Looking for the best trails around Carmel?

Explore the best rated trails in Carmel, IN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Sweetser Switch Trail and Lafayette Linear Park . With more than 60 trails covering 4137 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.

Recent Trail Reviews

Pennsy Trail (IN)

Excellent Ride

May, 2025 by tac400

This trail was a very enjoyable ride. It was flat, pretty much straight and had many little spurs to get off to different parts of the area. I connects to the 3 mile long Buck Creek Trail and a very close connection to the Pleasant Run Trail (8 miles approx) so you can get a good amount of miles in with these trail connectors. They have a solar System Kiosk system with information about the Sun and the 8 closest planets (Mercury to Neptune). The trail itself looks new, especially in certain parts of it. It is well maintained and has good signage, although these have some gang signs on them. Some parts have absolutely no wind protection and other parts have solid trees on both sides of the trail. There is a little music area that you can play musical instruments and benches are plentiful.

Pleasant Run Trail

Depressing Trail

May, 2025 by tac400

Wow! This could be the worst trail I have ridden in years or ever. The trail rides from Ellenberger Park to Garfield Park. It was filthy with dirt on the trails, signage, while mostly helpful, was faded and/or had gang signs on them. I was ducking overhanging branches and pot holes/bumps for much of it along with riding through homeless tent city. There were a couple of intersections where it would've helped to have signage but as a first time rider, I was able to stick to the trail the whole time. This trail, in all honesty, has a lot of potential but it feels very neglected to say the least. Come on Indy, lets do better with this. It was so poor that I instead used roads instead of the trail to get back to my car.

Franciscan Trail

Excellent Short Trail

May, 2025 by tac400

This trail was top notch. It is a connection from Hornet Park to Bolton Park. Winding around a creek for much of the way, very new looking, clean with good signage. Parking on both ends of the trail. Probably best for running or walking due to the short distance but I must experience for trail lovers. It does not connect or have any near connections to any other trails.

Accordion

Big 4 Trail (Lebanon to Colfax)

Great Trail-Maintenance needed

May, 2025 by aringtonjw64

This is one of the best trails in the central Indiana region but is in need of significant maintenance where pavement is buckling. For at least 2 miles from the trailhead in Lebanon toward Thorntown, the bumps are severe. Also, either side of Thorntown for about a mile each direction is just as bad. At the very least, the areas should be highlighted with paint. It has been this way for a couple of years now...does Boone County not care about the upkeep of this trail?

P&E Trail

we love this trail!

April, 2025 by gerrip_tl

This trail runs right by our house, we use it daily for walking our dog, and getting to/from Main Street.

White Lick Creek Trail (Avon)

Very pretty underated trail

April, 2025 by indypcplus

This trail goes along the beautiful White Lick creek and goes under the haunted train bridge. A must if you are biking!

B&O Trail

We rode 17 miles total, and stopped for a picnic at the nature park. Trail is in great condition and is very scenic. We witnessed the expansion going eastwards as the crew was laying asphalt. What a wonderful asset to the community.

April, 2025 by ldewyse1

We rode 17 miles total, and stopped for a picnic at the nature park. Trail is in great condition and is very scenic. We witnessed the expansion going eastwards as the crew was laying asphalt. What a wonderful asset to the community.

Great American Rail-Trail

Warden to Lind

April, 2025 by howmarplus3

Ok section, kind of dull. Agriculture & cows. Found a bit of shade by a grain elevator for lunch. Several washouts filled with tumbleweeds as you get closer to Lind.

Indianapolis Cultural Trail

It’s been extended

January, 2025 by slcurts

The northwest corner of the trail shown on this map now extends along Indiana Avenue and along 10th Street, and also there’s a new stretch along South Street.

Fall Creek Trail (IN)

It’s been extended

January, 2025 by slcurts

The west end of the trail now continues along Fall Creek to Burdsal Parkway and then to the White River trail, and it also intersects with the new extension of the Canal Towpath.

Central Canal Towpath

It’s been extended

January, 2025 by slcurts

The south end is no longer at 30th St; it now follows the canal down to Burdsal Parkway. From there it connects both to the Fall Creek Trail and to a new trail whose name I don’t even know, that goes south to Indiana Avenue, where it connects to a new extension of the Cultural Trail which takes you downtown. If you follow that to the east end, it connects to the Monon Trail which will loop you back to the north end of this trail.

Great American Rail-Trail

such a beautiful trail!

October, 2024 by sherryschie

We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved it!!!

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