Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in West Lafayette, 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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Fully agree with May and June 2025 Trailink Review postings. Highly recommended, but see warnings about surface below. Rode from Sam Ralston Rd. trailhead on North side of Lebanon to Colfax terminus and back (approx. 14.5 mi. one way) on warm sunny weekday. Approx. 2/3’s of trail is wide newer asphalt, very smooth, with the only surface issues tree debris and chipmunks. Route is well shaded, at least %50 at midday. Relatively few road crossings, maybe 10-12 max outside of the towns, and almost all are “soft”, gravel country roads with very little traffic. Only a dozen other users encountered.
There are no hills, one minor dip and rise, but perhaps a slight downhill grade generally from Lebanon to Colfax. I averaged 14 to 14.5 mph going out but on ln 12.5 to 13 coming back in little wind. The route is mostly arrow straight, with just a few shallow curves.
There are porta-potties at Thorton and Colfax, shaded picnic tables in both places, but no water fountains.
Trail through Thornton is not marked, but easy to follow; you jog ½ block south to a street heading into downtown, then at the main drag jog north ½ block to where trail resumes next to a white building which is the last on the west side of the street.
WARNINGS: surface coming out of Lebanon is terrible for 1st 200 yards, big potholes and expansion bumps, then 1 to 2” expansion bumps for the next 2 miles, every 100 to 200 feet, most of the worst are marked, including one the height of curb you probably have to stop for. Most of the bumps can be navigated around by weaving over to the lowest section, but you must keep constant watch on the surface. For approximately 1.5 miles around Thornton and for a short stretch between county roads 300 and 500 West the bumps resume, but less severe.
ALL THAT SAID, the unique attraction of this trail are the recently paved sections, where you get the glorious sensation of a gliding along alone through an empty green tunnel that extends literally for miles, as far as you can see, out ahead.
Parking at Al Berryman Splash Pad with bathrooms! Major win! Nice trail with lots of parks and places to rest if you need it.
Road this today from trailhead in Colfax to Lebanon and most of the trail is enjoyable, but there’s parts where they really need to trim some of the branches and MOW along the sides of the trail!
We rode the whole length of the B&O today and we were glad to see that the two sections of the B&O are nearly connected. The trail is totally impassable at Country Club Road, and a couple of blocks in either direction of that intersection still need to be blacktopped, but otherwise the trail is pretty much done. For those unfamiliar with the B&O, it is a rail trail that varies from the very urban at the eastern terminus to very rural by the time you reach the western end. The trail runs right through the town of Speedway where you can find a couple of good breweries, a few other restaurants, ...and one enormous racetrack. The trail is in great shape, and connects to the rest of Indy's trail network.
Really love this trail, hometown trail and ride it 3-4 times a week. Only thing I wish is they would improve some of the paved trail that needs fixing (cracks/etc)
Cons: zero markings and multiple options made it somewhat stressful to navigate so I would not recommend it. At least half is by roads. Pros: good pavement. Partly next to Purdue campus. Small section of Cattail marsh was pretty.
This is one of the best trails in the central Indiana region but is in need of significant maintenance where pavement is buckling. For at least 2 miles from the trailhead in Lebanon toward Thorntown, the bumps are severe. Also, either side of Thorntown for about a mile each direction is just as bad. At the very least, the areas should be highlighted with paint. It has been this way for a couple of years now...does Boone County not care about the upkeep of this trail?
We rode 17 miles total, and stopped for a picnic at the nature park. Trail is in great condition and is very scenic. We witnessed the expansion going eastwards as the crew was laying asphalt. What a wonderful asset to the community.
Ok section, kind of dull. Agriculture & cows. Found a bit of shade by a grain elevator for lunch. Several washouts filled with tumbleweeds as you get closer to Lind.
We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved it!!!
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.
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