One of two areas in Metro Indy specifically designed for mountain bikers, Town Run Trail Park is…read more127 acres of beginner and intermediate level of trails offering an approximate total of seven miles worth of trails. The first thing worth pointing out, though it has been said in other reviews, is that this trail system is truly devoted to bikers. While hikers and walkers are allowed here, the bikers have the right of way and the trail itself is truly developed with bikers in mind. I've done my share of wheeling, I'm a wheelchair user, on difficult trails but having visited again this afternoon I was again reminded that even the easiest spots here are truly not designed to be accessible. Even if you have off-road wheelchair tires, there are lots of twists, turns, inclines, places to fall, and places where you could easily get stuck. While there's a decent chance you'll run into someone on this trail, I think the vast majority of wheelchair users should steer clear of Town Run Trail Park. Town Run does offer the possibility of other activities including fishing, kayaking/canoeing, and observing of nature. Because it truly is more of a natural trail, nature is much more likely to be here. The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association is involved with the trail and assists with upkeep and installation. The beginner features include a bridge and subsequent single track, dirt rollers, and a rock garden. The advanced features include North Shore Ladder, shoots, bridges, table top jumps, and dirt jumps. If you can't jump, then you're going to have a hard time doing the entire trail. There is parking nearby and the area has been kept fairly natural even around it. This is a great area that's really right around Indy, Fishers, and Carmel but this actually falls within Indy Parks. I enjoy coming here to just hang out and observe, though I definitely don't venture too far into the park because there's simply too high of a risk of injury, getting stuck, or having a fall. This is especially true considering my last amputation. However, for its intended use it's quite the beautiful park and for mountain bikers I'll definitely give it a thumbs up. It's also, in my opinion, one of Indy's better maintained parks.

This 7ish mile trail is an oasis on Indy's North East Side. The trails are well maintained and…read moreeasy to navigate. It is setup so bikers of all skill levels can ride. For example, when there is a big drop, there is a sign posted stating a drop is coming and there is an easy to follow path around the drop so you don't have to soar 8 ft. in the air if you don't want to. I read a review about mountain bikers being elitist here. I find that preposterous. I started riding off road in September 2015. Brand new to it, I went out on my own. I found many bikers on the trail who were nothing but friendly and helpful. I have also been riding when there are runners on the trail. It has always been met with cooperation from both. Much of the trail is in the woods, but there is a big stretch that is out in the sun (so you may want sun screen). The entrance can be tricky to find, but it is on 96th street near Allisonville road, just east of the river. I love the place!

Fall Creek Greenway is one of my favorite places in the city. I live right next to it and walk the…read moretrail almost every day with my dog. Being so close to the river is really nice, and I'm always spotting wildlife. Recently I've seen a big owl, deer, a beaver, and even a bald eagle! I also love riding my bike on the trail. People are usually very respectful, whether they're biking, running, or walking. You'll often see families out together, which makes it feel welcoming and safe. There could be a bit more lighting though. Other than that, it's an amazing trail to have right in the city.

Great bike trail! Well maintained and nice views of the creek along the way…read more Park your vehicle at fort Harrison park and ride your bike directly to the trail.

I was in Ellenberger Park recently and had the opportunity to spend some time on the underrated…read morePleasant Run Trail. The Pleasant Run Trail is a 6.9-mile trail that has Ellenberger Park as its north point, Garfield Park as its south point, and it also goes through Christian Park. The trail also connects to the Red Line at the Garfield Park station. The trail mostly runs through residential areas other than its park connections. You will pass by the Kin Hubbard Memorial, Howe (which I believe is becoming a middle school now), the conservatory at Garfield Park, and a few other familiar features. The trail is almost completely paved, though I would say a handful of curb-cuts were a bit difficult in the wheelchair. The trail is also well-marked with clear signage for directions. There's generally good visibility on the trail, though I do know there's been some crime issues on the southeast side of the trail. There's quite a bit of greenery. I'm not quite sure why, but I've never spent a ton of time on this trail. I typically head to the nearby Pennsy or the Fall Creek Greenway farther north. However, this really is a lovely little trail that is for the most part well-maintained. The Pleasant Run Greenway continues to grow and I believe the plan is to connect to the White River Greenway (another underappreciated trail). Parking is readily available at all three parks and wheelchair users can easily access the trail at any of the three parks.

