Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Indiana, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This is way longer than 9 miles, I did Lebanon north for 12.5 and the end was nowhere in sight. It also goes south from trailhead, no idea how far. Great ride.
The hills made it a little difficult for me to rollerskate, but I am a beginner. I really enjoyed the trail though!
I usually don’t expect much from city trails. Too many streets. This one was a pleasant surprise. Parked at Gavin Park and headed south. Some of the trail on the levee, some on creek side, some on city side. Some nice easy curves and hills over levee and under underpasses. Trail does go around some scrapyards. Some minor trash around the skatepark. Had about 3 miles without streets. Last couple miles downtown along river are next to street, but nice wide promenade separated by planters. Just have to watch out for all the walkers and the scooters. Lots of nice signs about the history of Evansville. I really enjoyed this ride. Probably the best city ride I’ve ever done. Thanks Evansville.....bikin-mike Mar 2021
I usually don’t expect much from city trails. Too many streets. This one was a pleasant surprise. Parked at Gavin Park and headed south. Some of the trail on the levee, some on creek side, some on city side. Some nice easy curves and hills over levee and under underpasses. Trail does go around some scrapyards. Some minor trash around the skatepark. Had about 3 miles without streets. Last couple miles downtown along river are next to street, but nice wide promenade separated by planters. Just have to watch out for all the walkers and the scooters. Lots of nice signs about the history of Evansville. I really enjoyed this ride. Probably the best city ride I’ve ever done. Thanks Evansville.....bikin-mike Mar 2021
I love the trail! I think whoever is in charge of building it did an excellent job. I wanted to point out that there is a tent set up and clearly someone is living along the trail between German church and mitthoeffer. There are also Walmart carts back there
Fairly easy trail to walk. It’s mostly gravel and some of it was washed out with recent rains. Watch out for the geese!
We rode the Pennsy from Irvington to Mount Comfort Rd on 3/13/2021. I'm glad to report that the trail has been completed along that entire stretch, which fills in one of the gaps presently reflected on the trail map.
As of this spring, the trail is in fantastic shape: brand new blacktop, wide, brush cut back several feet on either side. This is brand new trail in an area that was formerly a desolate abandoned railroad track running through a lower-income/industrial area, so there is a desperate need for a clean up along the new portions. Garbage galore is in sight everywhere in the early spring before the leaves come out. The trail itself, though, is immaculate. The Pennsy is straight as an arrow. However, In Cumberland, the Pennsy intersects with the Buck Creek Trail which goes north for about 3 miles following the creek. If you are wanting to add some sweeping turns to your ride, this is a very pretty side-trip.
Be forewarned that as of the date of this review there are no restroom facilities on this trail. It parallels US 40, so there are some big-box stores & gas stations within reach if you look for them, but no on-trail establishments between Irvington and Greenfield.
Bicyclists who enjoy a cold beer have a great destination on this trail. The Black Acre Brewery beer garden is just off the trail very near the western terminus in Irvington. I would also encourage those who are not familiar with the area to take a ride around Irvington if you have the time. The streets are winding and the homes are mostly old and stately. If you find yourself in need of a bike shop, Irvington also has Indy Cycle Specialists just east of the intersection of Audubon Rd and Washington St (US 40). This is an excellent bike shop, worth a visit even if you aren't in need of a new tube or whatever.
Great trail rest stops pavilions ice on the way.
Prairie Duneland was the first rail trail we rode, so for us it's a sentimental favorite. It's also close to home, so we ride it often.
As others have noted, most of the trail is well shaded and screened by trees, making it a cooler ride on hot days. The tree screening also helps make windy days more manageable.
But, with trees come roots, which often are the source of bumps and cracks on paved trails. Other than a short stretch near the Cleveland Avenue trailhead in Hobart, this trail mostly has escaped that problem. (Technically, that stretch is actually on the Oak Savannah trail, see below.)
Another good thing about Prairie Duneland is that it connects to several other trails. Just west of 149, the Iron Horse Heritage Trail branches off to the north - at about 2 miles it's a relatively short but nice trail.
Prairie Duneland also connects seamlessly at its west end to the Oak Savannah trail - in fact, if you start in Chesterton and head west, the last mile and a half or so before Cleveland Ave is actually the Oak Savannah. If you're so inclined (and willing to put up with a stretch of some twists and turns with non-existent signage through downtown Hobart), you can ride the entire Oak Savannah, link to the Erie Lackawanna Trail in Griffith, and end up in Crown Point.
These trails are all almost entirely flat and well paved. The one warning is that a rail crossing at roughly mid-point on Oak Savannah can sometimes be blocked by stopped trains.
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