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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Twice in one week a parked train in between Colfax and Hendricks blocked the Oak Savannah trail near the Oak Ridge Prairie. It doesn’t even look like there’s an engine hooked up to it. Riding home from Chesterton is very fusterating when the trail is blocked. The triail from OakRidge Prarie to Chesterton is a beautiful ride but the parked trains make it useless.
We rode the trail from down-town Indianapolis north to Westfield. You have to piece together the path from the intersection with Midland Trace up to the soccer fields (it is basically an oversized sidewalk that follows the roadway). We jumped on lightly traveled country roads at the soccer fields and picked up the trail into Sheridan. The portion into Sheridan was lovely and shaded. Can't wait for them to finish the portion that connects the two sections. It will be a great ride.
Tried to take the southern section of the trail north from Raymond Street. The path is incomplete at it's southern end with no clear marking of where the trail picks up after it ends at street intersections. Got about a mile up the trail and a small bridge was blocked with snow fence and a sign saying the trail was closed for cleanup. Nobody in sight, the fence was broken down in areas so it has been up at least a few days if not longer. Very disappointed as the area we rode on was very nice and quiet. It will be a while before I attempt this trail again as it was just not worth the hassle.
When I travel to Indianapolis on business, I typically ride this trail because it's easy to access from downtown hotels. This is my third time riding it and it seems to get worse each time I make the effort.
Today, the Washington Street Bridge was closed due to some zoo event so the part of the trail south of downtown was inaccessible. No problem, I thought. I'd just go north and catch the canal towpath at 30th Street and ride to Broad Ripple. Unfortunately, the trail was also closed north of 30th Street due to some sort of public works project.
In between, there are terrible road crossings at 10th and 16th. When I say terrible, I mean they are among the worst urban road crossings I've ever seen. There's nothing at all intuitive about the crossing at 10th. You have to know where to pick up the trail on the other side, and it requires riding along the road on a narrow, hemmed in path. It's awful. 16th is downright dangerous as traffic approaching from the west is basically blind to the trail. There's a flashing light warning motorists here, but few slow down. Exercise extreme caution crossing 16th Street.
There are some bright spots. The suspension bridge over Fall Creek is nice as is the catwalk just to the south of old Bush Stadium. The newer section south of the zoo is nice when the river is low, but when it floods it takes the city awhile to remove debris. The short cycletrack on 30th connecting to the canal towpath would also be nice but the city puts warning signs right in the bike lanes and the debris on the road here will cut a tire if you're not careful.
So I'm sorry, but I cannot recommend this trail. It has potential, but it is simply not enough to throw down some asphalt and stencil some bicycles on the pavement. What makes a trail great is the thought that goes into the design and the day to day execution. This trail is a long way from reaching its potential. Sorry, Indy.
Beautiful scenery. Nice trail head entrance in Raysville, not heavily populated. Not paved. Watch out for snakes!
I enjoy this trail, it’s a hidden gem! It’s more challenging than the Pennsy trail in Greenfield with more inclines and curves.
Both ends of the trail provide ample parking, however I prefer the trail head entrance on the road behind the hospital as it is a more scenic route to explore.
Today, for National Trail Day, I rode the Cardinal Trail from the D street Trail head north to the Williamsburg Trail head. About 23 miles round trip. The trail is paved, easy riding with a slight upgrade going north for the first few miles. Not much. but enough that you can tell the difference on he return. Trail was in good shape with a few little bumps from cracks in the asphalt swelling and in one place a small tree across the trail from a recent storm. There are a fair number of whistle posts still in place, as well as some mile markers, a few concrete bases from signals and lots of ties along the route. A couple nice bridges too.
Just rode this trail yesterday, but got stuck in the local coffee shop for 1.5 hours waiting for a strong storm cell to pass through. We almost gave up and headed home but the rain finally stopped and away we went. starting from the "U" street access there was parking but I think the parking area belongs to the business close by. Its a gravel area and I don't feel the business minds a few cars parked at the far end of their property. Although the trail has its ups and downs the overall flow is downhill from the "U" street starting point making the return trip a bit more aerobic. The trail was covered with forest debris and 6 downed trees due to the storm that just passed through. My son developed a slow leak in his rear tire at about the turn around point (10.2 miles out) so I topped off his tire pressure hoping it would hold out for the return. No such luck, with about 7 miles to go he went totally flat. we ended up fixing his tire right next to a guys house (the trail crossed over his front driveway). The owner came out to check on us. Great guy, retired, and offered his air compressor to fill the new tube. We were on our way in 10 minutes. I would recommend no smaller than 35mm width tires. we used our mountain bikes with larger tires and due to storm debris, I'm glad we did. When we got back to the car my sons front tire was nearly flat. What ever he hit, he got both tires. We decided to stop at a local restaurant called "Pappas". Very popular with the local Bedford residents. Its not fancy but the fried chicken was excellent and the wait staff was great. We enjoyed the trail and will ride it again. The three star rating is due to no water on the trail so bring plenty and a less than perfect parking situation. There are two porta-potties. One at the trailhead and one more about 4.5 miles out
Just rode this trail last week. I parked at the Cardinal Greenway lot at the former C&O station at the east end of E. Wysor St. I started on the Cardinal Greenway east to E Jackson St, went across the bridge and then left onto the White River Greenway. The trail was in excellent condition. It is basically flat with a few small grades up to street level. Scenic with some wildlife, mostly birds. A nice stop is Minnetristra, the former Ball family estate. Beautiful buildings and gardens. On the return trip I went back on the Cardinal trail from McCulloch Park to the train station.
This is a great short trail. I take my grandsons there often. The next section of trail is now open, adding about 1 mile to the length heading northeast.
Rode mid April, the trail is all asphalt. Parking in Crown Point was easy. Many busy streets to cross.
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