Explore The Vandalia Trail, A 17-Mile Segment Of The National Road Heritage Trail System That Stretches Across Indiana
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published August 16, 2020
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
There’s an incredible heritage trail system that spans several communities in Indiana, and it just might hit your neighborhood. Paved paths, forested adventures, and rural hikes abound. Check out this tour of the Hoosier State.
Part of the National Road Heritage Trail which spans 160 miles and multiple states, the Vandalia Trail is a 34-mile path that is mostly paved and used to connect multiple communities.
It spans the distance from Greencastle to Indianapolis and includes 17 miles that are exclusively for hiking and biking, with many segments that can be used for horseback riding as well.
The trail became available to locals in 1998 and is popular for all sorts of outdoor activities. The mostly paved paths are wide and offer excellent views of nature.
Even where the path is not paved, it is still accessible for most, making this an ideal trail for all ages and skill levels. The trail is open year-round.
Few people know that Indiana is home to this heritage trail system. Those who explore the entire thing will find forests, prairies, towns, farms, and so much more.
You could bike the entire path in one day or just walk small segments at a time. Either way, this trail is well-loved and approved by those in the area.
For more about the Vandalia Trail, check out its website or Facebook page. If you’ve ever been to this heritage trail system, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.