Description
Indiana's Panhandle Pathway links Winamac to Kenneth and communities in between, 21 miles of paved cycling, skating and walking. This spectacular rail-trail passes through bucolic Midwestern farmland, which seems to stretch across the horizon. Trail users will experience a unique and dramatic vista less than 1 mile south of the Winamac trailhead, where the trail crosses the Tippecanoe River.
This rail-trail follows the old rail bed of the Pennsylvania Railroad line (aka, the Pennsylvania Panhandle Railroad) southward across other waterways, including Mill Creek, Indian Creek, Crooked Creek and other smaller brooks. The trail also passes through the Wabash valley, Star City, Thornhope and Royal Center.
Trail users will find amenities in Winamac, Star City (no gasoline) and Royal Center, as well as picnic tables at the Royal Center trailhead and the end south of US24. Benches are provided all along the trail, and its terminus in Kenneth you'll find benches, picnic tables and a bike rack. As yet there are no restrooms or drinking fountains on the trail itself.
The trail is managed and maintained by volunteers with the Friends of the Panhandle Pathway. Future plans include adding interpretive signs, connecting the rail-trail to France Park (east of the Kenneth trailhead), connecting to the old depot in downtown Winamac, connecting to the Tippecanoe River State park and possibly connecting with other Indiana trails.
Parking and Trail Access
The Winamac (north) terminus is at the intersection of CR West 150 S. & CR South 50 E., off of US 35 just south of Winamac. The trailhead is visible from the intersection. Take County Road 150 E and turn west; the trailhead is on the south side of CR S 150 E and on the east side of S 50 E.
The Kenneth (south) terminus is at the intersection of CR West 50 N. & the Pathway. Turn north on CR 600 W. and go about 0.5 mile north; turn east on CR 50 N. and go about 0.5 mile to intersect the Pathway. The trailhead is on the northeast corner.
In Royal Center the trailhead is at the west end of Kramer Street on the south side of town.
In Star City the trailhead is on Key Street near Railroad Street.
By
lovelylady1
in
September, 2012
My husband and I traveled from Hobart, Ind. to Winamac, Panhandle Trail (Sept 19, 2012). Not yet Fall, but the weather was beautiful for a bike ride. (We ride a lot in our area of Northwest Indiana trails). We began our ride at CR150, there is parking ...
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Nice April ride
By
abn2nds
in
April, 2012
We rode the trail April 24, 2012. Started at the south trailhead and rode to Indian Creek then back, about 11 miles. Stopped and took some photos of the creeks we crossed along the ride. Very nice paved trail, small shops along the way in Royal Center, ...
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A wonderful ride!
By
tomhealey
in
July, 2011
I rode this trail from Winamac to end and back on July 27, 2011. A great ride. The surface is in pristine shape (a crew was out repairing a short stretch when I went southbound, and the repair was virtually unnoticable on my return trip) and the grade ...
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