Northern Cass Pass provides a straight north-south route connecting the friendly, rural communities of Arthur (slogan: "small town, big heart") and Hunter, about 35 miles from Fargo. As it parallels Old Highway 18, the pathway offers a non-motorized alternative to the roadway for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians.
The rail-trail follows what was once the Casselton-Mayville railroad line of Great Northern Pacific; the corridor was later acquired by Burlington Northern. In 2012, the rails and ties were removed and, the following year, the corridor was purchased by the Joint Powers Authority, which was formed by the park boards of the communities of Hunter and Arthur. In 2014, work to repair the route's three railroad bridges began, native tree plantings were added, and the surface of the old rail bed was compacted, graded, and smoothed. In 2018, much of the trail was paved and the remainder is expected to be completed in 2019.
There are trailheads at the northern and southern endpoints in Hunter and Arthur respectively.
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