Explore the best rated trails in Franklin, IN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bicentennial Trail and 106th Street Path . With more than 58 trails covering 298 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
After the monon and nickel plate trail this is the 3rd best in the region
2024 - we live 1 mile from the trail and can get to it pretty easy. The ride is great. All asphalt and in great shape. Several main roads have to be crossed but all have signal lights to help. Tilden is no longer the end of the trail. There is another ~ 3 miles of new asphalt west of Tilden. A new parking lot was added at 300/900. Enjoy. It’s or go to for weekly rides.
Started at Colfax park and rode through Thorntown to Lebanon. After a break, rode back to starting point. Right at 30mi roundtrip. Sections of trail inside town limits were very bumpy from roots. Probably older original trail sections. Rural sections newer and smooth.
My wife and I rode this in early June 2024 not knowing what to expect, but it was a wonderful experience! The trail is well maintained though the west half was not at the same level as the eastern half. Being a rail trail the inclines and declines were gentle, but given the terrain, constant. Make sure your ebike batteries are fully charged!
A short 1.47 miles, paved with slight inclines, clean and quiet. Parked in Chesterfield behind the airport at the American legion, it's free, good spot for a trailhead. Watches some planes take off. Raced a squirrel.
We're in our 60s and like medium length rides that arent too strenuous.
We started our ride at the west end trailhead at Williams Indiana right by the dam. You have to take a very curvy highway 450 to get there, but the experience was worth it. When you get to Williams, as you exit 450 and head to the boat ramp, go slowly, look to the left and you will see the trail, but there is no signage. There is plenty of parking near the dam. Starting at the end, which is mile marker 10.5, we went 7 miles to mile marker 3.5 and turned around. Most of the trail is in shade through some beautiful hardwood forests with constant bird songs. Every half mile is marked on a post or boulder. Trail surface is compacted gravel in fair condition with a few small washouts to watch for. We dont have wide tires and did OK. Bridges and approaches in fair condition, some bridge deck boards will need attention soon. Weed control is good. Some small branches hanging low over the trail. The first 2 miles or so out of Williams are mostly uphill, about 2 percent grade, then some ups and downs, then about 3 miles of downhill to mp 3.5. These grades are a little steeper than we have encountered on other rails to trails. There are no services on this segment, and weak cellphone signal. And a note to E-bike riders: PLEASE announce your approach to other bikers from behind WELL IN ADVANCE because you typically travel much faster than us pedalers. Enjoy! by kcwyks of Missouri
We're in our 60s and like medium length rides that arent too strenuous.
We started our ride at the west end trailhead at Williams Indiana right by the dam. You have to take a very curvy highway 450 to get there, but the experience was worth it. When you get to Williams, as you exit 450 and head to the boat ramp, go slowly, look to the left and you will see the trail, but there is no signage. There is plenty of parking near the dam. Starting at the end, which is mile marker 10.5, we went 7 miles to mile marker 3.5 and turned around. Most of the trail is in shade through some beautiful hardwood forests with constant bird songs. Every half mile is marked on a post or boulder. Trail surface is compacted gravel in fair condition with a few small washouts to watch for. We dont have wide tires and did OK. Bridges and approaches in fair condition, some bridge deck boards will need attention soon. Weed control is good. Some small branches hanging low over the trail. The first 2 miles or so out of Williams are mostly uphill, about 2 percent grade, then some ups and downs, then about 3 miles of downhill to mp 3.5. These grades are a little steeper than we have encountered on other rails to trails. There are no services on this segment, and weak cellphone signal. And a note to E-bike riders: PLEASE announce your approach to other bikers from behind WELL IN ADVANCE because you typically travel much faster than us pedalers. Enjoy! by kcwyks of Missouri
Trail was all grass and tall at some points. Me and my 2 kids got bit up super bad though by mosquitoes. Spiders webs and mosquitoes are horrible.
I'm just passing this along I found it on the Green Castle chatter . It was post by
Dena Mancuso Ferguson.
I was walking my dogs on the Hamrick Station Trail off Manhattan rd. Around the 1 mile mark there are some coyotes likely w pups. My dogs briefly tussled w one and I was able to call them off. As I was walking back another one popped out of the woods and started barking at us. I yelled at it and it went back in the woods. I wanted to give a heads up. I have big dogs and they’re fine but a smaller dog could get hurt.
As with most rail trails, this one has tons of invasives. Seems like it was in need of mowing and pruning the sides. It’s asphalt the entire way now which is nice. The bumps are not terrible, and the worst ones are painted in orange. It’s definitely worth doing once if you are from out of the area like me. However it doesn’t have a lot of features compared to some other trails I have been on. For some reason I prefer the Nickel Plate and Converse/Sweetser trails northeast of here. Still 4 out of 5 stars for me.
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