This trail currently runs from 10th street south of the park in Jonesboro, IN through Marion to Sweetser, IN - a total now of about 11 miles. The stop signs are clearly visible and the trail has been well maintained by the volunteers. The weather was just right cool. The scene now totally changes. This stretch of the route has light traffic, giving it a remote feeling, and is relatively flat with a slight downhill grade. we love it here. So as always, if in the area and want to get a couple miles in, this should do. Most of the railroads along the Great American Rail-Trail are literal ones. They have a cafe here, but I dont use it enough to be able to review it. The paved pathway is open from sunrise to sunset, and its well maintained and mostly flat for its entire length. Return to your campsite and relax after long, fun-filled days exploring the area or participating in our campground events. Need to take liquids and snacks because not many great feeding stations along the way. This section is new and well designed, but I found the northern section from between Losantville and Muncie to be more enjoyable. I have ridden to north of muncie about 5 miles and south of muncie about 7 miles. Within just a couple of hours drive in any direction, you can explore places like The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Williamstown, KY, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, or the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH, just to name a few! The road portion was OK but GPS is pretty much a requirement. These are some of the best, well-taken photographs I have seen from the trail pages. You can also print the map by clicking the "Printable Map" button below. 1.7 mi Biking Trails Parks. Our overall experience was good although the scenery was somewhat disappointing as compared to many of the other trails we have ridden in the Indiana, Ohio, Michigan tri-state area. It is Indiana's longest rail trail on a former railroad line and benefits much of East Central Indiana. We were very grateful for a dry place to sleep. We were extremely pleased with the mild terrain grade on both days! There are many types of RV batteries that both new and experienced RVers should be familiar with. 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. On July 30 I rode from Richmond to Economy return. However, beware the Oak Mites! My friend Mark and I did this trail late May of 2014. This trail is totally asphalt except for the bridges. The main reason we do this trail is it is so remote that most people do not want to drive so far to get to it, but believe me, it is worth it if you want solitude and not a lot of traffic. The newest section of the Cardinal Greenway runs from Losantville south to Richmond, continually changing from open, sunny stretches to shady sections under a wooded tree canopy. Heading southwest out of Marion, you will pass trailheads at Miller Avenue and Hogin Park, both featuring information kiosks and ample parking. 101. It was in the summer, had lots of wildflowers and butterflies, and I saw many deer in the mornings. Cardinal Greenways is a private, not-for-profit organization that encompasses the Cardinal Greenway, White River Greenway, Historic Wysor Street Depot and Cardinal Equestrian Trail.The Cardinal Greenway is the longest rail-trail in Indiana and spans 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond in East Central Indiana, with a road section from Gaston to Jonesboro that is . Elm St. In late September, 2005 we rode twenty miles of the trail starting in Muncie, and then two weeks later on our way back from the east coast, we rode the section in Richmond. There is a building with bathrooms and water fountains, but theyre usually not open. Youll take this for about 2 miles, then turn left onto Test Road. The latrines - porta potties - were nearly new and surprisingly spic and span. Copyright Cardinal Greenways - All Rights Reserved. The road part is difficult to navigate. The trailhead is straight ahead at the end of this short street. Bridge crossings are very nice, with modern, attractive side rails and turn outs in some cases. As you pass through Webster, the trail begins a slight uphill grade through woodlands; this is a good spot for birding. It is peaceful, scenic with very little noise from traffic. Great Job. The parking lot is 0.1 mile straight ahead. Trailhead.". Directions there are at the bottom of the post. SPENT the night at the very clean and quiet KOA IN one of their cabins. At the bottom of the stairs, turn right to go south to Test Road and through the more natural (though still paved) part of the trail, or turn left to go north toward downtown Richmond. Amenities are good, but just short of great. Our ride was stopped short due to a large tree blocking