Explore the best rated trails in Peru, IN. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the North Judson Erie Trail and Sweetser Switch Trail. With more than 26 trails covering 3982 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 Monterey Erie Trail occupies the same railbanked corridor as the longer North Judson Erie Trail to its west, and the two rail-trails are planned to be linked in the future. The paved pathway...
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 Cardinal Greenway, the longest rail-trail in Indiana, connects Marion, Muncie, Losantville, Richmond and a host of other small towns in rural northeastern Indiana. The trail takes its name from...
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The Heritage Trail is nearly a 2-mile path located in Kasciusko county. It is part of a larger multi-use trail called the Lake City Greenway. The trail is just off of Winona Lake and also incorporates...
When envisioning a canal towpath trail, most people probably picture a path surfaced with crushed stone where mules once led barges up an adjacent canal. Indeed, this is what once occupied the site of...
The Nickel Plate Trail traverses rural Indiana from Rochester south to the outskirts of Kokomo, with a short gap in the middle in Peru. The rail-trail runs along the former corridor of the Peru &...
Completed in late 2015, the Converse Junction Trail provides 2 miles of smooth asphalt along a former Penn Central railroad line, linking the small Indiana communities of Converse and Mier. The trail...
Cattail Trail provides a pleasant route through West Lafayette, beginning in Pickett Memorial Park and winding north, making connections to the Purdue University campus. Along the way, you'll travel...
Columbia City’s Blue River Trail weaves throughout the small city along the banks of the Eel River, linking residents with schools, businesses, activity hubs and parks. The main trailhead, which...
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
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...
The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail isn't a single path, rather it's a system of hiking and biking pathways, spreading across the Town of Syracuse, Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. The trail system is 12 miles...
Indiana’s Panhandle Pathway follows a former Pennsylvania Railroad corridor out of Winamac south to Kenneth. Along the way, the trail links the communities of Star City, Thornhope, and Royal Center...
The North Judson Erie Trail occupies the railbanked right-of-way of the former JK Line Railroad, running 9 miles from downtown North Judson southeast to US 35 near Bass Lake. Eventually, the trail...
Although short at less than 1 mile long, the Paradise Spring Riverwalk Trail is well worth a trip. Located in eastern Wabash, the scenic loop trail winds through Paradise Spring Historical Park and...
The Little Turtle Waterway Trail covers 1 mile along the Wabash River and is part of a 5-acre park in downtown Logansport. The rail-trail part of the equation comes from what is called the Gateway,...
Visitors to the Delphi Historic Trails network can tour the historical town of Delphi in north-central Indiana by foot or bicycle—or skis in the winter—on old canal towpaths and former railroad...
The Sweetser Switch Trail is a “sweet” paved rail-trail and an important regional connector in spite of its short 4-mile length. The trail joins the 2-mile Converse Junction Trail in the west and a...
The River Bluff Trail follows the Eel River for 1.3 miles along an elevated, paved surface, traversing some wooded areas. There are no street crossings along the way; the trail stretches between SR...
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...
The Sweetser Switch Trail is a “sweet” paved rail-trail and an important regional connector in spite of its short 4-mile length. The trail joins the 2-mile Converse Junction Trail in the west and a...
Completed in late 2015, the Converse Junction Trail provides 2 miles of smooth asphalt along a former Penn Central railroad line, linking the small Indiana communities of Converse and Mier. The trail...
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A restored covered bridge that dates back to 1837 is the centerpiece of Noblesville’s White River Greenway, which opened in 1999. The level to gently rolling asphalt trail, which hugs the banks of the...
The Nickel Plate Trail traverses rural Indiana from Rochester south to the outskirts of Kokomo, with a short gap in the middle in Peru. The rail-trail runs along the former corridor of the Peru &...
The North Judson Erie Trail occupies the railbanked right-of-way of the former JK Line Railroad, running 9 miles from downtown North Judson southeast to US 35 near Bass Lake. Eventually, the trail...
Although short at less than 1 mile long, the Paradise Spring Riverwalk Trail is well worth a trip. Located in eastern Wabash, the scenic loop trail winds through Paradise Spring Historical Park and...
When envisioning a canal towpath trail, most people probably picture a path surfaced with crushed stone where mules once led barges up an adjacent canal. Indeed, this is what once occupied the site of...
