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 46 trails covering 220 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.
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The Centennial Trail lies in a pleasant neighborhood of the same name in southwestern Westfield, about 15 miles north of Indianapolis. The trail crisscrosses a broad stretch of open space along...
The Carey Road Trail offers a straight north-south route through southeastern Westfield. It parallels the eastern side of the roadway through rural areas and residential communities, including the...
The Bridgewater Club Trail surrounds an upscale neighborhood of the same name, providing residents with easy access to the community's many amenities, including a golf course, fitness center and spa....
The Columbus People Trail offers an easy and convenient way for residents in this small Indiana city to get around by bike or on foot. The network comprises more than 15 miles of sidewalks, on-road...
The straight, paved Pennsy Trail—not to be confused with the Pennsy Greenway located farther north in the Chicago suburbs—occupies a portion of the old right-of-way of the Pennsylvania Railroad...
Located in the heart of vibrant downtown Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an ideal way to experience all the city has to offer. The trail links five cultural districts flush with...
The Putnam Nature Trail begins in Greencastle, the home of DePauw University. The trail is part of the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT), a proposed 150-mile trail across Indiana along the former...
White Lick Creek Trail is the north-south spine of the Plainfield trail system, connecting several parks and the Plainfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. On its northern end, the trail meets the...
The Limestone Greenway follows the former Illinois Central Railroad for 1.7 miles south of Bloomington. It's a smooth, asphalt trail that's easy enough for people of all ages to enjoy. The pathway...
The Pleasant Run Trail travels along both the creek and road of the same name as it courses through eastern Indianapolis, although the trail is located on sidewalks in certain areas. In the north, the...
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The Henry County segment of the National Road Heritage Trail runs for nearly 5 miles over two segments. One runs from N. West Street in Raysville east to CR 425 W in Ogden (2 miles); the other between...
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The Big 4 Rail Trail is a developing trail route across Boone County that will one day span 50 miles. Currently, two disconnected segments of the rail-trail are open. The name is a reference to the...
The Bloomington Rail Trail is a 2-mile segment of crushed stone that runs through a suburban wooded corridor. The trail extends between W. Country Club Drive in the north and Church Lane in the...
The White River Wapahani Trail is nearly 7 miles long, stretching from 38th Street at Riverside Regional Park south to W. Raymond Street. Near downtown Indianapolis, the trail provides access to White...
Much of the Midland Trace Trail is still in the planning and development stage; however, three short, disconnected segments totaling nearly 2.5 miles have been constructed as of 2013. When...
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The White River Greenway brings residents of Martinsville to the river, for rest, for relaxation and for education. The asphalt trail begins at Old Town Waverly Park, and follows the river's course...
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Crossing from one end of Shelbyville to the other, the Blue River Trail provides a safe way for residents to walk or bike to a number of parks whilst enjoying the proximity to the city's beloved...
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Providing a slice of scenic beauty in an urban setting, the Fall Creek Trail follows the titular creek along a quiet, forested corridor in northern Indianapolis. Offering a variety of recreation...
The 106th Street path is a smooth asphalt connector linking the communities of Zionsville and Carmel. The trail begins on Pennsylvania St. in Carmel, crosses US 31 and then continues alongside the...
The Central Canal Towpath, also known as the IWC Canal Greenway, features two 19th-century iron bridges that cross the waterway, designated an American Water Landmark. As you follow the tree-lined,...
Railroads helped Indianapolis grow into a transportation hub and manufacturing center beginning in the 1850s. One of those early railways that shaped the city’s future is remembered today along the...
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Bloomington's Clear Creek Trail runs between Tapp Road in the north and the Blooming Rail Trail in the south, linking with the latter just north of Church Lane. Although the Clear Creek Trail is...
Crossing from one end of Shelbyville to the other, the Blue River Trail provides a safe way for residents to walk or bike to a number of parks whilst enjoying the proximity to the city's beloved...
The Vandalia Trail is the longest open component of the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT), a proposed border-to-border trail stretching between Terre Haute and Richmond, a span of more than 150...
The Centennial Trail lies in a pleasant neighborhood of the same name in southwestern Westfield, about 15 miles north of Indianapolis. The trail crisscrosses a broad stretch of open space along...
Wilbur Wright Trail will one day extend from New Castle (in Henry County) to Losantville (in Randolph County), where it will connect to the Cardinal Greenway, the longest rail-trail in Indiana. The...
