Find the top rated running trails in Mattoon, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
My husband and I rode this entire trail on a beautiful October afternoon. We parked our car at the Dewey Point Trailhead which is a nice paved parking area with two pavilions and restrooms with flushing toilets. Although running parallel with a busy road the boardwalk path it’s very nice, lighted in the evenings, and has views of the wetlands on one side. From the end of the boardwalk, you must find your way through some low traffic paid streets to continue on the trail. Signage would be very helpful here. The portion of the trail that runs along the Wabash river is nothing more than a gravel road that passes underneath interstate 70 twice. It is rough and some areas. The remaining section of the trail is crushed limestone along a levy on the edge of West Terre Haute. runparallel with the Wabash river. Is on south old gravel.
Overall this is a good trail. We had e bikes with 22.5 tires and had no troubles riding. We started in Pana and rode up 7.3 miles. Paved 99% and it had many cracks that made it bumpy. It looks like the trail is not used much because grass was growing up through the cracks. Trail could use some maintenance. Not a lot to see on the south side of the trail. It was 95 degrees and most of the trail is shaded. This made it nice for the day we rode.
We camped at Taylorville Lake which has direct access to the trail. Rode SE to Pana one day and into Taylorville the next day.
There are no amenities on the trail other than a bathhouse at the marina at Taylorville Lake. Easy to ride into both towns though to find a restaurant, gas station, or something.
When the trail ends at Pana, cross route 29 and take the street on the north side of the Dollar General and you can ride into town on side streets.
Trail is dead straight and flat the entire length (only 4 bridges) and is all paved other than a couple hundred yard stretch around a grain elevator. Trail condition is ok. Quite a few transverse shrinkage cracks in different sections, but we've been on much worse. A road biker would probably not be pleased, but the traffic on route 29 would be a lot worse.
The Bridge is fixed full trail now
The segment east of Charleston is not paved. It's only a mile but if you are a trail completionist, be prepared for a rough ride for that mile or and back. Closer to a field road than a trail.Rest of the trail was perfect.
The Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail pavement has been extended 6 blocks further west to the YMCA parking lot and a beautiful new park on 16th Street.
Noisy traffic but nice views from the boardwalk. Extend your walking buy going south through Fairbanks park on the east side of the Wabash bridge.
My first trail ride from near the Vermilion County Fairground to the west edge of Oakwood. Very nice ride. Nice scenery along the route. I only wish it was completed so I could go all the way to Urbana.
With construction of the new trail bridge over the Flat Branch starting in September (2024), the trail will soon be restored to its full 14.6-mile length, with access points at the Taylorville Trailhead, Lake Taylorville (Lake Point Veterans Memorial) parking lot, Owaneco, and the Pana Trailhead.
After riding other trails I was truly disappointed with this one; wouldn’t you know it’s the closest to us and probably the worst! No upkeep whatsoever; it has potential for a nice ride, but there has been no maintenance for quite a while. It says on website that the village of Pana owns it…
This is a beautiful trail! It meanders nearly 6 miles with many gentle curves and hills and very few straightaways. It is almost entirely wooded and runs along the lovely creek most of the way. There are a number of bridges to go over and under. The track itself is clean and in great condition. There are 3-4 manhole covers go watch out for. Thoroughly enjoyed!
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