The City of Carmel has injected a bunch of fun activities and art along the Monon Trail in area know 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. read more

See all

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

Love it! After any storm they are quick to clean up and get branches out of the way. In the summer the police drive through on their golf carts but I've never felt uneasy on the trail. read more

The Carmel segment of Monon Trail is my favorite. The trail is kept immaculate, with clean restrooms and water fountains, including a doggy fountain. Always an enjoyable and safe experience:) read more

Monon Greenway / Trail - Carmel - Hiking Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

See all

This is an awesome trail that runs through the city of Carmel. It is very well maintained and has many places that you can access it from. At points the trail is very picturesque, almost mesmerizing. The trail happens to go through Central Park and does cross a few roads, most of which are very well marked. You still have to be cautious crossing those roads though, becomes some drivers head their heads up their you know where and are not paying attention. This trail is popular among walkers, runners and bikers and for good reason.It is well maintained, scenic, and very accessible. It stretches 20 miles, so it can be as long or as short as you want it. The trail starts at the at the city's 96th Street trailhead and some of the sites that you will pass while on the trail include Monon Community Center, an outdoor waterpark; the Center for the Performing Arts, Midtown Plaza,  City Center and the Carmel Arts and Design district where you can shop and eat, Clay Terrace, an outdoor shopping mall and Grand Parks Sports Complex. Me personally found the trail very peaceful even though it does get very busy sometimes and some of the bikers whiz by like they are training for the Tour de France. I would try to avoid this place during peak times (especially during good weather), if possible. If you are looking for a nice place to run or bike and be free, look no further. This is it. It is one of the best and most popular in the area. read more

I'm obsessed with this trail and the bike rentals here! It's so beautiful in the Fall and there's lots to do along the trail!

I am so thankful for the Monon Trail in Carmel because it is just down the street from me and I can hop on the trail for a walk or jog at anytime during the week. The city of Carmel did a great job installing this Monon Greenway/Trail for the residents, because it promotes health and wellness, and allows bikers to ride their bikes on the trail, along with walkers and joggers. The trail extends throughout the city of Carmel and goes into Westfield as well. It is a great way to get out and exercise on a beautiful day and enjoy the outdoors. The trail goes into different directions, so you can take a different path if you choose to do so, and it will lead you back to where you started. The best thing about the Monon Greenway/Trail is there are restrooms and water stations available at certain points on the trail where you can grab a drink of water or fill your water bottle after making a pit stop. God bless the Monon Greenway/Trail in Carmel for allowing me to maintain my exercise regimen on a weekly basis! This is the best thing that Carmel has provided to the residents of the city! It is wonderful! read more

On this Earth Day 2021 I would like to recognize how lucky I am to be so close to the Monon Greenway and Monon Center. I am within a 15 minute walking distance to get to the trail and I take advantage of it often. The playground they installed fairly recently is outstanding and a free very popular attraction for people near and far. I haven't walked all the various paths but I have walked, jogged and biked quite a few. I am very hopeful the outdoor Waterpark will be open to exercise classes this summer and I absolutely love walking & jogging against the current and soaking in the sun before the Waterpark opens to the big crowds. The trails are also a great way for me to get in some meditation time - taking in the beauty and fresh air. read more

Monon Greenway / Trail - Carmel - Some turtles hanging out on a log in one of the ponds. - Hiking Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Beautiful trail with minimal shade. During warmer months I suggest going earlier in the day or early evening. We went around the 2 o'clock hour, the sun was brutal. read more

Monon Greenway / Trail - Carmel - Southbound - Hiking Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

My love for the Monon Trail cannot be tamed. When apartment hunting, I strategically picked a property within close proximity to this urban trail bustling with action. On any given day (with nice weather, of course), you can see people of all ages accessing the Monon to walk, run, bike, rollerblade and more. Dogs, strollers and the like are welcome! There are many access points with free parking, and every so often there are stops with benches and water fountains to take a break. Don't have a bike? Borrow a Zagster bike - $3/hour. I love biking to Center Green right outside the Palladium for the Carmel Farmers Market during the summer months. My only complaint is that the Monon can get quite congested and fast cyclists can zip past you at the speed of light - but Carmel is investing $23 million to widen the Monon and give it the feel of the Cultural Trail downtown. Cannot wait! read more

I love the accessibility of the monon. I run on it a few times a week along with thousands of other people. I feel like it's a community in itself with passing similar faces each week. The paths are always clean and well maintained no matter what the weather is like. Just be alert and careful at some of the busy road crossings because the cars forget to look for pedestrians. I really enjoy how many restaurants and bars are built along the Monon. Great way to people watch or stop to refuel. My only complaint is that I wish it was a little wider with a separate biking and running lanes. It can get crowded on nice days and bikers have to weave in and out of the walkers/runners which is troublesome for everyone. read more

