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The Nickel Plate trail is the 40+mile railtrail corridor running from Cassville in Howard County to Rochester in Fulton County. This corridor was purchased from the Norfolk Southern Railroad via the Federal Railbanking program for the purpose of developing a trail for hiking, bicycling, and other non-motorized recreational uses. The trail currently goes through the communities of Cassville, Bennetts Switch, Miami, Bunker Hill, Peru, Denver, Deedsville, Birmhingham, Macy and Rochester.
The Nickel Plate Trail is ideal for walking, hiking, running, bicycling, skating, or even cross country skiing. Overall it is comfortably wide, smooth, and maintains an almost unnoticeable grade.
The trail follows what was once the Nickel Plate Railroad, running alongside and in places crossing over, Little Pipe Creek. The landscape surrounding the trail not only looks beautiful, but has the unmistakable fresh smell of the Indiana countryside. No matter how many times you visit the trail, there is always something new for you to find.
As you explore the woodlands and wetlands you can see a wide variety of plant and animal life. Of interest is Scout Bridge, which crosses Little Pipe Creek, and an old dam with some historical interest, both of which are just south of the Peru trailhead. South of Bunker Hill and to the east of the trail are some of the remains of the Union Traction railway, the electric interurban line that was abandoned around 1940.
Well cared for, the Nickel Plate Trail is one of the nicest-looking trails in the midwest. The amazing sights, sounds and scents the trail provides make it much more than just a great place to visit, it's an experience.
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The attached pictures show new rest stops that are both scenic and necessary along the southern part of the Nickel Plate Trail. Steel benches have been installed at areas near 400 S, 500 S and 600 S by two high school students from North Miami High School as part of their Senior Project. Nickel Plate Trail Vice-President Bill Click is working with Michael Fouts (far left) and Brady Manning (far right) as they install one of the benches located at CR 600 South on the Nickel Plate Trail. The benches and a picnic table, which was installed in Denver were purchased from a grant from the Miami County Community Foundation.
Also shown is a scenic lookout and rest stop on the East side of the Bunker Hill Bridge. The funds to build the lookout were donated by Don Guy (center) in memory of his wife, Mary C. Guy. Flanking him are Dan Stranahan and Terry Monroe of Stranahan-Monroe Construction who volunteered to build the lookout. The lookout offers a scenic place to rest for passersby and a unique view of the Little Pipe Creek forty feet below. Miami-Cass REMC donated and sank the poles for the base.
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Joshua Francis, County Commissioner. E-mail: jfrancis@miamicountyin.gov. Phone: 765-470-1237
Craig Boyer, County Commissioner. Snail mail: 9104 E SR 18, Converse, IN 46919. Phone: 765-395-3215
Commissioner Jon Faust. Snail mail: 253 Walnut ST., Peru, IN 46970. Phone: 765-469-2961
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