The northern segment of the Nickel Plate Trail runs for 20 miles between Peru in the south and Rochester in the north. When complete, the trail will be 40+ miles long, following the former rail corridor of the old Norfolk and Southern Railroad from Kokomo to Rochester. The trail is nearly complete, with 3.6-mile gap through the town of Peru; plans call for extending it south into Kokomo and north into Rochester. Pick up the
Peru to Cassville section at Wallick Road, south of Peru and Wabash River.
The trail courses through the Indiana countryside, passing through the communities of Denver, Deedsville, Birmingham, and Macy. Part of the trail is shaded in summer and the landscape is a mix of trees, cultivated fields and small-town neighborhoods. Amenities are available in the towns.
Access and parking is available in all the towns along the way. Park at Lovers Lane north of Peru, at 1st Street in Denver (where the trail crosses the road), in Deedsville at W. 1000 N, in Birmingham at W. 1180 N, in Macy at Walnut Street and south of Rochester at Judy Burton Nature Preserve.
We parked at the trailhead at Lover's Lane and biked toward Rochester. As noted there are no restrooms and no water on the trail so come prepared. The trail starts out with a 2 mile easy grade climb. You seem to be climbing up a ridge. This is the "steepest" ...
Ride this trail in the fall . . . the wildflowers are abundant, the fields are golden, and the temperatures perfect. There is very little tree cover, so summer temperatures could be brutal. The trail is mostly flat and smooth, and there are frequent stops ...
This trail is nice and long. Almost 40 miles long! Typically I ride the trail from Peru to Miami and back (20 mi, round trip) and it is smooth and a great endurance builder for biking. You will have to stop at roads (cross traffic does not stop, but there ...