Providing a slice of scenic beauty in an urban setting, the Fall Creek Trail follows the titular creek along a quiet, forested corridor in northern Indianapolis. Offering a variety of recreation...
The B-Line Trail in Bloomington runs for 3 miles between Adams Street (near the railroad tracks) and West Country Club Drive. The trail passes through downtown Bloomington and by a railroad...
White Lick Creek Trail is the north-south spine of the Plainfield trail system, connecting several parks and the Plainfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. On its northern end, the trail meets the...
The Natalie Wheeler Trail provides a straight north-south route along Union Street/Westfield Boulevard in the Indianapolis metro area. Although it parallels the roadway, the trail's western side is...
This trail travels 3.2 miles atop an asphalt path beside the Ronald Reagan Parkway in Avon, Indiana. Starting at County Road 300 N, the trail heads south connecting to the B&O Trail via an underpass....
The Bridgewater Club Trail surrounds an upscale neighborhood of the same name, providing residents with easy access to the community's many amenities, including a golf course, fitness center and spa....
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The Big 4 Rail Trail will one day stretch 50-plus miles across Boone County, from the northern suburbs of Indianapolis to Lafayette. The Big 4 in the trail name refers to the old Cleveland,...
The Franklin Greenway Trail (also known as the Franklin Historic Trail) is 3.4 miles of paths threading through Franklin’s parks while connecting community amenities such as schools, community centers...
The P&E Trail begins at the corner of Main Street, 16th Street and Crawfordsville Road in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave of Indianapolis. This eastern endpoint of the trail is just a stone’s throw away...
Much of the Midland Trace Trail is still in the planning and development stage; however, three short, disconnected segments totaling nearly 2.5 miles have been constructed as of 2013. When...
The Milwaukee Road Transportation Trailway will one day stretch 20 miles through southwestern Indiana from Bedford to Indian Springs. The region’s rural beauty will be showcased along the way with...
The White River Greenway in Anderson, IN is approximately 4.89 miles paved (with a small section of boardwalk) along the White River and continues approximately 1.7 miles unpaved. It links multiple...
The Columbus People Trail offers an easy and convenient way for residents in this small Indiana city to get around by bike or on foot. The network comprises more than 15 miles of sidewalks, on-road...
The straight, paved Pennsy Trail—not to be confused with the Pennsy Greenway located farther north in the Chicago suburbs—occupies a portion of the old right-of-way of the Pennsylvania Railroad...
Providing a slice of scenic beauty in an urban setting, the Fall Creek Trail follows the titular creek along a quiet, forested corridor in northern Indianapolis. Offering a variety of recreation...
The Bridgewater Club Trail surrounds an upscale neighborhood of the same name, providing residents with easy access to the community's many amenities, including a golf course, fitness center and spa....
The P&E Trail begins at the corner of Main Street, 16th Street and Crawfordsville Road in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave of Indianapolis. This eastern endpoint of the trail is just a stone’s throw away...
Located in the heart of vibrant downtown Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an ideal way to experience all the city has to offer. The trail links five cultural districts flush with...
The Franklin Greenway Trail (also known as the Franklin Historic Trail) is 3.4 miles of paths threading through Franklin’s parks while connecting community amenities such as schools, community centers...
Bloomington’s Polly Grimshaw Trail is a short rail-with-trail that provides a crucial link from the city’s east side to State Route 45, close to Indiana University. The trail runs between apartments...
This 7-mile Indianapolis trail is worth keeping an eye on: the vision for the Eagle Creek Trail is a 16-mile corridor reaching from the hills of Eagle Park to White River. The greenway will provide...
The Limestone Greenway follows the former Illinois Central Railroad for 1.7 miles south of Bloomington. It's a smooth, asphalt trail that's easy enough for people of all ages to enjoy. The pathway...
The Putnam Nature Trail begins in Greencastle, the home of DePauw University. The trail is part of the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT), a proposed 150-mile trail across Indiana along the former...
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The Big 4 Rail Trail will eventually connect all of Boone County, from the Marion County line to the south, to the Clinton County line to the north. A large portion of the trail is already complete....
The Bloomington Rail Trail is a 2-mile segment of crushed stone that runs through a suburban wooded corridor. The trail extends between W. Country Club Drive in the north and Church Lane in the...
The B&O Trail, which is being developed along a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corridor in Indiana, is planned to one day stretch more than 60 miles from Indianapolis to Montezuma. The paved...