This is a very nice trail. It spans almost 7 miles and runs from Ellenberger Park to Christian Park…read moreto Garfield Park. You can access the trail at either of the tree parks. They all have their own parking. I accessed it from Garfield Park. The trail is well marked, paved in most areas and pretty wide. There are other paved trails that branch off from it, but it is pretty well marked to keep you on the right path. The trail is good for walking, jogging, biking, and skating. It was a nice day when I was out on the trail and there was not a lot of traffic. I think this trail gets overlooked a lot for some reason. This trail is not circular; its linear which means you have to come back as far as you go out unless you have prearranged transportation at the other end. You have have to cross some streets while on the trail. The trail is relatively peaceful and well maintained. This is a nice trail just outside of downtown. It gets it name from Pleasant Run, the roadway that it runs along. It also gives you the sights and sounds of a creek and some neighborhoods along the way. I enjoyed the trail and I believe that it feeds into longer trails such as the Pennsy and Cultural Trails.

Zionsville, Indiana has about 20 miles of interconnected paths and trails. This includes the…read moreofficial Zionsville Rail Trail (which I've also heard referred to as the Big 4 Rail Trail). This is a 5+ mile paved trail that goes through the heart of Zionsville, a small suburb on the northwest side of Indy. Trail parking is available at American Legion Trail Crossing, Heritage Trail Park, Carter Station, Zionsville Town Hall and the Nancy Burton Corridor Parking, and just off of Starkey Road. Currently, the trail is being extended north toward Whitestown and south to Zionsville Road. The Zionsville Road trailhead is also currently being constructed. Thus, you will likely encounter some unfinished areas and some construction along the way. While the trail can get busy during good weather, it's a much quieter trail than Monon or Nickel Plate. Because it also weaves through Zionsville, there's also places to stop and it's typically pretty easy to find a public restroom. I know there's at least one on the trail that is clearly marked. Some of the entryways don't look like they would be wheelchair friendly, however, Zionsville has actually done really well to create accessibility along the path. I haven't down this trail during the winter - so I can't speak to maintenance during adverse weather. The paved trail is wide. The most significant inclines are at access points and all those that I experienced met ADA requirements. The trail feels safe and I've seen quite a few parents with strollers on the trail. While you get runners, everyone is considerate on this trail. The plan for the trail is that it will stretch 50+ miles across Boone County and will go from northern Indy to Lafayette. The Big 4 Railroad operated along this corridor from 1889-1930. Zionsville established this trail in the 1990s. The trail is a paved 12-foot wide path with a 3-foot soft shoulder on both sides for runners. It offers restrooms, water fountains, trail markers, picnic benches, and trash receptacles. Pets are to be leashed. If you turn right onto a short path when the trail intersects with Starkley Avenue, you can go directly into downtown Zionsville. Zionsville has a brick-paved Main Street that is quite cool. The trail utilizes nearly all underpasses to go through town. You don't really experience an at-grade crossing until you hit Zionsville's north side. I find this to be much nicer and safer. The trail passes by Mulberry Fields, Jennings Field, Carter Station, Heritage Trail Park, and Rail Trail Gardens Event Center. The trail's a definite winner and only getting better in the coming years!

I walked the Zionsville Rail Trail with a friend in September '23 and it appears it was either…read morestill undergoing construction (or some enhancements). We parked at Zionsville town hall since the map online indicated an access point here. There was one, but it was a gravel path for about a half mile until we realized we were walking through an unfinished part of the trail. The Rail Trail is a straight path through residential areas of Zionsville. It wasn't very busy on a fall afternoon, and I'm not sure if it will have commercial development like the Monon Trail in Carmel and the Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers, since it does back up to houses/neighborhoods.

The City of Carmel has injected a bunch of fun activities and art along the Monon Trail in area…read moreknow as Midtown. The trail splits in this area with bike/running paths and pedestrian paths. In the medians between, there is a artsy splash pad/fountain, good for a quick cool down on a hot day. One area has a fun climbing structure for kids. There is even a colorful ping pong table, complete with paddles and balls. I even saw a bocce ball and shuffle ball courts - completely equipped! The setup is perfect for a date night or family fun. There was a temporary photo backdrop of splashing water commemorating the local swimmers going to the US finals and Olympics. Along the trail are several sculptures and murals that keep the trail interesting. There are benches and tables periodically to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or socialize. The landscaping is lovely. The area is kept immaculate. The maintenance staff is super friendly. There is some street and garage parking nearby. The pedestrian traffic gets congested during peak times. Pro tip: Early morning walks are quiet and there is plenty of parking.