The Lafayette Linear Park is a paved trail on the southern side of Lafayette, Indiana. The trail occupies a rail corridor once used by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway...
The Cardinal Greenway, the longest rail-trail in Indiana, connects Marion, Muncie, Losantville, Richmond and a host of other small towns in rural northeastern Indiana. The trail takes its name from...
The Little Turtle Waterway Trail covers 1 mile along the Wabash River and is part of a 5-acre park in downtown Logansport. The rail-trail part of the equation comes from what is called the Gateway,...
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
Cattail Trail provides a pleasant route through West Lafayette, beginning in Pickett Memorial Park and winding north, making connections to the Purdue University campus. Along the way, you'll travel...
The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail isn't a single path, rather it's a system of hiking and biking pathways, spreading across the Town of Syracuse, Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. The trail system is 12 miles...
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...
Columbia City’s Blue River Trail weaves throughout the small city along the banks of the Eel River, linking residents with schools, businesses, activity hubs and parks. The main trailhead, which...
_162070_sc.jpg)
The Big 4 Trail is a developing rail-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 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 Monterey Erie Trail occupies the same railbanked corridor as the longer North Judson Erie Trail to its west, and the two rail-trails are planned to be linked in the future. The paved pathway...
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...
The Heritage Trail is nearly a 2-mile path located in Kasciusko county. It is part of a larger multi-use trail called the Lake City Greenway. The trail is just off of Winona Lake and also incorporates...
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...
Cattail Trail provides a pleasant route through West Lafayette, beginning in Pickett Memorial Park and winding north, making connections to the Purdue University campus. Along the way, you'll travel...
The River Bluff Trail follows the Eel River for 1.3 miles along an elevated, paved surface, traversing some wooded areas. There are no street crossings along the way; the trail stretches between SR...
Visitors to the Delphi Historic Trails network can tour the historical town of Delphi in north-central Indiana by foot or bicycle—or skis in the winter—on old canal towpaths and former railroad...
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
The North Judson Erie Trail occupies the railbanked right-of-way of the former JK Line Railroad, running 9 miles from downtown North Judson southeast to US 35 near Bass Lake. Eventually, the trail...
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 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...
Completed in late 2015, the Converse Junction Trail provides 2 miles of smooth asphalt along a former Penn Central railroad line, linking the small Indiana communities of Converse and Mier. The trail...
The Nickel Plate Trail traverses rural Indiana from Rochester south to the outskirts of Kokomo, with a short gap in the middle in Peru. The rail-trail runs along the former corridor of the Peru &...
The Big 4 Trail is a developing rail-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...
Indiana’s Panhandle Pathway follows a former Pennsylvania Railroad corridor out of Winamac south to Kenneth. Along the way, the trail links the communities of Star City, Thornhope, and Royal Center...
The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail isn't a single path, rather it's a system of hiking and biking pathways, spreading across the Town of Syracuse, Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. The trail system is 12 miles...
The Sweetser Switch Trail is a “sweet” paved rail-trail and an important regional connector in spite of its short 4-mile length. The trail joins the 2-mile Converse Junction Trail in the west and a...
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...
The Cardinal Greenway, the longest rail-trail in Indiana, connects Marion, Muncie, Losantville, Richmond and a host of other small towns in rural northeastern Indiana. The trail takes its name from...
Columbia City’s Blue River Trail weaves throughout the small city along the banks of the Eel River, linking residents with schools, businesses, activity hubs and parks. The main trailhead, which...
Although short at less than 1 mile long, the Paradise Spring Riverwalk Trail is well worth a trip. Located in eastern Wabash, the scenic loop trail winds through Paradise Spring Historical Park and...
A restored covered bridge that dates back to 1837 is the centerpiece of Noblesville’s White River Greenway, which opened in 1999. The level to gently rolling asphalt trail, which hugs the banks of the...
The Monterey Erie Trail occupies the same railbanked corridor as the longer North Judson Erie Trail to its west, and the two rail-trails are planned to be linked in the future. The paved pathway...
Got 6 miles in starting by Muncie.
This portion of the trail is just as the other couple parts I've experienced.
The paved trail is mostly flat, level and equally shaded/open.
