WALKED ON THE MONON TRAIL ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025 ===================================================== My husband really wanted to take our e-bikes to Indianapolis, but I didn't want to deal with loading and unloading them every day on our four day road trip from L.A. to Indy. We did find a good place to rent e-bikes in Indy, but it was so freakin' hot and humid that we didn't do that either. We did however walk on part of the Monon Trail a couple times the week we stayed in Indy. The next time we go back and the weather is cool we'll definitely rent e-bikes and go explore. History: The Monon Trail is named for the Monon Railroad, which was on the land that the path is now on. It was opened in 1999 as a ten mile bike and pedestrian pathway. Today the paved pathway stretches more than twenty miles. read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

12 years since my last review of the Monon Trail. This Indianapolis treasure connects miles and miles of neighborhoods and is used daily by cyclists, walkers, runners, rollerbladers, you name it. In the summer months, it can be quite busy. In the last few years, it's been great to see some of the business and residential development along the Monon. Specifically from 30th street all the way to downtown. Who can be sad about a trail that lands you at a bakery like Leviathan? Or, you can also follow the trail until it connects with another fabulous network, The Cultural Trail just off east Mass Ave downtown. If you're visiting from out of town, this is a great option for exercise and a little peace and quiet (other than the intersections... which are not always peaceful thanks to Hoosier drivers ). read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The Monon Trail is fascinating. The shear length of it is mind-boggling. When you think of the many neighborhoods that it spans... just wow! Today, I was in Broad Ripple and a friend and I walked from River House to the Broad Ripple Seafood Market. It was a rather short walk, but we passed so many businesses and apartment buildings. The Monon makes for an easy way to live an active lifestyle. We saw other people enjoying a leisurely stroll like ourselves, as well as bikers, runners and families with children. Had we ventured further, we would have encountered bridges over water, wooded areas and glimpses of wildlife. Every part of this trail has something different to offer. read more

Beautiful paved trail! There are restrooms at some of the trail heads. There are mile markers along the route. You are pretty protected from wind and sun. I loved this trail and will definitely be back to explore more of it. read more

I've been walking, running, biking up and down the Monon trail for over 20 years and I can't believe I never left a review. I love this trail! There is so much to look at and it is always so well kept. The trail goes from downtown Indy to Carmel and has branches that break off to other trails making it for a wonderful path. The city continues to improve the trail on some of the more dangerous intersections which was my only complaint. 38th street was the worst but has now been raised over the road. It can get a little chaotic through broad ripple and Nora, would be great to build bridges over both of those some day. No matter where you get on, it's a great place to walk, run, bike, skate or whatever. The trail goes from downtown all the way to Sheridan and with the connection of the cultural trail, fall creek trail, pleasant run greenway, white river trail and others you'll never be bored of getting around Indy. read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Love, love, looove my adventures on The Monon. Great scenery-- diverse crowds, and I'm able to switch up my adventure by starting at different points of the trail. I always feel safe, and I love that it's kept so clean. I enjoy plugging my headphones in and going for a walk, or leaving them out and meeting new neighbors. Depending on where you start, there are shops that line the trail, awesome pit stops in Broadripple & SoBro, the scenery is amazing through the Carmel/Westfield area, and the vibe is fun around Fall Creek. A great way to connect the city, both literally and figuratively. read more

See all

Not sure how I missed reviewing Monon Trail when I have been using it for 3 years now. I walk my dogs, visit with my friends, take guests to enjoy the trail and I can say this is one of Indy's famous charms. Absolutely beautiful stretching all the way across indy. Fun fact: It was former railroad route, and in 1996 was transformed to a trail, for commuting and walking. Currently, it is more than 25 miles in length, starting in Sheridan and connecting Carmel downtown, Westfield, Carmel, Keystone you name it there's an option from each of the areas. It's accessible and a pretty easy walk, no surprising turns, highs and lows. Beautiful in spring and summer with a lot of people, pets, beautiful greenery and clean trails. Monon Trail is open all year round, dawn to dusk with free parking. A really well maintained trail and definitely one of the popular, accessible and easier ones. read more

