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

I rode the Pennsy today from Irvington to the trail end at Mt Comfort Rd, and back. It’s an excellent paved trail with only sparse usage making for a relaxed ride. Next time we may navigate the gap between Mt Comfort and Greenfield and check out the eastern section.

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.

The two posts to stop motorized vehicles and to slow down u before streets are too close together. They should be staggered like at other Hendricks county parks. I ride a trike and had to pull in mirrors and slow to a crawl. Overall a very nice trail.

Park at Mayor's Garden. When you get to 38th Street turn right to stay on the trail. Mile markers are confusing because the Eagle Creek Trail and Eagle Creek Greenway are combined.

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.

Very nice wooded trail. There is a gap between the first .8 miles and the second leg which is 2.6 miles long. It appears that some have bridged the gap by walking along the railroad tracks.

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.