the pathway but we werent planning to go too much further. Its very well maintained but there are some tricks to accessing and using it. My biggest request would be for more bathrooms and water fountains along the way. Overall it is a great ride and I recommend it to all. That access is now blocked off to cars. The Greenway between Gaston and Muncie has some bumps and uneven pavement but made it back to Marion safely (with two periods of rain) Best bike drive in Eastern Indiana in summation. Today, for National Trail Day, I rode the Cardinal Trail from the D street Trail head north to the Williamsburg Trail head. Farther south, the McCulloch Boulevard trailhead allows for a connection to Muncies White River Greenway, which follows the trails eponymous river. Cardinal Greenways offers multiple map formats to help you plan your route and to find trailheads along the way. Cross the railroad tracks to access the Cardinal Greenway on the opposite side of the street. You will not find, grassy edges that are routinely mowed. Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Choose from seven RV-developed sites for your stay. The Cardinal Greenway, the longest rail-trail in Indiana, connects Marion, Muncie, Losantville, Richmond and a host of other small towns in rural northeastern Indiana. If you ride earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, a good portion of the trail is shaded by trees along the side, which will provide some blocking of any wind. This section has some shaded areas, but it is largely very open. I prefer trails with few road crossings and not much traffic. An 11.3-mile gap in the Cardinal Greenway currently exists from Jonesboro to Gaston due to private landowners acquiring the former rail corridor. Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area Trails. Im not sure if the Cardinal Greenway oversees it, but I consider it part of the Greenway. Drove from Tennessee to ride most of The Cardinal Greenway in early July 2013 and I was quite happy with it. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group theres plenty of ways to stay and explore. Numerous stop signs near town, but the further south you go there are several areas where you can ride unimpeded for several miles. The only thing that wasn't fantastic about the ride was all the stop at intersections. The trail should be a real screamer with a good tailwind!There are quite a few trailheads with excellent parking and latrines along the trail. 801 Elks Road . On Friday we rode from same trailhead in opposite direction 7.5 miles out, just passed the Williamsburg trailhead and back-15M. Cardinal Greenway. The folks who put this trail together have done a first class job.The Wysore Street Depot in Muncie is awesome. My wife and I did a century ride from Gaston to Richmond and back. (An unofficial trail tip: If youre on foot, you can keep walking north of the parking lot through a grass field. There was an error gathering form errors. Prairie Creek Reservoir in Selma, Indiana: 2 reviews, 2 photos, & 1 tips from fellow RVers. I enjoy the safety of the trail, as opposed to open roads with traffic, too many times cars passing me within two feet at 50-60 mph, none of this on the trail, so well worth my travel time to get to it. thanks again, 5 stars. After the park, you will cross the first of nine bridges in rapid succession. We ride 5 days a week and dont see them everyday but potentially a terrible situation. The scenery is mostly fairly narrow wooded areas, with farms on the other side, though there are a few areas of denser wooded areas, notably by the nature preserve south of Muncie. The Cardinal Greenway is And there are a LOT of them in 27 miles.Bottom line: nice ride that I'll do again, although I think I would prefer a cooler or a bit less sunny day! Loved it! Help defend and expand trails nationwide. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. The trail is in excellent condition. Forgot those beautiful, point-topped cast concrete C&O whistleposts in my trail review. Yesterday was our first ride on the Muncie section of the Cardinal Greenway and we give it a resounding 4 thumbs up (2 for each of us). and River Rd. Oct 24 I rode the stretch from Richmond to Losantville & back [50 miles]. Check the local NWS radio station to find out where the wind will come from when you plan to ride and then design a trip that heads into it so you'll have a push on your return. UNION PIKE Bring your RV to camp at a Pull-Thru or Back-In RV Site with 50-, 30- and 20-amp connections. I rode the section of the trail from Richmond to Gaston over two days - essentially, all except the part above the gap to the north. Quite a bit of harvesting going on. This section of trail is no longer elevated as it makes its way through residential