Every summer, I make a list of adventures I want to take my kids on, and some of them immediately get everyone’s attention.
“Would you like to pedal a bike on actual railroad tracks?”
That is all I had to say.
This summer, my family is planning to try the Nickel Plate Express Railbikes in Noblesville, Indiana. I have not been yet, so I cannot tell you which child complains first, how sweaty we get or whether I spend the whole ride saying, “This is so cool!” But I can tell you that this has quickly become one of the Hamilton County summer adventures I am most excited to experience with my kids.
And after we go, I will update this article with all of the real-life mom details: what to bring, what my kids loved, what I wish I had known and whether anyone tried to quit pedaling and leave the work to the rest of us.
What Are Nickel Plate Express Railbikes?
Railbikes are pedal-powered bikes designed to travel right along railroad tracks. The Nickel Plate Express Railbikes seat up to four passengers, which means our family gets to climb aboard together and pedal our way through part of Hamilton County.
This feels like exactly the right combination of outdoorsy activity and unusual family memory. We go on bike rides. We visit parks. We explore Noblesville. But riding a bike on railroad tracks? That is not something we get to do every day.
The railbike adventures depart from Hobbs Station inside Forest Park in Noblesville, making this an easy summer outing for Indianapolis-area families.
Family-Friendly Railbike Rides in Noblesville, Indiana
Nickel Plate Express currently offers several railbike experiences, and families can choose the adventure that works best for their crew.
The White River Family Cruise is the one that immediately caught my attention for a family outing. Riders pedal from Hobbs Station over the White River and into downtown Noblesville. The ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes each way, with a one-hour layover downtown. This sounds like the kind of outing where we can pedal, explore, possibly acquire snacks, and then pedal back.
Families looking for a longer adventure can choose the Forest Park Rail Adventure, a two-hour, seven-mile railbike ride through scenic northern Hamilton County.
There is also a Twilight Rail Ride, an evening, seven-mile round-trip experience for families who want to enjoy the tracks later in the day.
What Families Should Know Before Riding Railbikes
The railbikes are designed for all ages, and children are welcome with adult guidance. Each passenger needs a seat, and toddler harnesses are available. Infants younger than two may ride secured to an adult in a customer-provided infant carrier, but the adult must keep both hands free to safely operate the railbike.
Families should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes, and bring bottled water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Each railbike has a small basket that can hold a few belongings or a small cooler.
Reservations are strongly recommended because space is limited, and the rides operate outdoors in the elements. In other words, this is not the outing where I will allow anyone to pack six stuffed animals, a beach towel and a full-size snack cooler “just in case.”
Add Rail Biking in Hamilton County to Your Summer List
I love finding activities that make our kids feel like summer is full of adventures waiting for them. Riding Nickel Plate Express Railbikes through Noblesville feels like one of those experiences.
It is active. It is outdoors. It is different. It gives us a reason to explore Hamilton County in a way we have never done before.
We have not pedaled the rails yet, but this adventure is officially on our summer schedule. I will be back with the full report once my family has tried it, including the view from the tracks, our favorite part and whether my children actually helped pedal the whole way.
Address
825 Forest Park Dr
noblesville
indiana
Visit Railbikes at the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville
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