My girls are just starting to ride bikes around the neighborhood and on sidewalks, we are looking for that next step and then even a few steps further so that we can enjoy the area with our kids on two (or four) wheels. Here is a list of recommended places, spaces and trails from our Indy with Kids reader. If we left your favorite out, please leave a comment and let us know!
The Zionsville Rail Trail comes highly recommended because it has a series of trails that connect and cross through the village. Most trails are paved but there are some unpaved trails. The Rail Trail will take you to parks, pools, nature centers and sanctuaries and more. Select trails that are the perfect length for your family.
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Monon Trail runs from 10th street to 96th street and connects to Carmel’s Monon Greenway, the Fall Creek Greenway and the Central Canal Towpath. We love to stop for ice cream along the way at BRICS or Huddles or Chris’ Ice Cream.
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Central Canal Tow Path
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Pensy Trail
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The town of Plainfield has great connectivity via trails. Visit Hummel Park, Anderson Park, Swinford Park, Friendship Gardens, Franklin Park and the Plainfield Recreation & Aquatic Center by way of the White Lick Creek Trail. Residents are proud of the bike-ability of this great town!
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The Eagle Creek Trail is a favorite for a lot of families because it leads right up to this beautiful city park. Bicycle riders will be required to pay $3 to enter the park.
Leonard Park in Speedway is where you’ll find young bikers learning to ride with their families. Our readers recommend it because of the mile markers on the trail and the fun playground when the kids tire of bike rides.
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My friends recommend teaching kids to ride their bikes in school parking lots after hours. There’s plenty of paved space to learn.
Freedom Park in Greenwood is where you’ll find southsiders on bikes!
We haven’t been there yet with our bikes, but Fort Harrison comes highly recommended by Indy with Kids readers.
Crown Hill Cemetery is full of hills and shady spaces. This location offers some of the most beautiful views of the city. Bikes are welcome but no competitive bicycle racing is permitted.
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Photos courtesy of my friends from Chaos is Bliss, Choosing Change and Goodness Gracious.
8 thoughts on “The Best Bike Trails and Rides for Families”
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Thank you very much for all these guides. I would love to go for a family ride. I haven’t given much of a thought on this matter but it sounds fun. I ride bikes since I was a kid. I used to ride bikes to my college and I still ride bikes sometimes. I Would love to take my kids for a ride. A quality family time.
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