areas. We have rode this trail with our road bikes and sometimes with 5 yr old and trail a bike. The best way to get there is on North 5th Street. I started at the most northern point (which is just south of I-70), and noticed I wasn't at the most northern point. Other than that a great ride and well maintained. Decades ago, a disused railroad line found new life, becoming the Cardinal Greenway, Indiana's longest rail-trail.But with some ambitious new projects planned, the newest member of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary as a trail in 2018is about to experience yet another rebirth.. NUMBER 2 TIP: Make sure you double check the names of streets. Stopped at the train station and had a nice chat with the folks who run the place. The scenery never ends. Learn more about cookies in our, National Museum of the United States Air Force. I rode the trail on a fairly heavily laden touring bike to The Seldom Scene Meadow B&B. I highly recommend this trail. The only downside being the lack of water fountains. He saw my rig and said No" and then directed me 2 1/2 blocks to the north to find the D street trail head. The elevation gain is not negligible. It has been fully restored and is quite a nice sight to behold. I loaded the car with the bike, the rack, the bike trailer, the gps, drive the interstate etcI was fully loaded for this test ride. 5.38 mi State: California Crushed . The campground is ideal when you want a relaxing trip in a peaceful area while still enjoying excellent access to all the local events and attractions.Stay up to date with us on Facebook! I would not like to take this trail on a hot summer day because the rest stops do not have shade and in some areas the trees are not fully grown to protect against sun and wind. 850 N. (Gaston) to Test Rd. Its fine if youre on foot. Saturday's distance is about . However, during our ride in Muncie, we found that there was no safety provisions for the section that crossed McGalliard, where there were 4 busy lanes. if youre trying to navigate through town just make sure youre where you need to be. ", "I biked the entire length of the trail this October. a) Beware the berms. Enjoy biking, hiking, or jogging along the beautiful portion of the Cardinal Greenway rail-trail project in Grant County. Across the nationand the worldonly the limits of imagination will limit its use. Excellent parking facilities with restrooms are conveniently located at most trailheads.We started in downtown Muncie, where a large overhead arch identifies the trail, and rode north to the end of the trail, and then headed for the south end. This is one of the longest running RV parks in Phoenix, AZ with plenty of shady trees and grassy areas. Reason 1 is because this is a very well kept pavement trail. If you have little kids on bikes, or if you ever stopped paying attention and drifted off the pavement, then read up. The trailhead will be on your right and is located just under the Richmond Ave. Bridge. Richmond KOA Holiday is the ideal family campground in Richmond, Indiana. The access points have a consistent appearance, with wood encased and serviced porta-potties, attractive signage, historical markers, high-quality rest benches are set in concrete. There are plans however to connect the Marion section of greenway to the West and the Sweetser Switch trail, which they then plan to extend West to Converse IN., it should be quite a fun ride once it is done "Rode the 27-mile paved section from Losantville (southern terminus of pavement) to Gaston (northern terminus of pavement) via Muncie on Labor Day, 2007. Just rode the Richmond section of the Cardinal Greenway with my 13 year-old son; it's nice, not great. Of particular note is the round barn that can be seen approximately 6 miles south. We do sections of the trail. I rode this trail for a full one-day shakedown ride for a much longer multi-day trip that I will take later. If you want a few more, there are a couple of shorter trails that connect in Muncie. -Rich Ballash, Latrobe, PA 9-14-14. Used the Cardinal Greenway from Marion to Muncie for the first time in my life and mostly the first time I had ever biked to a destination outside Grant County. Enjoy! 