I am really just here to share these LEAVES! Y'all. Seriously. This is our last week to take in this Autumn beauty. Okay, I suppose I will share some of the trail too (if I must...haha)... I usually explore the trail near me at 46th and go south to downtown or north to broadripple. Yesterday I parked at the Rohrer Road trailhead. Um. I didn't even know it was there. So convenient! Lots of parking is available and it even has restrooms. There is quite a bit of construction heading south but we bopped our way through the clearly marked detour and ended up walking to downtown Carmel. Take that as a pro tip for a nice day! The trail spans from the north in Sheridan all the way to downtown for a total of 26 miles. It is well maintained and I've always felt completely safe at all hours of the day on it. I am already dreaming of spring days and long bike rides in my future! Who wants to bike the whole trail with me?! read more

See all

I can't even believe I haven't thought to review the Monon Trail yet. But this trail is so important to me and so much a part of my daily life, I guess I just take it for granted. The Monon Trail is always just THERE, and it's awesome, and it takes me to all kinds of neat places around central Indiana. Literally: You can take the Monon Trail from downtown Indianapolis all the way to Sheridan. It is the lifeline of Indy. It's hard to pick my favorite part of the Monon Trail. There are so many. I love the areas of the trail that are in Carmel, because they are so well tended. But I also like the areas that go through Broad Ripple that deliver me steps away from the Indianapolis Art Center. And the parts of the trail that run through downtown, where I can easily bike or walk to coffee shops and restaurants. If you want to experience the changing seasons in Indianapolis, just hop onto the Monon Trail. Most of the trail is surrounded by trees and nature. You'll see something beautiful at any time of the year. read more

Great paved trail with lots of shade to enjoy the outdoors for a walk, run or bike ride! Lots of areas to park your car close to the trail. Perfect for the family to get some fresh air and exercise! We've even spotted a deer one late morning. We've been twice this summer since the pandemic and felt other patrons were respectful of social distancing while on the trail. Signs are posted asking to please be mindful of 6 feet of social distancing. While a majority of the people are not wearing masks, there were several carrying masks or that would put them on when unable to maintain a safe distance from others. Even though we were only around others very briefly in passing we found it easy and comfortable to just wear our masks the whole time then we didn't have to worry about putting it on if it got crowded. Both times we've gone in the late morning and it wasn't too crowded. Even late morning we felt the temperature was a lot more comfortable with all the shade than if we were riding bikes or running in our neighborhood. We definitely have enjoyed the nice clean paved trails and will be returning. read more

Monon Trail - Wide paved trail for running or riding bikes. - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Thank God Indianapolis built the Monon trail in the city for all to bike, walk, or run to exercise on a regular basis. I make every attempt to go walking on the Monon trail every chance I get since I need to exercise for my health. Indianapolis made a good investment building this trail throughout the city to promote health and wellness for its citizens. It is constantly busy with patrons biking, jogging, or walking in spring and summer. Obviously, the winter season is not busy on the Monon trail due to the weather. You can go through the entire city of Indianapolis on the trail if you wanted to on your bike if you are feeling adventurous. I love the Monon trail and I'm glad it is available for me to use on a regular basis for my health. Thank you to the city of Indianapolis for building this for us! read more

Monon Trail - Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Have a long/short run or just want to get out? The Monon is beautiful and goes so far both south and north. Never feel unsafe when running due to the high volume of people always on the trail. There's some construction south of 38th but there is a detour at the moment. So ready to be out there on the nice days! read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We are so lucky to have the Monon Trail. I love to run on a cool fall morning or walk on a summer evening. I have traveled the top 7 miles only from Westfield to Broad Ripple. The trail features interesting bridges, tunnels, tree covered path and an occasional restaurant close by. The trail is well marked with guidelines. Traffic intersections are also safely marked as well. The trail is open to walkers, runners, bikes, and more but no motorized vehicles. The trail gets crowded on the weekends or evenings especially in good weather so I avoid these times. Restroom facilities are limited. read more

Monon Trail - Moron trail Broad Ripple. - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Fantastic addition to our city. For the most part, cyclists do a good job of alerting walkers of their presence. Walkers do need to stay alert. read more

Love to take a long run here. The view it's amazing and so refreshing. It is a really good plan for weekend to walk, bike or run the trail. read more

I love the Monon. Scenic peaceful form of exercise until you reach the area of 25th/clifton. because there's an auto body shop next to the trail on the other side of the canal, that's either venting their spray booth straight to the outside, or maybe they're just spraying outside to begin with. you look over to that area and it looks like a junk yard, which I don't know how the zoning work to allow that. This auto body shop most be spewing nasty fumes into the air. i just want to know does this break any laws? Is this healthy for us citizens that want to enjoy clean air. I know there are OSHA regulations about employees wearing breathing protection when doing spray painting and for spray booths to have certain minimum airflow speeds. But I haven't been able to find any information about whether there are regulations about how painting fumes can be vented. it seems every time I decide to run (which is at different times of the day) they're spraying I have to hold my breath on the short trip from the office to the parking lot or I get a killer headache from the fumes. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to pass out. i just decided to avoid this area I still want to know if this is legal? Are they not required to filter the fumes in any way? If it's not legal, what would be the correct agency with which to file a complaint? read more

