The longest bike path in Indiana – Tale Of Travels

There are many options if you want to experience the state of Indiana on the saddle of a bike. In this state you can ride over 150 trails of your choice. Whether you want to see a beautiful foliage-filled park, acres of sprawling farmland, or lakefront alongside rolling sand dunes, the state of Hoosier has you covered.

Although there are many options for bike paths in Indiana, you may be wondering which one is the longest? Read on to learn more about the longest bike path in Indiana!

The longest bike path in Indiana

The longest bike path in Indiana is the Cardinal Greenway. The trail itself is 62 miles long, in addition to an 11.3 mile gap on the northern portion of the trail between Gaston and Jonesboro.

This trail connects many small towns in rural Northeast Indiana. These include Marion and Richmond on the north and south ends. It is named after the Cardinal, a passenger train that used to run on this very route. This trail allows cyclists to see the Indiana landscape and nature for miles.

The trail passes through Delaware, Grant, Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties. It was inducted into the Rails to Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in 2018!

The Cardinal Greenway Route

The Cardinal Greenway is not divided into official sections, but there are a few logical points where we can split the trail:

• North from Marion to Marion: Until recently, the north end of the trail was in Marion. However, in 2007 there was a plan to expand the Cardinal Greenway to extend 3 miles west to the Sweetser Switch Trail. Now Cardinal Greenway is also connected to the Sweetser Switch Trail and the Converse Junction Trail.
• Marion to Jonesboro: This section of the trail begins at South Miller Avenue in Marion, passes the 90-acre Eugene “Beaner” Linn Park in Gas City, and follows the Mississinewa River to Jonesboro.
• Jonesboro-Gaston Gap: There is an 11.3 mile section of the trail that is owned by private landowners. However, there are public roads connecting the two sections of the Greenway.
• Gaston to Richmond: This section of the trail begins again in Gaston and passes through Muncie, crossing the White River Greenway and then entering Richmond, near the Whitewater River.

Plan a ride on Indiana’s longest bike path

Since this is a fairly easy route, it requires relatively little planning. Basically, one just needs to be familiar with the course of the trail, particularly the area between Gaston and Jonesboro that interrupts the course of the trail.

As with any outdoor excursion, you should have a general idea of ​​what the weather will be like as you drive. The trail is paved so bad weather won’t affect you as much as some other trails. But you probably don’t want to drive in heavy rain or snow anyway.

Navigating the route

The Cardinal Greenway is well maintained throughout its length. It has consistent design elements along the entire path. There are arched steel ornaments on bridge crossings and you’ll see a stone mile marker at every half mile.

There is a bit of a challenge between Jonesboro and Gaston as there is a gap of 11.3 miles. Private landowners have purchased this section of the trail. However, there is a road route you can take between the two cities.

To help you orient yourself on the route it would be a good idea to have a map of the trail. The trail’s official website has both interactive and print-friendly maps.

The Cardinal Greenway Difficulty

Because it is so long, many people would not consider the Cardinal Greenway an easy path to traverse. It runs southeast from Marion, Indiana to Richmond, Indiana. The trail is approximately 62 miles long. Also, there is a gap near the north end of the trail between Jonesboro and Gaston.

However, this is not a difficult path overall. Cyclists will only encounter country roads with little traffic on this route. This makes it quite easy to ride the entire trail without interruptions.

In addition, most of this trail is on flat terrain, and cyclists can ride on a paved surface. This makes it much easier to ride than many other trails that require you to ride on gravel or through the mud.

Driving the entire length of this trail will take you through both rural areas and small towns. However, you probably won’t come across many vehicles.

If you are an inexperienced cyclist there is always the option to ride only part of the way. You can do this instead of going through the whole path. Remember that the path is not a loop. If you want to go one way, you have to go back on the same road to get back to where you started.

Wildlife on the longest bike trail in Indiana

There are many animals that call the Cardinal Greenway home. Since there are relatively few motorized vehicles, the animals see the trail as a safe place.

There are many birds that have been sighted along this trail including the northern cardinal, American goldfinch and American robin. You might even see a bald eagle or barn owl at some point. Many mammals such as the bobcat, various species of bats and wood rats have also found their home in these areas.

If you stop at any of the waters to go fishing, you will most likely see one of the many species of gar, surgeon or lamprey. Reptiles such as garter snakes, lizards and skinks are also common here. So are various amphibians, such as newts and salamanders.

Not only can you spot wildlife along this trail, but there are also plenty of fossils. Fossils of many species have been found including frogs, turtles, rhinos, camels and a giant tortoise. Basically, you can not only see the animals that live there now, but also look at the testimonies of their ancestors.