About the Nickel Plate Trail

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The Nickel Plate Trail is the 40+mile railtrail corridor running from Kokomo 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, Birmingham, 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. There is a good mixture of open and shaded trail.

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 discover.

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.

Navigating through Peru (click for more information)

The Nickel Plate Trail has 37 miles of paved trail from Kokomo in Howard County to Rochester in Fulton County. Work is ongoing to purchase the land in Peru from 7th St. to Lover’s Lane. In the meantime, here’s how you can navigate between the south and north sections: If you are approaching from the south, go to 7th St. and Walnut, take Walnut one block to 6th street, turn left on 6th St. and go to Water Street and turn left. Go to Harrison St. and turn left, go to Denver Pike and follow it under US 24 to Lover’s Lane and turn left. You will see the beginning of the north section a couple hundred yards ahead. There are painted markings on the streets to guide you.

If you’re approaching from the north, turn left at Lover’s Lane, take the first right, which is Denver Pike, going under US 24, to Harrison St. Take Harrison to Water St. and turn right. On Water St. ride to to 6th St, go right on Walnut one block to 7th St. and you will pick up the south section of the trail, which goes thru Peru, Bunker Hill, Miami, Bennett’s Switch and ends in Kokomo.

There are restrooms available for you to use at the local fast food restaurants in Peru.

What others have to say about the trail

My brother and I spent four days near Logansport this week for a biking trip. I traveled from MN and he traveled from NY, so Indiana is half way. We stayed at France Park, biked your trail, the Panhandle Pathway, and did a loop to Delphi. The weather was beautiful and the trails were wonderful. We traveled on the Nickel Plate between Denver and Kokomo for a 50 mile round trip. The trail was beautiful and well maintained. Thank you for providing the trail for riders like me and my brother.

John H June 2, 2021