This trail travels 3.2 miles atop an asphalt path beside the Ronald Reagan Parkway in Avon, Indiana. Starting at County Road 300 N, the trail heads south connecting to the B&O Trail via an underpass....
Crossing from one end of Shelbyville to the other, the Blue River Trail provides a safe way for residents to walk or bike to a number of parks whilst enjoying the proximity to the city's beloved...
The Centennial Trail lies in a pleasant neighborhood of the same name in southwestern Westfield, about 15 miles north of Indianapolis. The trail crisscrosses a broad stretch of open space along...
The White River Greenway in Anderson, IN is approximately 4.89 miles paved (with a small section of boardwalk) along the White River and continues approximately 1.7 miles unpaved. It links multiple...
The Big 4 Rail Trail will one day stretch 50-plus miles across Boone County, from the northern suburbs of Indianapolis to Lafayette. The Big 4 in the trail name refers to the old Cleveland,...
The Greyhound Trail is sandwiched between a residential community and the Carmel High School Stadium. A portion of the trail follows the former North Indianapolis Electric Interurban Railroad, and a...
This linear recreational trail allows residents of Avon to connect to the B&O Trail in neighboring Brownsburg without having to drive to it. The trail starts on Country Road 100 and takes a straight...
The Vandalia Trail is the longest open component of the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT), a proposed border-to-border trail stretching between Terre Haute and Richmond, a span of more than 150...
This trail has a lot of potential so for the life of me I can't understand why the city of Columbus doesn't take advantage of it more by making tweaks that seem so simple to me. There are probably some restaurants along the way but I couldn't look for them I was so busy trying to figure out where the h*** I was supposed to go without getting hit by a car. Parts of this trail are very nice but it's disconnected at numerous points along the way and there is no signage whatsoever for guidance. Absolutely NO SIGNAGE AT ALL. ANYWHERE. You can wind up taking a wrong turn because this trail intersects with others, as we did, and take your $2000 bike into a mudslide area, as we did. And if it's rained at all before your visit, plan on a swampy ride. If you are a local it might be okay, but if you aren't and are looking for a nice ride, I'd go somewhere else. Not impressed. We won't be back.
In my summer tour of Indiana bike trails, I had to experience the infamous Monon Trail. I was not disappointed. It is a well marked, well maintained trail that offers a variety of scenery. The portion that takes you from Westfield south through Carmel is absolutely beautiful: shaded, wide, newly paved. Carmel, Westfield, and Broad Ripple offer many places to stop and eat right along the path. This section is popular and can be a bit busy, however.
The section north of Westfield leading to Sheridan offers a completely different, rural feel. A straight, flat, shaded trail takes you through the middle of farmland as you will see nothing but crops to your right and to your left. It is also very desolate; it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere and you will not see many other people on the path or elsewhere, but a pleasant piece of the trail with some nice views.
If you are interested in conquering two paths in a couple days, you may want to consider doing what I did: I stayed at a Hampton Inn in Westfield (the trail literally passes within 5 feet of the parking lot), rode the Monon in one day. The next day I hopped in the car and headed north to the Nickel Plate trail, which is just a 30 minute drive up Rt. 31 to the southern trailhead. Spent the next day riding the Nickel Plate.
There are presently trees down on the trail following a storm (Probably July 11 or 12, 2020). The route is very blocked by bridge number 8, though walkers have moved around one side. This looked too difficult for us to navigate with bicycles. There is a large tree down over the path just east of bridge 16, approx. mile 4.7. It is possible to walk a bicycle under this tree. I do not know where or how to report these. Love the trail, good shade and good condition and beautiful.
The scenery along the creek and fields was beautiful.
Little challenging ride! Morse beach beautiful view along with potters bridge!
Rode from Syd's Tavern and finished back at Syd's had a great ride, but even a better lunch!!!
Great tree canopy for majority of trail, the bait shop and Williams Dam are must sees. First few miles from Bedford start need attention, stone should be crushed and packed down and many wash outs need to be addressed
I was not happy with the 2 Posts method of limiting trail traffic. I found them very intimidating to ride slowly through. How would a parent using the wide 2-child trailer be able to use this portion of the trail?
Short tree lined trail, great for a walk or bike ride. Hopefully they will continue to extend this trail over time. Does connect to Clear Creek trail. Great parking areas on Church.
Great peaceful ride around Columbus. When not on trail, the path is on quiet city streets. The only small issue is on the south end of trail because you need to cross some busy city streets.
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