Wow! Cool trail to walk or bike on. Seems like a lot of people stroll a bit after dinner or while waiting for a reservation for dinner. Glad to see this city promoted walking and green spaces. It's nice! They've got a little garden with herbs and sunflowers. Too cute! I love it!! It's not easy finding parking because there are a few parking spots or it's mostly parallel. Still, it's worth it! I want to come back!! read more

See all

I could never resist the call of the MONON! I love this trail. This is so unique compared to any other trails. It has commercial spots and nature stretches. Even though it cuts right through the city, it feels so disconnected from it. MUST VISIT!! read more

See all

We've been walking on the Monon Trail more since COVID hit than we have any other year that we've lived in Indy. Each time we make the half hour drive over, it's been a great experience. We've been able to get some exercise, soak up some sunshine, and get a much needed change of scenery. The trail is well paved and seems pretty safe. We typically carry our masks becuase wer learned on really busy days when the weather is so perfect, the trail is super busy and it gets difficult to properly social distance from others using the trail. Since we're always walkers, we have hopped off the trail more than a few times to make room for joggers or strollers or multiple dogs. And that's fine. It's easier for us. I'm not complaining. I love that there are mile markers along the trail as well as the occasional bench to sit on. I'd love to see more artwork along the path eventually. But again, no complaints. We're lucky to have something so wonderful in our city. I'd love to bike the entire stretch of the Monon this spring. read more

First time ever going on the trail today and will definitely be traveling from Bripp to Carmel again on it. So easy and convenient with plenty of space for everyone walking and riding. A great way to connect with nature while exercising and your ven greeting people as you go by. There are a few spots for resting, photos, and using the restroom along the way. Pleasantly surprised and pleased with our biking! read more

Monon Trail - On one of the bridges - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

We parked at the Indiana State Fair grounds for free, to be able to hop on the Monon from there. We biked from the Fairgrounds to Carmel and back. Close to 20 miles in an afternoon. We stopped in broad ripple for lunch (Kilroys) and for a sweet treat near Carmel (Chris'). The monon is seriously such a great asset to the Indianapolis /Carmel area (and beyond). The trail is so clean and marked very well. We enjoyed one of the last warmer days before fall/winter gets here, but still was able to enjoy the changing of the leaves. read more

See all

I ride on this all the time. It goes through a lot of towns so you can eat, shop, and play. It is very useful the surrounding areas are beautiful. You can walk, run, and bike on it. It goes past many parks so you can fish or hike. It goes on for a very long time so it is good for long walks, runs, or bike rides. I recommend this trail. read more

Love the Monon trail. It runs from Sheridan Indiana all the way to Indianapolis. They have just put the bridge over 32 and Wheeler Rd in Westfield. Although it is not open yet but I will get everyone posted to the latest updates. read more

Monon Trail - New bridge across highway 32 on Westfield Indiana - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Awesome trail! Plenty of trees, lakes, birds, bridges, and over scenery. This trail is great for walking, biking, roller blading, and skate boarding. Along the trail you will be going through all the cool town shops and restaurants which is very nice. There are art sculptures in a certain area and seems like a great place for photography. Definitely a great trail!! read more

See all

Love this trail! Not only does it stretch between different cute towns, but there are also tons of shops, food choices, and parking in all areas. Java coffee & BRICS ice cream are two favorite spots in broad ripple to grab a treat and walk. The trail does get crowded but it doesn't bother me! read more

What used to be train tracks is now a very long waking / biking trail across Indianapolis and Carmel. It's a great place for all people living nearby to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. read more

I LOVE the monon trail. I actually chose where I lived based on proximity to the trail because I just love it that much lol. I have mainly just explored the Carmel area of the monon trail. And of course, the new construction and hang out areas like the sun king patio make it so amazing. The trail is so well kept. I think it is pretty easy to get around on the trail through the Carmel area because car traffic is kept at a normal pace thanks to roundabouts. Further south, they definitely do a good job of using pedestrian cross walks and lights to alert drivers to stop for people trying to cross. read more