850 N. (Gaston) to Test Rd. Reason 2 is there are no abrupt turns. There isn't water at every stop but there are nice benches and frequent maps. The lady attendant was helpful and very pleasant. We are family owned & operated with activities all season long. If you are interested in a specific campground or site, or availability is limited, we suggest you checkout promptly. The flowers were ubiquitous and the temps perfect. I only had time to ride 5 miles at the head of the trail, but it is gorgeous. Stay in one of our furnished Deluxe or Camping Cabins. | Attractions, Sports and Recreation, Trails and Parks, What to Do. NUMBER 1 TIP: The Whitewater River runs north to south and divides Richmond in half. Find the river on the map and you can find the Greenway right alongside. Not as many benches and none in the shaded tree canopy sections. From Losantville to Williamsburg, much of the trail runs adjacent to the road, but your eye is instead drawn to scenic wood bridges and farmlands with rustic barns and silos around every corner. The vegetation seems to be growing back and crowding the edge of the trail, but again the freshness of the trail doesn't let this dwell on your mind during the ride. Looking east, you'll see Milepost C-156 and its highway style metal mile marker. There were shaded portions which on hotter days would be most welcome. For a stretch at the beginning of the Cardinal Greenway into Marion, the path runs adjacent to and then crosses an active Norfolk Southern line as the greenway passes through a flat, rural landscape that highlights industrial and farmland scenery. It is well maintained, clean, the people are friendly, and really smooth to ride on. I was impressed with its wide and smooth surface. Simply one of the most beautiful and interesting trails I have ridden in my 1250 miles of rail-trails! Suffice it to say that if this section is indictative of the other sections holding possibly more scenic appeal, an extended ride would be well worth it. The only downside is that water is only available at approximately a quarter of the rest areas. As a Hoosier, I know that there can be some pretty boring and desolate places, so I was pleased to find the tree canopy as prolific as those I've seen in Michigan. A couple nice bridges too. Drove a little over an hour from Ohio to get on at Losantville. As a reminder, sites saved in your shopping cart are not guaranteed, and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. There are very few places to stop along the way to purchase supplies. Very flat except some slight grades at the southern 20 miles. In 3 miles, turn right onto S. CR 900 E, which becomes N. CR 600 W. In 4.9 miles, turn right onto CR 850 N/W. Beautiful trail and surroundings. The Cardinal Greenway is the longest rail-trail in Indiana and spans 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond in East Central . If you go off the edge, you will hit the gravel, you will go down. It's easy to strike a conversation with locals, who are very appreciative of this trail. The trail goes through tiny villages that time has largely passed. The GOOD: The trail is very well put together. You can also print the map by clicking the Printable Map button below. Southwest Ohio (Dayton-Cincinnati-Xenia etc) has a very large and well-maintained bike way system: over 320 miles interconnected safe, hard-paved paths spanning the SW quarter of the state. I had even showered immediately after my ride but I had a severe allergic reaction. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. The trail goes through several towns, including Muncie, Jonesboro, Selma, Economy, Marion, Gaston, Williamsburg, Losantsville, and Richmond. . On a sunny summer day, you WILL get cooked on this trail, so bring lots of water and plenty of sunscreen.Scenery? Enjoy the people, distinctive buildings, sights, and sounds of small town life in Indiana. I found the trail to be very nice. The Medford trailhead features a circular gravel lot with hitching rails and room for horse trailers. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! Don't forget your bikes, the 62-mile-long Cardinal Greenway starts only a few miles away! HEADS UP 1. Get closer to your family and friends while camping at Richmond KOA Holiday. I rode the trail from the Super 8 motel in Gas City which accommodated parking my vehicle there for the overnight. Cardinal Greenways Horse Trail. Major trailheads with parking are located in Marion behind Westwood Square on Miller Avenue between 2nd and 6th Streets, at Hogin Park at Valley Avenue and 14th Street, and in Jonesboro/Gas City at the intersection of SR 22/35 and Water Street, just east of SR 15. If you're doing a longer section, I recommend going northwest in the morning, and southeast in the afternoon if possible. Whether youre exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. If you ride an LWB recumbent - you folks know who you are - you're going to hate these gates. It's a very nice park with a large pond, and many picnic areas to enjoy. Along the final mile of the Cardinal Greenway, the trail features a trestle bridge over the East Fork Whitewater River before its official end at the D Street trailhead. I think that not converting any of the old railways to useful recreational pathways is going to be a terrible loss. 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