy-dandy hiking trip packing list ought to ensure you don’t forget a thing. Oh, and fun fact: Cross the bridge, and suddenly you’re in Montana!

What are your favorite hikes in North Dakota? Let me know!

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