Beautiful trail that leads to a cake shop. It was so pretty during the fall season. You can see all…read morethe foliage. Great way to get your steps in.

It's a little bit rare that I discover a spot previously unknown to me, however, this was the case…read moretoday when I visited Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve. I was between tasks near Castleton and decided to do a Yelp search to see if I could snag a review or two during my free time. As is often the case for me, I searched for "parks" and Oliver's Woods popped up along with a review from the always dependable Nicole S. It's amazing to me that I've driven by this preserve many times without realizing its existence. In fact, even while looking for it today I drove by it a couple of times before realizing the place where I needed to turn. It's not particularly well marked from River Road. As it turns out, this is part of its charm. Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is a 56-acre preserve owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust. It includes 16 acres of woods, 37 acres of prairie-savanna restoration, and a mile of White River frontage. As is true for most preserves under Central Indiana Land Trust, Oliver's Woods is fairly light in development but a fairly nice effort toward some ADA accessibility is noteworthy. It's not perfectly accessible but, let's be honest, nature seldom is perfectly accessible. As Nicole S. notes, this is a rather sublime weaving together of urban and nature. In fact, I really expected this to be more like a pocket park considering it's situated so close to an office park, apartments, and a nearby shopping center along with the highway. Remarkably, this is simply a well preserved area of nature amidst it all. In terms of accessibility, the accessible parking is by the Daugherty house. Oliver Daugherty, who passed away in 2009, donated the property to Central Indiana Land Trust and some unexpected funding received allowed for increased development of it in 2017. The accessible parking spot allowed for access to a .6 mile trail made of crushed gravel. I'm a wheelchair user and had no issues with it. However, it's worth noting that parking in the usual parking lot is more difficult because the gravel isn't quite as crushed. While the preserve is open daily, there are specific times when a volunteer docent is available to give a tour of the preserve. There is a canoe launch available for any craft legally allowed on the water in the city of Indianapolis that you can carry to/from the river from the drop-off area in front of the Daugherty House. The southern half of the Town Run Trail Park also runs through this property with an agreement that was made between Indy Parks and Daugherty himself. Volunteers have helped plant native trees and plants and to remove invasive species. "This special care is allowing native species like wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, waterleaf, wild hyacinth and trillium to flourish," according to the CILT website. Because this is so wooded and you are along White River, seeing wildlife is also a strong possibility. This is not a "recreational" preserve other than the ability to launch a canoe. This is a wonderful preserve for enjoying nature, appreciating White River, and enjoying a short but nicely done trail. There are signs around the preserve explaining the preserve (including at the Daugherty House). Quite honestly, I'd have loved living here. I saw one other vehicle while I was here, though I never saw the person associated with that vehicle. I did hear traffic and the highway, though on a warm and sunny Fall day it all felt really perfect. Now that I know this is here, there's no doubt I'll return!

Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is truly an urban oasis. You can see and hear the vehicles roar by…read morefrom I-465, just a short distance away. You walk through tall grasses as you walk past billboard signs. I love the city and I tolerate nature, so this place is a great combination of both for me. There are hiking trails here, but they're not clearly marked, so as we were walking and enjoying nature, we encountered several mountain bikers who raced past us. There must have been some sort of mountain biking thing going on, because there were a lot of bikers at the park. We must have been on the biking trail, because we didn't see any other walkers, just bikers. The path is super slim, so we had to duck into the brush whenever we saw a bicycler, which was every three to five minutes. Eventually, we headed back and found an actual walking path. All this to say: If you find a dirt path that is jutted, it's probably not the walking path -- it's the biking path. Once we found the walking path, it was very pretty and peaceful. The hiking / walking path will take you to the boat launch, where you can take your boat out onto the White River. It will also take you to the Daugherty House, which is a house that belonged to the original owner of the property, Oliver Daugherty. You can't go inside the house, but you can look at the outside, and there are signs and QR codes that give you more information about it. We found a lot of native plants here, including wild raspberries that were ripe and ready for picking. We also saw a beaver (!) and trekked across a stream that fed into the White River. This is such a cool place, and it's a true Indianapolis hidden gem.

Easy path with residential, rural views. Go as far as you can/want & turn around to head back to…read moreyour vehicle. We did over 10 miles.