Wow, Carmel has really done a nice job this year in filling the trail with holiday spirit! There are several light trellises that you can travel through and many of the trees along the trail are decorated. These decorations are highly concentrated from the Palladium to Main Street. If you are looking for a free lights display, a visit to the Arts and Design District is a good choice. Aside from the lights, the trail has many fun signs that are friendly reminders to wear a mask and practice social distancing. While in the area, consider ordering take-out from one of the local restaurants or order a pickup order from a local store. Many of the local shops offer this and this is the time for all of us to support them! read more

See all

Great place to ride bicycle for us over 50;crowd and a good walking trail for those that can not ride a bicycle

This is a great place for a run or bike ride! The parking lot at 96th street is big, and there are even restrooms and water fountains! Heading north takes you into Carmel past lots of places that can undo all of your running and cycling...Bub's...Bazbeux's...etc...but the scenery is pretty nice! Being the Carmel extension of the Monon it is still nice and flat like the portion to the south, so good for days you aren't in the mood for major hill work! read more

Just what this country needs. The Monon not only allows the community to get outside and exercise, but it does so in a fun way. Why's it so fun? It goes from north of Carmel all the way to downtown Indianapolis. I love it because I can go on a bike ride with a fun destination in mind, as there are tons of amazing restaurants and shops along the route (Bub's in downtown Carmel, Public Greens in Broadripple, and Locally Grown Gardens a little more south. read more

This is a great portion of the Monon Trail as you can easily measure your runs. (Thanks to the handy map located at the 96th St. rest area!) The trail is engulfed by trees and filled with runners, walkers, strollers and bikers. There's so much life and energy along the trail that I've come to find it's easy to forget how tired I may be in the moment. Another great perk of this area of the trail is that they have a couple of restrooms, a water fountain and some benches. It's the perfect place to stop, catch your breath and then keep on moving. read more

Monon Greenway / Trail - Carmel - Hiking Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

The Monon is such a treasure! Tying together 3 cities, it provides great stretches for runners, walkers, cyclists, and strollers to enjoy. Love that it is accessible to some great spots: Broad Ripple Village, the Jordan Y, Nora shops, the Monon Community Center, Carmel Arts District, and connecting paths can even get you to Clay Terrace Mall. The trail itself is well maintained; some was recently re-blacktopped. A good portion is shaded. Most crosswalks are really well marked, and motorist do a good job with the pedestrian traffic. Would love to see a few more--and consistently working--water fountains along the route. I'm very grateful to be able to enjoy this! read more

See all

The trail is a true treasure. It's clean, smooth, and beautiful (as beautiful as flat lands can be). It also goes right by key Carmel landmarks: Palladium, City Hall, Arts & Design District, etc. The trail is a continuation of the Monon in Indianapolis and you can go all the way to downtown Indy on this trail. South of approximately the State Fairgrounds, there are very few people. There are some annoying people who use the whole width of the trail but usually they yield when you tell them "passing on the left" if you are on a bike. If not just bowl them over and it will be the last time they block the trail! read more

Attention Fishers/Noblesville residents if you are reading this: sprint to City Hall immediately and tell your mayor that ripping up the decrepit (and unused) railroad tracks that once shuttled passengers to the State Fair needs to be a priority. Times change. The train is a cutesy piece of nostalgia but it is past time to redo this. Greenspace, trails, development, apartments, etc. in the fashion that Carmel has implemented with the Monon is phenomenal. Year round use. Dog fountains. Fresh air. Benches. Many access points. Hell I never knew the Center for Performing Arts was on the Monon. All the new businesses and everything that have spring up on the trail. I never fully appreciated what people saw with the Monon until today. What a pleasure to be able to spend a couple hours here today while getting some work done on the car. Stopped for breakfast at Bub's Cafe. Conference call from a quiet bench. And a terrific morning all around. Well done Carmel. read more

This is the Monon Trail in Carmel, Indiana. But up here, it's called the "Monon Greenway." It's a little fancier than the Monon Trail in Marion County, with overpasses, underpasses, and public restrooms. The posted speed limit on the trail in Carmel is 15 mph. In Carmel (Hamilton County), mile 0 on the trail is at 96th street, and the miles are counted going North. Update (Aug 2017): The Monon Greenway in Hamilton County is now paved from Mile 0 (96th street) to 186th street in Westfield, at the massive sports complex, a mile north of Route 32. In (Marion County), mile 0 on the trail is also 96th street, and the miles are counted going South. If you're looking for a mild hill to do a hill workout, use the bridge over Carmel drive. In Carmel, the Monon Greenway is maintained by the Carmel Clay Parks, so I used their web site above. There's a small parking lot with restrooms at the trail just a few feet north of 96th street. You can also park for free at the Monon Community Center, located right on the trail just north of 111th street in Carmel. Public restrooms are located inside. From 96th Street North to Carmel Drive is very close to 2.5 miles. From 96th Street North to 186th St (the end of the trail) is 9.6 miles. From 96th Street South to Broad Ripple Ave is very close to 4.0 miles. From 96th Street South to the terminus, at 10th Street in downtown Indy, it's 10.25 miles. read more