The one thing to be aware of is a couple bad spots/cracks in the pavement that could result in an ankle injury or biking issue, but this should not deter one from using the trail.
So as always, if in the area and want to get a couple miles in, this should do.
Today was my first rails to trails ride and this one was amazing. Love the scenery and I plan to add many more to my list and come back to this trail again.
This trail is shaded, and enjoyable — goes past farmland. I recommend a hybrid or mountain bike because some parts are bumpy old asphalt with some pea gravel. There are some roads to cross that are larger gravel. We got past thorntown and about 3-4 miles left of the trail to colfax was closed due to construction on a trail bridge. The workers said it should be open in a week or so. And you paved miles
A new favorite! We rode from the Carmel trailhead north to Sheridan and back. The trail was beautifully, freshly blacktopped in the Carmel area - but also very heavily trafficked (granted, it was a beautiful day and Labor Day weekend). Once we got a bit further north, the trail was still smoothly paved, but we had it largely to ourselves. The trail is well-shaded for much but not all of the stretch north to Sheridan.
So to be clear, we loved the trail. From here on, I'll focus on providing info you might find useful.
Be advised, the Monon in this stretch is not always very well marked. It's especially sketchily marked in the Westfield area, where we ended up making an accidental detour west on 186th Street. The problem is compounded by the fact that there are sidewalks and paved trails all around you in that area that to all appearances could be the Monon.
FWIW, going north from 186th you should be starting at the intersection of 186th and Wheeler Rd, which changes names to Tomlinson Rd north of the intersection. From 186th north, it's basically a straight shot and there's really no question about whether you're on the Monon.
The trail becomes gradually less suburban and more rural the farther north you go from 186th, and you end by riding past barns and cornfields in the Sheridan area.
At Sheridan the trail ends at an American Legion hall at 236th St. There are two or three gas stations a short ways east on 236th where you can get drinks/food and use the restroom, but you'll have to ride on-road to get to them unless you backtrack a bit on the trail and cut through the adjacent Biddle Memorial Park.
We'd like to go back and run the stretch from Carmel to downtown Indy, but we'll probably wait for a weekday when we hopefully can avoid some of the traffic on the trail.
From Rochester down to Peru is relatively level . Lots of whining on here about dangerous road crossings but it isn't like they surprise you. Just slow down or stop especially if the vegetation is tall. No problem. The section from Peru to Kokomo is definitely much more shaded and isolated. Not much water supply on this trail so make sure to fill up in Peru. I had no issues with bugs in August.
So as a birthday gift to myself, I drove up to the north end starting point of the trail.
One noticeable difference from the part of the trail down by Kokomo is that the there are mile markers at the northern part.
Now as noted in another review, the afternoon that I ran the trail, the flies were terrible..
The portion in Kokomo is much more shaded.
As noted in my previous review, the northern part is paved, flat and level.
It would be a bit of a drive from Kokomo, I was staying in Wabash, but if in the area, and want to get in a couple miles, either spot will do.
Enjoy.
Beautiful scenery! Peaceful & Quiet. The newer paved sections are awesome! It definately needs some attention to areas that are older. Even the gravely portions aren’t as bumpy as the older paved sections. Great afternoon ride. The parking area in Lebanon is well marked and even has tools if necessary.
Today was my first jog on the south end of the trail which I enjoyed. The small amount of trail that I ran by was well-kept and even blacked out some graffiti. That showed me that the trail is maintained which I appreciate. I drive a semi for a living which sometimes brings me to Kokomo. The hours in a semi are often quite long, so I try to get in a run when I’m stuck at a stop. This trail fit me well.
This trail is great for a exercising people who prefer a challenge. The trail is all uphill from Happy Hollow Park to Indian Trail Drive. About half way up, there is a nice side trail (even more challenging) with stairs that ends at N Salisbury St. I would not recommend this trail for anyone with any type of physical restriction.
Eaten alive by deer flies. Road crossings are EXTREMELY dangerous
This is another example of a 4.5 rating.
This is a very nice paved, flat, level path.
I parked near the bridge that crosses over route 35 and headed north.
The path runs through a rather rural/country area with a good bit of trees/shade.
So as always, if in the area and want to get a couple miles in, give this a run.
It looks like a good trail for an enjoyable and possible long bike ride as well.
Maybe if I'm ever back in the area....
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