North Dakota is a beautiful state with a lot of amazing places to go, beautiful things to see, and interesting things to do. Among all that good stuff is plenty of absolutely stunning hiking trails that lead adventurers through some of North Dakota’s most beautiful backcountry and landscapes. Thanks to North Dakota’s position firmly in the Badlands, a lot of its trails can seem to be very similar… except for the one we’re looking at today. This trail, known as the Ice Cave Loop near the town of Fairfield, is an easy loop trail that we consider one of the best hikes in North Dakota due to its sheer uniqueness. Check out this short-and-sweet adventure that feels like something from another world:
The Ice Cave Loop is a 2.1-mile loop trail that’s nestled in the woods near Fairfield.
James Greff/AllTrails Like many trails in North Dakota, this trail is seldom, if ever, crowded, and you’re not likely to run into a whole lot of others on the way - especially if you come out during the week instead of on a weekend.
It may be a brief jaunt through North Dakotan wilderness, but it’s not without its points of interest.
Cory Halverson/AllTrails You’ll encounter rolling hills, gorgeous gorges (see what we did there?), and even a set of shallow caves eroded into the cliffs.
Looking up as you traverse the bottom of the gorge is quite the experience.
Kai Engstroem/AllTrails Keep your eyes peeled, though, because the hidden caves you’ll find along the trail often have ice and snow in them as late as mid-July!
They’re not terribly deep and they aren’t technically true “caves,” but boy, are they fun!
Kai Engstroem/AllTrails One of our favorite things to do while we’re out here is to rest within these little grottos to recharge our energy. Sure, the hike is easy and brief and you may not require that much of a recharge, but you could always use a good reason to hang out in the caves.
The Ice Cave trail is managed by the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association, and sometimes, it’s closed for some reason or another.
James Greff/AllTrails To check and make sure Ice Cave Trail - or any trail under the care of the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association - is open, be sure to visit the official association website.
Come explore, and see why this is one of our all-time favorite picks for the best hikes in North Dakota.
Kai Engstroem/AllTrails
For more photos, as well as a map and some detailed reviews of this wonderful hike in North Dakota, check out the official AllTrails listing. Need some more ideas for your next adventure? Why not check out the rest of the Maah Daah Hey Trail?
James Greff/AllTrails
Like many trails in North Dakota, this trail is seldom, if ever, crowded, and you’re not likely to run into a whole lot of others on the way - especially if you come out during the week instead of on a weekend.
Cory Halverson/AllTrails
You’ll encounter rolling hills, gorgeous gorges (see what we did there?), and even a set of shallow caves eroded into the cliffs.
Kai Engstroem/AllTrails
Keep your eyes peeled, though, because the hidden caves you’ll find along the trail often have ice and snow in them as late as mid-July!
One of our favorite things to do while we’re out here is to rest within these little grottos to recharge our energy. Sure, the hike is easy and brief and you may not require that much of a recharge, but you could always use a good reason to hang out in the caves.
To check and make sure Ice Cave Trail - or any trail under the care of the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association - is open, be sure to visit the official association website.
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Address: Fairfield, ND, USA