The Big 4 Trail is a developing Indiana trail that currently extends 15.4 miles with a plan for it…read moreto eventually extend right around 50 miles. The current route includes three disconnected segments in Boone and Clinton counties. I was born in Lebanon and still find that I incorporate Boone County into a lot of my wheeling events. As I get older, I'm finding that I use a lot of trails rather than wheeling on streets. This is a rail-trail named after the "Big 4 Railroad" that existed in the area in the mid-19th century. President Lincoln traveled the route on the way to his inauguration. The Lebanon to Colfax section of the trail was previously known as the Farm Heritage Trail before becoming part of Big 4. Similarly, there's a section north of Thorntown that was known as the Keewasakee Trail. The section from Lebanon to Colfax is mostly rural and passes through Indiana hardwoods and over the scenic Sugar Creek on an iron bridge on the north section. There's a mural celebrating the Big 4 Trail and its railroad history can be seen under the I-65 overpass near the Lebanon trailhead. In 2020, the section north of Thorntown was extended to Colfax. There's also a parallel 4-mile equestrian trail that starts at Serum Plant Road. There's plans for more equestrian trails to be developed. This section is paved. The trail segment heading south towards Lebanon from Sarum Plant Road is currently not paved, with the City of Lebanon planning to begin renovation of the trail in 2023. There are also short sections in Whitestown and Zionsville. The Big 4 is a combo of urban and rural, though I always laugh a bit when I hear the "urban" part since we're talking Boone County urban as opposed to, say, Indy. So, it's more smaller city urban. I like this trail, though there are spots it's definitely more difficult for wheelchair users. Doing the entire trail is difficult since it's disconnected - I can do it, but I'm a pretty experienced trail user. I think most would find it difficult. Trail condition also varies from paved to crush stone to sections that aren't particularly well kept and can get debris. Thorntown to Colfax is really the best section and also has some great sights to see including a Carnegie library and the historic Rosenberger building. As I live on Indy's east side, this isn't my preferred trail. However, when I'm heading toward Boone County or when I need to train on a more difficult path I'll head to Big 4. In terms of hills, it's actually a fairly smooth trail. It's the terrain that can be difficult here. Overall, this is a solid 4-star trail and will likely only get better as development grows over the next few years.

Very short trail. If you're going for walking I don't recommend but if you just want to be outdoors…read morein the shade and near the creek it would be fine. I went with my dog hoping to get a decent walk in and I was disappointed.

I'll openly admit that I'd never heard of Hague Road Nature Haven until I decided to do some…read moreHamilton County exploring today following church. Hague Road Nature Haven is a relatively small spot at 43 acres. It's located at the Southeast corner of Hague Road and SR 38. The master plan calls for an outdoor education center, though for the most part the current status of Hague Road Nature Haven is as a fairly rough, immersive, and absolutely peaceful place that makes up for its accessibility issues with being a bit of natural wonder right here in Central Indiana. Hague Road Nature Haven is surrounded by Cicero Creek. There's a small parking lot. It's cleared but still natural in presentation. Plans eventually call for campsites, a natural playground, a nature center, study areas, and I believe I even saw plans for a small, natural amphitheatre. There are no plans, necessarily, to turn this into anything resembling a recreation area and we should be grateful for that. For now, you've got lots of greenery, hiking trails, creekside spots for stomping or wheeling or just watching. There's one absolutely delightful spot with a sort of swing bench. It's an inspired touch for an inspiring location in Noblesville. You can fish here, of course, and I was honestly surprised at just how much of this nature haven I could handle by wheelchair (though certainly not all). The creek itself stays relatively shallow. However, obviously, children should be supervised and care should be taken to ensure safety. This is nature, after all, and things can happen easily. Animals may very well be here, as well. This haven is still relatively light in terms of attendance and in one afternoon I saw fish, tadpoles, lots of birds and, yes, even deer. I wouldn't be surprised if turtles are around here and maybe even a snake or two (I like snakes...for me, that's a good thing). There's a relatively light "nature walk" trail here. It runs just under a mile. The path is natural, though I found it cleared enough that I could manage it. In adverse weather, I probably could not. It's not technically "accessible," but it's wide enough, mostly smooth ground/crushed stone, and almost completely flat. Plus, it's right by the creek. This also means mosquitoes in season, but that's easily handled. Absolutely heaven. This is a relatively secluded area - this can be an amazing thing, but it's also worth noting in terms of taking appropriate precautions. You're really not that far from residential areas here, though this truly is a set-apart haven and a magnificent slice of nature almost smack dab where you least expect it. There's no question I'll be back.