Here in Hendricks County, Indiana, we are very fortunate to have a large number of outdoor recreation options, including a wide array of trails for walking, running and cycling.
Many of these trails are contained within local parks and some feature natural surfaces, while others are made from crushed stone or are paved. Let's take a look at some of the most popular trails around the county.
(Insider tip: a fantastic way to explore a lot of these trails is to participate in the Parks Foundation of Hendricks County's annual Summer Fun Run Series.)
1. Arbuckle Acres Trail (Brownsburg)
This paved trail, located in the lower section of Arbuckle Acres Park and operated by Brownsburg Parks & Recreation, allows walkers to enjoy an easy hike that winds through a 16-acre parcel of woods. The entire 52-acre park is beautiful and full of wildlife.
The trail parallels White Lick Creek for a good distance before climbing uphill to a bend in the trail, and an elevated bridge to cross the creek provides a picturesque perspective of the creek and lower area.
2. Avon Town Hall Park Trail (Avon)
Featuring a 10-foot wide paved surface that loops through Avon Town Hall Park, this trail offers a diverse mix of scenic and environmental views. Some of the highlights include a 9-acre lake, open space, woods and native Indiana prairie and wetlands. The trail is ADA-accessible and fun for all age groups and skill levels.
The park itself is operated by Avon Parks & Recreation and has a number of additional amenities including a couple of playgrounds, outdoor ping pong tables, a 9-hole disc golf course and so much more. This is also a great park to lay out a blanket and enjoy a picnic next to the lake.
3. Blue Heron Path (Plainfield)
Operated by Guilford Township, the gorgeous Hummel Park in Plainfield spans 205 acres and is home to the very popular Blue Heron Path that runs most of the length of the park. Enveloped by mature trees, this paved trail even features a center dividing stripe that keeps pedestrian and bicycle traffic moving in both directions.
Beginning between two pedestrian bridges, Blue Heron Path travels north-south paralleling White Lick Creek, ultimately leading people to Blue Heron Lake at its most southern point. The lake is a popular spot to fish in Hendricks County.
4. Blanton Woods (Danville)
Blanton Woods is operated by Danville Parks & Recreation, and it offers a tranquil and relaxing place to get views of White Lick Creek, wildlife or even to take in a little mushroom hunting.
Follow any of a number of 5 miles of trails through the 53-acre property to experience creek crossings, hill climbs, bird-watching podiums, bat houses, wildflowers and more.
5. Bluebird Trail (Avon)
Washington Township Park in Avon is home to numerous trails ranging in difficulty from easy to hard. Bluebird Trail comes with the highest recommendations as it provides a picturesque, leisurely stroll through the woods along its natural surface path.
Bluebird Trail also offers easy access to some of the park’s intermediate trails throughout Washington Township Parks & Recreation's flagship property, as well as the historic Iron Whipple truss bridge built circa 1876.
6. B&O Trail (Brownsburg)
The B&O Trail is a former railroad corridor transformed into an 8.5-mile long paved trail that extends from Raceway Road through Brownsburg to County Road 250 East, providing an easy hiking or biking experience for anyone.
There are four public parking areas along the trail, as well as easy access to Cardinal Park and Virgil Park.
7. Maple Ridge Trail (Brownsburg)
The main section of this crushed stone trail in Brownsburg's Williams Park isn’t rigorous, though a number of secondary trails that lead off it are a bit more challenging. The natural surface trails sit on 45 acres and provide a nice hike with elevation changes and ravines that lead to White Lick Creek.
In the spring, you may stumble across a morel mushroom, and in the fall, the colors are beautifully sprinkled throughout the property. Williams Park also has a splash pad to cool off in the summer after a long hike and Blast Off wooden play structure that kids love.
8. Red-Tailed Ridge Trail (North Salem)
Red-Tailed Ridge offers hikers spectacular views of McCloud Nature Park as it passes over the park's centerpiece, its 100-year-old historic iron truss bridge over Big Walnut Creek.
The crushed stone and naturally-surfaced trail then traverses mature woodlands, and crosses through grasslands and prairie providing a varied hiking experience that can be enjoyed by hikers of all abilities. While you're at the park make sure to visit their Nature Center to learn more about the property.
9. Vandalia Trail (Amo/Coatesville and Plainfield)
In many ways, Hendricks County has two trails in one along the former Vandalia Railroad, as the two sections do not link. One paved portion of the Vandalia Trail extends from Amo to Coatesville, and this portion tends to be popular for bicycling, in addition to running and walking.
In Plainfield, the paved trail runs from County Road 500 South to a trail head at County Road 900 South, and has some nice spots, especially when it crosses White Lick Creek at Franklin Park.
10. White Lick Creek Trail (Plainfield)
Beginning at the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation & Aquatic Center in Plainfield, the White Lick Creek Trail is the centerpiece of Plainfield’s trails system. This paved trail meanders south along White Lick Creek down to Hummel Park where it hooks up with a number of other wonderful trails.
Hikers, bikers and walkers can get wonderful views of the creek. At Friendship Gardens Park, the trail crosses over White Lick Creek on an old iron truss bridge that was relocated from southern Guilford Township.
