Find the top rated birding trails in Lafayette, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We rode the GAP from Cedar Creek Park to the Boston trailhead at the base of the Historic Boston Bridge and back. About 36 miles round trip. What a great ride. Smooth trail with lots of benches and several picnic areas and toilet facilities. Well maintained. Passed through several little communities along the trail. No major highways and very few little roads to cross making it very safe. Got a delicious huge “medium” size ice cream cone at the “Big Twist” in Blythedale, right off the trail. Highly recommend this ride!
We began our bike ride at the Sam Ralston Big 4 trailhead. This seems to be an older section of the path. It it’s only about 4 feet wide and has a fair amount of bumps in the pavement that make the ride a little rough, but not too bad. We rode north toward Colfax under a pretty canopy of trees. Lots of foliage and plenty of shade. From 350 W. to 400 N., the trail widen and was smoother. This part seemed to make a nice ride. However, throughout the entire trail, there are many tree and Bush branches that need to be trimmed. From 400 north up to Thorntown, the trail is awful with lots of roots coming up through the pavement. It was extremely bumpy and hard on our bikes, as well as us.
The Monon Trail was the first rail to trail in this area that I was aware of. We've used it so many times since it's been built and are very thankful for it. It's not to say that it's been perfect. Few things are. It is easy to get to, and while it is crowded at times, it works as long as you're courteous and careful. There are times on the Marion County portion of it when the maintenance seems to slip. That's been that way over the last few years. Just as you are heading north out of Broad Ripple, there are several areas where the road has buckled and is unsafe. A couple of years ago, south of the fairgrounds, it was similar in that area. If you're not aware of these areas, it is easy to wreck, especially if you are going fast. Generally, the trail is very open the farther north of Carmel you go. If you need to get out for a short ride, a longer one, or to walk, it is good. We are blessed to have it.
Ride Kokomo to Peru. Lots of shade areas. Relatively smooth.
I was ready for a very rough ride in the midsection of the trail from Lebanon to Colfax and back. This is no knock on other reviews, but it made me very pleased with the shock absorption on my bike (Giant Roam 3). This was a smoother overall ride than I expected. I did hit a few (5 or less, one way) tree root-made rises that got my attention, but as others have advised, if you take them slowly you'll be OK.
If there were any crushed rock sections, they were well compacted, not loose. Most of the trail was smooth and flat, and the tree canopy along with a slight breeze made the route cool on a hot summer day. There are several benches in the shade for rest stops. I'm a casual rider, not concerned with speed, and this trail fit my style. I expect I will ride it again in the not too distant future.
Ride day: Sunday July 12, 2026 We started at the Panhandle Trail Head at Country Road 50 N. Only real downed was the parking at the trail head. Only 3 spaces available and 2 were taken. Was a touch tricky, but we got it. We rode North through the town of Royal Center and on wards. After an hour give or take we turned to head back. The trail is perfect. Fairly straight trail with all kinds of wildlife and beautiful scenery all around. Only a few minor root bumps on the trail - but they were all marked. Even some rest rooms along the way! Will ride again without question - great trail.
We just rode the western part of the trail. Excellently maintained, great mile markers ever .2 miles. They have a new on line museum and artifacts of the old train line on the trail. Very cool. We plan to park near the trail next May and ride our bikes to the Indy 500. It passes 1/4 from the track. The B & O is an excellent ride! Joe Gutzwiller
There's a fair amount of road crossings here, but it's otherwise a very good trail.
It's a completely sunny trail, so break out the sunscreen/long sleeved shirts for this one.
The trail elevates you to the point where you will feel like you're on top of an actual levee.
You'll be seeing boat docks for the most part, so there isn't too much to see.
The pavement is a bit rough all throughout the trail, as roots are beginning to crack through so some brief sections are rough on the bum.
You'll get both sun & shade on this decent nature trail.
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