Your Local Link to National Adventures
4 major trail connections • Regional & national routes
🚴 Start here. Go anywhere. The Nickel Plate Trail is more than a local gem — it’s your connection to a national network of trails that opens up the whole country to exploration. Lace up, saddle up, and see where the trail takes you.
National & Regional Trail Connections
Great American Rail-Trail (GART)
The Great American Rail-Trail is an ambitious vision to create a continuous, coast-to-coast trail stretching nearly 3,700 miles from Washington, D.C. to Washington State — entirely on rail-trails and connected paths. In Indiana, the NPT is a key segment of this national route, meaning that a ride on your local trail is literally a ride on one of the most significant trail projects in American history. When complete, the GART will be the longest rail-trail in the world.
American Discovery Trail (ADT) — Northern Route
The American Discovery Trail is the only non-motorized trail that spans the entire United States, running roughly 6,800 miles from Cape Henlopen, Delaware to Point Reyes, California. Its Northern Route passes through Indiana, connecting the NPT to a remarkable cross-country adventure trail that winds through forests, farmland, small towns, and iconic American landscapes. Whether you walk, run, or ride, the ADT is a trail that truly goes the distance.
US Bicycle Route 35 (USBR 35)
US Bicycle Route 35 is Indiana’s first interconnected bicycle route, running shore to shore across the state — from Lake Michigan in the north to the Ohio River in the south. The route passes directly through the NPT corridor, threading through Fulton, Miami, and Howard counties. Designed for cyclists of all levels, USBR 35 takes riders through iconic Indiana farm fields, charming downtowns, and quiet rural communities, making it a natural companion to the NPT experience.
Adventure Cycling Association: Chicago to New York City Route
The Adventure Cycling Association’s Chicago to New York City Route is a long-distance cycling corridor that connects two of America’s greatest cities. The route passes through Indiana’s heartland, linking the NPT to an epic journey across the Midwest and eastern United States. The Adventure Cycling Association is the premier organization for bicycle travel in America, providing maps, resources, and community for cyclists tackling long-distance adventures.