I'm torn on a 4 or 5 star review. I love, love, LOVE the Monon. I ride it nearly daily and put a lot of miles on my bike, on the Monon, both up here in CARmul and in Indy. The trail itself is well maintained, smooth, and fun. The scenery is great, and it's fairly flat. The issue I seem to have on an increasing basis is not the trail itself, but the trail USERS. I see, on a regular basis, folks walking the trail 3 and 4 wide, folks passing recklessly without any warning, and dogs off leash. That certainly takes away from the overall experience. read more

The Monon Trail is a terrific part of Indianapolis. Great for biking and running, it goes north-south through the city. The path is well taken care of and there are many businesses that line up along it, but I do wish there were more! Since I live in Carmel, I frequent the northern part of the trail most often and along the trail, there just aren't that many areas to get off and explore once you past the City Center. Then, until you get to Broad Ripple, it's nothing but neighborhoods. I do have a hard time biking due to the people who throw all situational awareness to the wind and could care less if they are walking 4 people wide. I wish there were a few signs along the path reminding those that bikers are trying to pass. read more

What a wonderful trail! When I moved down to Carmel, I always heard about the hype of the Monon, but wasn't sure if it was true. Boy was I wrong. The Monon trail is an awesome commuter multi-use trail with beautiful scenery and awesome stop offs like the Japanese garden! There are air pumps and a few repair stations along the way just in case you hit a little snag along the way. Weekends are busy, so plan to have some traffic! One of the best features of the area by far! read more

Bring your bike - This trail is awesome. Sometimes when you get into busy places people that are not used to bikes do not behave as one might expect so be careful near Carmel and Broad Ripple. Otherwise, let er rip and enjoy this well paved, mostly shaded and sometimes very scenic trail through urban Indianapolis and Carmel. read more

Yes! The Monon is my favorite! It's one of my favorite things in the city because I love to walk outside! Plus it's nice to have a designated area to exercise without worrying about being hit by a car (for the most part! Lol). read more

Love this trail system! The 96th street access point has plenty of parking, public restrooms and water fountains. Running north, there are water fountains nearly every 2-3 miles and additional restrooms along the way. This trail is perfect for walking, biking and running. read more

Love this trail. It is excellent for biking downtown from Carmel, running, or walking. Beware as you cross into Indy the traffic picks up quite a bit so watch out for fast bikes and stroller congestion. I can't wait to see more of the northern route completed. I am torn on a 4 star because you do have to beware leaving belongings at 96 st and I think this might technically still be Carmel. But I think the trail offers such a unique space in the heart of the city it deserves a 5. read more

Great trail to ride your bike, take the baby out for a stroll, jog, walk the dog, etc. My only concern will be small cases of robberies that occurred in the past. Be aware of your surroundings, don't jog when it's dark, no flashy jewelry, etc. Otherwise, it's such a fantastic trail and offers a lovely view during fall. read more

Love biking the Monon. I almost gave it four stars but it's hardly the trails fault that some people misbehave. The Carmel side seems wider than the Indy side but I also think its typically more crowded. I enjoy biking both sides, just depends on my mood. Typically park at 96th St so I can easily track my miles. You're at mile 0 no matter which route you go. Overall, we are extremely fortunate to have a beautiful well kept path to bike, jog, etc. read more

I just adore the Monon. I had to move from my Carmel apartment about a year ago, and I based my new apartment largely on making sure I was still within bikeable distance of the trail. I ended up in an apartment complex that's right on the Hagen-Berke trail, which connects right up with the Monon, so I never even have to go on a road with cars! I've gone as far south as Broadripple and as far north as 168th street on the Monon, and it's all fantastic. Much of it is very well shaded by trees, but there are parts that aren't, which can get hot in the summer. But as far as bike trails go, being a former rail line, it's remarkably flat and straight, and there are a lot of bridges and tunnels so you don't have to stop constantly at cross walks. Runners and walkers also enjoy it, so it would be awesome if it was bigger to allow for more passing or separation between the bikers and runners. But I still love it! read more

CENTRAL PARK (located west of College and N of 111th St.) has Beautiful Wildflower meadows along the bike/hike Trail going around the Park. It is a photographer's dream right now with masses of white blooming penstemon prairie flowers and yellow Coreopsis in Bloom! Walk around the outer edge of Park on these paved trails or ride your bike. Also on the boardwalk on the lake edge. These native flowers & grasses are important for wildlife and healthy habitat. It is a gorgeous walk. read more