Here's a few things you can do on the Monon Trail: -walk your dog(s) -stroll up/down to SoBro, Broad Ripple Village or Nora -train for a race (mile markers at every 1/2 mile) -rollerblade -take a fall color tour -skateboard -detour to Broad Ripple Park, Marott Park, or Canterbury Park -scope out other people's patio furniture and lawn ornaments -ride your bike -pit stop at Big Lug, Huddles, BRICS, Public Greens, Brugge, Locally Grown Gardens, and Bent Rail (not to mention the dozens of other spots nearby the trail) -hop on a pogo stick -admire the murals at 64th, 54th, and 49th Whether your goal is fitness or food, the Monon Trail is one of the best features of living in Broad Ripple by far! read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This trail is one of our favorite places to walk in the state. It is nice and shaded, so it keeps you a little cooler on hot days. It is also fairly straight, so it makes it easier for you to be able to keep a consistent pace. My favorite time of year to walk it is in the fall while the trees are changing. It can be a very scenic walk. I would recommend anyone make sure to check it out. Many free and easy parking lots along the way. read more

Dare I say it?! The Monon Trail just may be the best way to explore Indy (and it's suburbs). It stretches from 10th Street to 161st Street. You can bike (Indy Bike Share?!), rollerblade, run, or walk. I love taking visitors on a bike ride on the Monon because some of Indy's best local bizs reside along it. Here's a brief guide: Carmel spots: Jamaican Reggae Grill & Union Brewery (share a great outdoor space), SoHo Cafe, Union Brewery, Bub's Burgers, Scotty's Brewhouse, Pad Thai Restaurant, Bazbeaux Pizza, Silver in the City and Graeter's. Broad Ripple spots: Public Greens, Broad Ripple Brew Pub, BRICS (ice cream), Cake Bake, La Piedad, Sangrita Saloon, and Indianapolis Art Center (awesome outdoor art). SoBro: Locally Grown Gardens, Mama Carolla's, Dancing Donut, Gallery Pastry Shop, Embarque Yoga, Indy spots: Cannonball Brewery and West Fork Whiskey (17th Street), and ends at the northeast tip of Mass Ave with businesses like: Indy Reads Books, Black Market, Yats, and Natural Born Juices. read more

If you are visiting from out of town or a local looking for a place to run, walk, or ride a bike, this is a great spot! The full trail spans for over 20 miles from Downtown Indy to Westfield. I have ran all sections of the trail. There are definitely areas that feel safer than others, but during daylight hours I feel safe on all sections of the trail. The section between Broad Ripple Village to Carmel is typically very well traveled and you can feel safe by yourself. In the early morning hours you will find many runners and bike commuters on the trail. There are public restrooms available just off the trail about every 1-2 miles. In the warmer months, water fountains are on, but water is turned off in the winter months. There are a lot of public parking options available close to the trail either in designated trail lots or public business such as the Kroger on 86th Street. The trail is pretty busy on nice days, so if you wish to have a serious workout bike ride, I would suggest hitting the roads because you might be frustrated with the slow congestion on the trail. On a hot day, consider stopping for ice cream at Bub's or Subzero in Carmel, Chris's Ice Cream at 86th St, Brix or Nicey Treat in Broad Ripple, or one of the other great local restaurants right off the trail! read more

Monon Trail - Monon trail Carmel - Fall - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

