Monon Trail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monon Trail
The Monon Trail utilizes the same logo and design cues throughout the entire trail.
Length	4.4 mi (7.1 km) (Northwest Indiana) 24 mi (39 km) (Indianapolis)
Location	Lake, Hamilton, Marion counties, Indiana
Established	1996–present (in segments)
Designation	USBR 35
Trailheads	Munster—Hammond Indianapolis—Sheridan
Use	Shared use path
Season	Year-round
Surface	Asphalt Compacted stone (north of 161st St. in Westfield)
Right of way	Monon Railroad
Website	Northwest Indiana segment Indianapolis segment

The Monon Trail is a popular path in Indiana where people can walk, bike, and run. In the city of Carmel, it's known as the Monon Greenway. This trail follows the path of an old train line called the Monon Railroad. This railroad used to connect big cities like Chicago and Indianapolis.

After trains became less popular, parts of the Monon Railroad were no longer used. The trail was then built on these old train tracks. It's a "rail trail," meaning it's a path created from a former railway.

The Monon Trail has two main parts. One part is in Northwest Indiana, and it is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long. It goes through Lake County from Munster to Hammond. The other, longer part is near Indianapolis. It stretches for about 24 miles (39 km) through Hamilton and Marion counties. This section connects Indianapolis, Carmel, and Westfield, and even reaches Sheridan.

The first sections of the trail opened in the late 1990s. Since then, both parts of the trail have been made longer. The Monon Trail is a "shared use path," which means it's for everyone. It has special starting points, park areas, and fun places to visit nearby.

Northwest Indiana Trail Section

The Northwest Indiana part of the Monon Trail is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long. It begins near the Illinois–Indiana border in Munster, connecting to the Pennsy Greenway. From there, it goes north to the Erie Lackawanna Trailhead in downtown Hammond.

In 2014, this part of the trail became much longer. A new section opened between Munster and Hammond. This new part connected to an older section of the Monon Trail that was only in Munster. To make the extension, an old train bridge from 1909 over the Little Calumet River had to be rebuilt. This project cost about $1.5 million.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is rebuilding a part of the old Monon train route. This project, called the West Lake Corridor, helps people travel from southern Lake County to downtown Chicago. This project was completed in 2025.

Indianapolis Area Trail Section

The Monon Trail goes through Indianapolis's north side neighborhoods.

The Monon Trail in the Indianapolis area starts just north of downtown Indianapolis. It travels through several neighborhoods like Martindale's Hillside, King Park, Mapleton-Fall Creek, Meridian-Kessler, Broad Ripple, and Nora. Then, it continues into Carmel and Westfield, Indiana. This section is about 18.1 miles (29.1 km) long.

People started planning this trail on the old Monon train path in the late 1980s. In 1999, a 10.0-mile (16.1 km) section in Indianapolis was finished. A 5.2-mile (8.4 km) section in Carmel opened between 2001 and 2002. The first part of building the trail cost around $5.5 million.

The trail was extended into Westfield starting in the fall of 2008. It has since been extended north over the old Monon path towards Sheridan, Indiana. This added about 2.9 miles (4.7 km) in Westfield. In Indianapolis, the Monon Trail connects with other paths like the Central Canal Towpath and the Fall Creek Greenway. In Westfield, the trail connects to the Midland Trace, Anna Kendall, and Little Eagle Creek trails.

More than 1.3 million people use the Monon Trail in the Indianapolis area each year. The trail has helped the neighborhoods next to it grow and become more lively. For example, areas like Broad Ripple in Indianapolis and downtown Carmel have seen many new people move in.

The longest continuous part of the trail starts in Indianapolis at 10th Street. It goes north and ends at Grand Park in Westfield at 191st Street. This continuous stretch is 20.6 miles (33.2 km) long. After reaching Grand Park, bikers can use country roads to get back on the trail at 216th Street. From there, the trail continues for another 3.1 miles (5.0 km), ending in Sheridan. The final connection between 191st Street and 216th Street was completed in 2020.

Fun Places Along the Trail

Here are some interesting places you can visit along the Monon Trail:

• Monon Depot Museum: Learn about the history of the Monon Railroad.
• Carmel City Center: A lively area with shops and restaurants.
• Monon Community Center: A large center with pools and fitness areas.
• Indianapolis Art Center: A place to see art and take classes.