Vandalia Trail

Soon it will be nice enough to start riding again.  Yes, I know some people are hard core and go biking throughout the winter months, but we are not those people! 

One our favorite rides is the section of the Vandalia Rail Trail that runs through Plainfield.  The Vandalia Rail Trail extends 34 miles from Indianapolis all the way out to Greencastle.  Some of the trail is still under development, but much of it is paved with crushed gravel or hardtop.  The section in Plainfield is completely paved.

There is a weekly ride event in Plainfield that goes along the paved sections and other trails around town.  The schedule is on their Facebook page.

You can park near the trail head near Township Line Road and Hunt Street.  (GPS =39.719359, -86.364061)

After about 2 miles from the trail head you will pass under Avon Ave and come to a fork.  Take the turn off to the left and curve down a small hill.  The trail now travels along some residential streets in Plainfield but the trail itself is well marked an easy to follow.  (Head south on North East Street and then turn right on East Lincoln Street)

Soon you will pass through Franklin Park.  Watch for people and kids walking around or running out into the bike path when there are baseball games.  After this, you will cross over the White Lick Creek.

After going over the bridge, this will join you to the White Lick Creek Trail.  Take this south for about a mile.  You will pass under US route 40, then pass several soccer and baseball fields at the Al and Jan Baker Sports Complex.

The trail cross over White Lick Creek again and passes through the Friendship Gardens.

The trail then parallels South Center Road past the Plainfield Public Works and Anderson and Swinford Parks.  Finally, you arrive at Hummel Park.  There is a one-mile loop that circles the park, and you can circle all the way around Hummel Park, or you can take a detour and cross over White Lick Creek a third time using a footbridge and continue south to end at Blue Heron Lake.

You can retrace your path back to the start at the trail head for a total route of 13 miles.  This will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

• Parking: Trailhead parking is not that obvious and there are about 10 spaces available
• Trail conditions: Paved and flat, well maintained, easy to navigate
• Amenities: Water fountains and bathrooms in Hummel Park