It was just this past week as I was ending a 13-day wheelchair ride across Northern Indiana utilizing only hiking and biking trails that I found myself winding my way home with a trip along the Monon Trail beginning in Carmel and ending up in downtown Indy. As might be expected, the Hamilton County stretch of the Monon Trail is a better kept, safer, and generally more utilized stretch of the Monon Trail. Carmel is a lot like that rich uncle that you really don't hang out with very often, but you still visit once awhile either because it's just really cool to do so or you actually need something. While Mayor Brainard may have his faults and Carmel itself may be racking up its debt load trying to become that Midwestern oasis in the desert, the truth is that Brainard has done an awful lot of things right and taking care of the Monon is near the top of that list. This trail weaves its way through Carmel including the City Hall/administrative areas, the arts district, and various points heading toward Indy. The trail is well kept, clean, feels safer, and is widely utilized. This is not to say that the trail's not utilized in Indy, especially in Broad Ripple and points North. As is true of the best trails, the trail is a beautiful mixture of nicely shaded and comfortably lit. Along the trail's Northside corridor, you can definitely see where local businesses have capitalized on the trail and you see everything from bike shops to small cafes. In Carmel and Broad Ripple, trail users tend to be friendly if a bit cautious due to some incidents that have occurred on the trail including a handful of robberies. While I've utilized the Monon for years, as I was arriving into Hamilton County as part of this particular event I had one of my road support people express concern about my route into Indy as there had just been a robbery at 35th & Fall Creek along the trail where a male on a bike was allegedly jumped by four men (and I use the term "men" loosely). While I will admit that I briefly second-guessed going that particular route a mere day after the attack, I decided I wasn't about to let violence win and simply decided to move forward down the trail. There's no question that the vast majority of Monon Trail users are fitness-oriented, law-abiding citizens whose use of the trail is of no threat. Unfortunately, once you begin to get south of the State Fairgrounds along 38th street, you enter a lower-income area of Indianapolis that is marked by a number of hidden spots and vacant buildings. Wouldn't it be lovely if this didn't matter? Yes, it would be. Sadly, it does matter. While the trail is certainly maintained in these areas, it does look a bit more blighted and isolated. As I traveled by wheelchair across this area where an attack had just occurred, I couldn't help but think about both the beauty of the area and how sad it was that someone had taken advantage of a brief section of the trail where it's easy to lose sight of those around you. There was a blue emergency box on the trail in this area, though I'm unsure if it was there prior to the attack. These boxes, while a reasonable safety measure, have been rumored to not always be functional and this has proven true on at least one occasion. Despite some hesitation about the section of the trail south of 38th street, I still consider the entire Monon Trail to be one of Indy's true gems. It's a beautiful trail that is friendly to walkers, runners, bikers, and those with disabilities. While there are sections where you cross streets on the trail, the trail is certainly one of the more accessible trails in Indiana and really encourages a person with a disability to get out and stay fit. While no trail will ever be 100% safe, after all, I know of at least one quite vicious attack that occurred within the Broad Ripple area of the trail, I can't quite get myself to give the trail a 5-star rating until I see the quality of the trail maintained as well in the lower income areas as I do in the higher areas AND until I can be assured that the city of Indianapolis is doing everything it can to maintain the safety of its users including addressing the functionality of emergency boxes and perhaps working toward creating a more consistent presence of support crew on the trail. read more

It's my New Year's resolution to spend more time walking on the Monon. My favorite part is the strip that goes past BRICS + Public Greens...maybe because that's where all my fave Brip eateries are? I especially love sitting on the PG or BRICS patio on a nice day and people watching. On any given (warm) day, you can expect to see babies, dogs, joggers, walkers, bicyclists and more. People stop + chat with familiar faces. It all feels very Mr. Roger's neighborhood at times. Always activity! That being said, I would only want to venture there during the daylight hours and/or with friends. People can be on the Monon 24/7 but I wouldn't want to go for a nighttime walk by myself. Other than that, the Monon is a gem that extends from 10th Street (& connects to the Cultural Trail) to Carmel and beyond - one day I shall attempt to bike it! No matter where you find yourself on the Monon, you're likely only a hop, skip and a jump away from a great place to eat or grab a drink. read more

See all

I love this rails to trail path. Most of the time I am riding my bike on the trail between 75th Street and Broad Ripple Ave. But, I have also taken the trail as far North as Westfield and as far south as 21ish street. The trail is very well maintained. It is good for walking, riding, roller blading, running. It is good for adults, kids, dogs. If you are a biker, there will be times where you can get your speed up, but you should also know there are times where you need to ride slower for the safety of the pedestrians. A bike bell is helpful to let the walkers / runners know you are coming up. You can also do the "on your left" shout. Many pedestrians will have the head phones on and won't hear you. However, I find these people to be pretty much focused and going on a straight line path anyway. But, it is still good to assume they can hear you and give your warning. If you are a pedestrian, it would be good to remember that there are bikers coming up behind you and before moving to the other side of the trail, be cautious. When we all play nicely together, this trail works well. And, from my experience, everyone on the trail has been playing nicely together. read more

Monon Trail - At 86th street - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

This is my "pandemic update"; please also see my original review for normal times! The Monon is a fabulous place for running, walking or biking, but it is kind of narrow to permit good practice of social distancing particularly when it is crowded, but is workable if not crowded as long as folks running in opposite directions each move toward their side of the trail. I'm hoping that people can figure out how to stagger times on the trail a bit more so that they don't have to close it in more areas; I know they have already had to close at least one busy stretch due to people not following social distancing recommendations. My suggestion would be to try to run, walk or bike at non-peak times. Apparently crime is down during the pandemic...so the quieter early hours might be safer than usual...but, again, even in normal times, I've not had an issue after sunrise on the portion from 86th street to Broad Ripple. read more

