Pumpkinvine Nature Trail (Middlebury):
Indiana
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Description:
When complete, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail will cover 16 miles (with 1.5 miles on-road) between Goshen and Shipshewana. An additional 9 miles of trail will link Goshen with Elkhart via the MapleHart Trail.

The Middlebury segment consists of one section that is nearly 7 miles long, between Wayne Street in Middlebury and CR 850 W. in Shipshewana. From here you can take CR 250 N. into Shipshewana. The trail has a 160-foot wooden trestle across the Little Elkhart River and also goes past Krider World's Fair Garden park. Another 1.2-mile segment runs between CR 35 and CR 37 south of Middlebury (completion in June 2012).

The railroad line between Goshen and Middlebury was a popular passenger route at the turn of the 20th century, and its numerous curves and turns led to its nickname after the rambling pumpkin vine. The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail links urban areas, small towns and agricultural communities throughout one of Indiana's largest Amish communities. Roughly 2 miles southwest of the southern terminus, you can pick up the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Goshen section.

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Parking & Trail Access:
Parking for the trail is available near the intersection of County Roads 37 and 22, south of US 20. Parking is also available at Krider Garden in Middlebury as well as at the Town Hall. There is limited parking at the intersection of the trail with County Road 43, about 0.75 mile north of County Road 16. In Shipshewana there are several parking lots. For more information see the local map.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Camels
By jdyoder in April, 2012
At the farm on the southwest corner of 1100 W and the Pumpkinvine, there are seven camels that are often out grazzing in the field. I'm told that the farmer is raising them for their milk. The parking lot at CR 43 east of Middlebury now has a gravel surface, a map, bench and a trash container.
New section of the Pumpkinvine is a joy
By jdyoder in December, 2011
This section of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail opened in Sept. 2011. In Middlebury, you can park at the Town Hall just north of the Dairy Queen. Enter the trail from the DQ parking lost. Due to complications with crossing State Road 4, there is a 337 foot gap from the DQ parking lot to the trail. You can ride or walk the path through the woods from the parking lot to the trail -- no big deal. From there the 10-foot trail travels east in a mostly shaded corridor. There is a rest room at CR 43 and also a parking lot there. The trail is used heavily by local Amish families. It is a great way to see working farms, cattle, horses and at County Road 850W camels. The trail on the east end stops at County Road 850W, about .5 miles from the center of Shipshewana. (They are working to find an off-road route downtown.) You can take County Road 250 N into down. It has a wide shoulder for most of the way. Places to park in Shipshewana include the Wolf building and Town Center. Do not park across the street from the trail's end at 850W (Ed's Supply) unless you want your car towed.
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