Find the top rated hiking trails in Lafayette, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Great trail along Raymond then a bad crossing at Harding. The trail is nice along Eagle Creek but it goes nowhere. There is also no parking available along the trail but it doesn't really make any difference. Will Indy Parks ever finish this trail?
Cycled from the trailhead at outside of Lebanon at Ralston to Colfax. It was a bit windy but such a lovely day! The trail has some bumps and ridges in several places but these tend to be grouped in segments and then you get to smooth sections and can get some good roll. We saw very few people and only two other cyclists. Once you get a away from the trailhead on Ralston the trail is quiet and you can enjoy zipping along and seeing the trees and fields. There are some creeks and bridge crossings. When you get to Thorntown the trail appears to deadend on a street with a gravel path across from you. Turn LEFT go down the street and turn right , you will see a blue bench labeled for the BIG FOUR. Follow along the street and you will look and cross to the left by the Lions Clin Oavikkion. FoRide the sidewalk until you link back up onto the trail on your way to Colfax.
This segment is now connected to Zionsville. Great progress!
Trail is now connected to Whitestown segment and Whitestown has been extended out to CR 500E. Great progress!
Great to see the added length in Hendricks county.
My first time, on this really fun trail. I went from the NorthSide Kokomo trailhead (where hwy 931 meets hwy 35, (portable potties available) to downtown and back, took about an hour, past really cool old factories, rails on the side, and what looked like fun bars to stop at, for instance, a brewery in a former train station converted into restaurants! Also many other LOCAL BARS and EATERIES!! Very smooth trail, not a lot of shade, so a beautiful ride on a cool sunny day for me! THANKS KOKOMO for the INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE TRAIL!!
Started in Rochester and went 10 miles out and back for a 20 miler. A beautiful ride! The crossings can be hard to see because of the angle of the road crossings. Other than that, there is a beautiful creek just after Birmingham heading south. I live in Michigan but would love to do this trail in its entirety in the future! I appreciate the friendly people of Rochester, IN, for giving me insight on the trail, etc!
The trail now goes over the creek, on a pedestrian bridge. Saw VERY FEW others on this neat fun rail to trail. There are ‘easy’ hills on the eastern trail, pretty flat otherwise. GREAT COOL SHADE almost all the way!
The entire route is asphalted but a little bumpy when you first leave Lebanon, as well as, when you first leave Thorntown. This route is generally bordered with trees throughout thereby minimizing the effects of wind and excessive sunshine. The stretch from Thorntown to Colfax seemed to have an over abundance of wild black cherry and hackberry trees. Their fruits were all over the trail and were impossible to avoid at this time of the year. Ultimately, I enjoyed the solitude and remoteness of this section.
Had an amazing ride today. Weather helped but trail was great. Completely paved now from Lebanon to Colfax. A little tricky in Thornton but some locals helped us out.
The Panhandle Pathway is flat, secluded, has a few trailheads for easy access and there are two towns where you can easily grab something to eat (Royal Center and Winimac). The scenery might be a bit monotonous but in this case I found it serene rather than a detriment. Mileage is printed in tenth of a mile increments on the nearly perfect asphalt surface.
I rode the entire 21.5 mile length starting in Winimac heading towards Kenneth. It was an overcast weekday so I only saw one other cyclist on my entire out and back. There are many small road crossings but most of them had no traffic so I don't count that as a negative. I stopped for lunch in Royal Center which was a quick turn off from the trail.
If you are looking for a trial with varied scenery or challenging hills the Panhandle Pathway does not offer it. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing ride through bucolic farmland the Panhandle Pathway delivers.
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