Although the trail is under construction near 38th street, this is a great bike ride or walk at anytime of the day. We started downtown at 10th street and made our way up to 56th for a quick Sunday Brunch. Lots of people out and about. Very friendly and good sights. The trail is very clean considering all the traffic it sees. The city is in the process of making an overpass on 38th street which will only make it better as that cross is the scariest of all with several lanes of rapidly moving vehicles from both directions. Check it out. You'll enjoy your time in nature and get some good exercise. read more

Today I decided to take a break from my day and walk on the Monon Trail. I am so glad I did! The weather was about 85 degrees (in October!) so it was a great day for a walk. Additionally, the leaves are already starting to change colors to give the trail a nice fall look. I started walking on the trail in Broad Ripple. I parked right by La Piedad. The Monon Trail is very easy access. I have never had a problem trying to find parking or the actual trail. People walk, scooter, bike, and run. I saw it all! The trail is a great way to explore Indy suburbs. With 23 miles, there is a lot to view! I always like stopping on the bridge and looking over at the river. The trail expands through Broad Ripple, Carmel, and Westfield. It's great a way to explore Indianapolis. I would highly recommend taking a friend that's visiting for the first time to the Monon Trail because it will not disappoint! read more

See all

I've been a long time user of the Monon trail, but been a slow time review poster - it seems. Over the last few weeks I have ridden my bike from the start of the trail, 10th Street - up to 86th street. This path usually takes me around 45-50 minutes on a quiet Saturday morning. There are some stop and goes over the busier intersections but nothing too horrible. It's a friendly and convenient way to get a long bike ride on on a summer morning. The monon trail is closely located to many parts of the city and has amazing attractions, like the love train mural, broad ripple village and more, to keep you occupied as your walk, run, bike, roller blade or walk a child/pet along this well kept trail. I'm looking forward to going even further north on a ride in the future and appreciating all the monon had to offer. read more

Monon Trail - Essential mural near 46th Street. - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

The Monon Trail may be the single most important "park" within the city of Indianapolis. The "Monon" is an abandon rail line that runs for about 17 miles straight North and South through greater Indianapolis and its surrounding communities. It has been under development for about 25 years and I am told by people who know, that it is one of the finest rail-to-trail conversions in the country. Paved and with numerous entrance points, getting on and off the trail is no problem. Parking along the trail is a mix of designated Monon Trail lots and various shopping centers and community intersections. The trail goes through woods for much of the way and there are smaller parks connected, a public swimming pool in Carmel and many eateries in the various communities along the way. On any given summer weekend, several thousand people visit the trail for walking, running, or riding. In fact, there are people on the trail 365 days a year.The trail is open during daylight hours. I ride my bike and have visited the park over the past year to reconnect myself. Few things are more enjoyable to me than a 7AM ride - 6 miles north, 10 miles south, coffee break at my favorite place and then 4 miles back to the car - a GREAT way to start any day. The scenery changes as the trail winds into the center of Indianapolis where the view gradually morphs from trees and parks to old industry and scrap metal bringing a grittiness and texture worth seeing in its own right. If you're living in Indianapolis and don't go to the Monon Trail often, you're missing out on a great thing. Did you ever notice how happy people are when they're outside doing something physical - endorphins-a-poppin'. read more

The Monon is wonderful and fantastic for what it's worth. The trail is diverse with tree lined views in a majority of the area although downtown can get quite sunny with less shade. I must admit that while on the trail I can definitely get lost as to where I am at in Indianapolis and prefer to take in my immediate surroundings. Although, some neighborhoods do blend the trail with the culture. It's nice to have the path so accessible and the community near as well in case you want to rest, sneak into a shop, or grab a snack. The one complaint I have and the reason that I cannot give 5 stars is the serious lack of water fountains. Running in the Indianapolis summer without water is never a good idea and yet running in the heat holding a water bottle seems to take it's toll on me in particular (I'm sure I'm not the only one). I think that I've seen 3 or 4 water fountains during the 17 mile stretch. Also, running on the Monon is mediocre at best when compared to other options in the city. That said, more water please but thanks for the Monon as a quick, easilty accessible option! :) read more

Monon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana