Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Carmel, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Rode this trail from the courthouse in Lebanon out almost to Colfax on April 12, 2026. As others have mentioned, there are some bumpy spots (roots upheaving the trail) near Thorntown, so just slow down there. And there's a half-mile stretch where it's a bit overgrown, but still easily passable. Overall, it a great trail and bit of a hidden gem. Very wide in some places; more-so than the B&O trail. Rode a total of 25 miles and just saw a handful of people. There are only a few road crossings and most of those are out in the country, with no traffic. We stopped at Klooz Brewz afterward for some nourishment. It was great!
Great path, had some elevated spots. You do cross two moderate used roads but the path has excellent markings for vehicles.
We ride this trail a lot but always dread the section passing through Thorntown. The bumps in the trail are one thing as not cheap to repave but the overhanging honeysuckle is easily remedied. We often start on the south side of Thorntown and ride to Lebanon just to avoid this bone rattling stretch.
For many years, I lived in Richmond about half a mile from where the Cardinal Greenway and Gorge trail meet and have spent hundreds of hours riding a bike on the trail. It is by far the best greenway I have used in Indiana and might be my favorite trail of all time. I now live further away, but plan to make drive at least a few times this year to ride on it again.
Here are the highlights:
1. The trail is long. You can spend hours on the trail without having to loop. I'm looking forward to it becoming even longer too as it combines to form a segment of the Great American Rail Trail.
2. It's smooth. There are a few parts here and there that have worn, but overall, the organization does a superb job of keeping up with wear and damage. They also seem to have a robust crowd of volunteers who mow and keep the trail clean and tidy.
3. The trailheads are some of the best I've seen on trails. They are numerous and offer more amenities that many other greenways. Most have a decent amount of parking. Several have drinking fountains and bike tools. During the warm months, they also put out Porta Potties. Of course, there's also small towns along the way with various amenities.
4. The Indiana countryside is beautiful, especially on a sunny spring or summer day. I gained a new appreciation for rural Indiana. Beautiful small, but rolling hills with green pastures and grazing cattle. Small towns with rustic mom-and-pop shops. Amish wagons puttering along. Shaded, wooded areas with quiet rustling leaves. This trail has it all!
What are you waiting for? Get out there.
Great place for walk ride or run. Love this trail and location in connected to an amazing and well maintained county park.
Visited Indianapolis the week before Thanksgiving 2025 for a conference and rode the trail from Carmel to Sheridan and back. It was a warm and sunny November day, which brought out lots of trail users. Downtown Carmel is a delightful place to stop and walk around - show respect for other users and ride slowly through town. Further north the trail opens up with longer distances between road crossings, and far fewer groups walking or jogging. I turned around just before the end of the trail in Sheridan. I see opportunity to some enterprising business owners to develop more options for trail users in Sheridan, but during my ride I stopped at the Speedway just off the trail at Main Street to refuel and take a break. I'm looking forward to some day riding the length of the trail into downtown Indy.
Beautiful trail ride on 11/15/25! It runs along beside a horse trail. You will see lots of farms, cows, chickens and horses and cornfields, loved it, from Amo to Greencastle .Would have give it a 5 star if there would have been bathrooms at the end of the trail.
We went 20 miles from Tingler Road to Losantville (then back again - 40 mile round trip). It was a gorgeous day in November 2025 (a few days after a snowstorm) It was in the high 60's so we decided to get another ride in. I would highly recommend this trail. Even though you cross quite a few roads, they aren't busy, so I think we only came across 1 car as we crossed. Part is a little noisy, because you go along the highway, but most of it is pretty quiet. Crossed a few streams/rivers. Lots of farmland too. We'd like to ride more of the Cardinal GW, it was worth the hour drive for us to get there.
I love this trail. It’s maintained very well, and I feel generally safe as a woman going through the wooded areas alone
If you plan on using your ebike on the short trail off of Potters Bridge we were advised by the locals that they are no longer permitted do to others abusing the trail. We were told the trail is being watched closely by authorities. We wanted to see the the bridge and ride to the Nickel Plate Trail.
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