Pennsy Trail | Indiana Trails (2024)

We rode the Pennsy from Irvington to Mount Comfort Rd on 3/13/2021. I'm glad to report that the trail has been completed along that entire stretch, which fills in one of the gaps presently reflected on the trail map.

As of this spring, the trail is in fantastic shape: brand new blacktop, wide, brush cut back several feet on either side. This is brand new trail in an area that was formerly a desolate abandoned railroad track running through a lower-income/industrial area, so there is a desperate need for a clean up along the new portions. Garbage galore is in sight everywhere in the early spring before the leaves come out. The trail itself, though, is immaculate. The Pennsy is straight as an arrow. However, In Cumberland, the Pennsy intersects with the Buck Creek Trail which goes north for about 3 miles following the creek. If you are wanting to add some sweeping turns to your ride, this is a very pretty side-trip.

Be forewarned that as of the date of this review there are no restroom facilities on this trail. It parallels US 40, so there are some big-box stores & gas stations within reach if you look for them, but no on-trail establishments between Irvington and Greenfield.

Bicyclists who enjoy a cold beer have a great destination on this trail. The Black Acre Brewery beer garden is just off the trail very near the western terminus in Irvington. I would also encourage those who are not familiar with the area to take a ride around Irvington if you have the time. The streets are winding and the homes are mostly old and stately. If you find yourself in need of a bike shop, Irvington also has Indy Cycle Specialists just east of the intersection of Audubon Rd and Washington St (US 40). This is an excellent bike shop, worth a visit even if you aren't in need of a new tube or whatever.

The trailhead at 600W is closest to me, so that's where I usually start and ride east towards Cumberland/Meijers. But I have also ridden from 150W towards Greenfield. The times I have ridden the segments of the trail I think I passed less than 10 people walking or biking. So there isn't a lot going on with these trails. But that's what keeps me coming back. Although shorter, it's not busy like the more popular Monon Trail; you don't have to dodge others on the trail. It's flat, scenic, and depending on where you are, you have no idea that just north of you is busy US40. Funny, anytime anyone thinks of trails around Indy the Pennsy Trail is never mentioned--for me a well-kept secret.

There is a group based in Greenfield that is trying to raise money to join the sections from Cumberland to Greenfield. Funds are slow to come so they have made the decision to break up the acquisition of land into small sections. I wish them the best - it would be great to connect Cumberland to Greenfield in one segment.

This review is based upon the 3-mile segment of Pennsy trail in Cumberland, with German Church Road on the west trailhead, and CR 600W on the east terminus in Hanco*ck County. US 40, a.k.a. National Road, runs parallel just to the north of the trail. This trail is the former Pennsylvania Railroad which ran from Columbus, Ohio from about 1870 until 1970. The trail has a smooth asphalt surface that is in very good shape, great for walking, jogging, or biking.

You can get to the trail at its west terminus by parking at the Marsh. Immediately behind the Marsh, the trail is paved but currently marked for no trespassing toward the west, but if you cross German Church Road you will see that the trail actually begins here next to the rear Meijer entrance.

At the beginning of the trail you will see educational signs about our solar system. Our Sun is located next to German Church Road. Keep going east, and you will see the posters for all 4 of the inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The planet signs are spaced out along the trail to approximate the scale of our solar system, Neptune being closest to the 600W & US 40 terminus 3 miles from the start.

After you pass the back side of Meijer, you will see the sign for Jupiter and the trail then takes a jog 150 feet off path to the north, around a lumberyard and back side of the Cumberland Police Dept, then across Munsie Street and then back south to the Pennsy's original alignment. Now that you are past the lumber business, you enter the more scenic section of the trail. At this point the south side of the trail is lined by dense vegetation, and you will soon see the poster for Saturn.

As soon as you reach the appropriately keystone-shaped Mile Post 1, the trail crosses over Carroll Road with a bridge. It is at this point that artifacts of the railroad become evident. On the north side of the trail, you can see the old poles that held the code lines/telegraph wires that ran along the tracks. When you reach Buck Creek overpass, and you will see a poster describing the wetlands and watershed system. This is a very scenic area with just a couple newer homes behind the trees lining the south view of the trail.

A thousand feet or so to the east, look along the south edge of the trail, under the trees. You will start to see the railroad's now rotting, moss-covered, wooden ties that were pulled up from the tracks. The code lines are also now running along the south side, and occasionally you will see a stray ceramic insulator hanging from a remaining wire still threaded through the trees. I never saw any iron or remnants of rail, however.

The trail continues mostly lined by trees or agricultural zoning, and passing Uranus, until Mile Post 2 where it crosses road 700W at-grade. There is a sitting area near this milepost as there are at the other two mileposts.

At mile 2.5, close to Neptune, the trail is torn up and is being turned into a crossing where a storage unit complex is being built on the south of the trail alignment. This is quite insane, and I wonder how this even got past the permitting/zoning process. There will be vehicles crossing the trail at grade to get into the storage units. Why couldn't they build the storage units in the huge empty field on the north of the trail facing US 40? Like central Indiana needs more storage units anyways.

The trail then comes to an end at Mile Post 3, close to road 600W. There is a small parking lot and sitting/stretching area. On the other side of 600W going to the east are some properties which have acquired the former railroad's right-of-way. So it remains to be seen if the trail can be extended in this direction toward Greenfield.

I'm giving this trail 3 / 5 stars because of some of the ugly development that has taken place around the trail, disturbing the natural feel and setting. Near the Meijer and lumberyard you will see a lot of concrete and pavement. There is not much natural scenery, and a lot of trash along that part of the trail. It's a shame that an eyesore of a lumberyard cuts through the trail's original path, and the new ugly storage unit complex that is being built near 600W. But hopefully, with enough community support, the trail won't get spoiled or developed any further.

Pennsy Trail offers users some quiet peaceful, natural scenery in what used to be a very heavily traveled passenger and freight railroad. It also offers users an interesting educational perspective of our solar system. Some artifacts of the railroad are still present, but mostly just the remnants of the codeline poles. Very few people born after the 1980's will even realize that this used to be a historic railroad line. I hope this discontiguous part of the trail will be connected to the western segment in Indianapolis and the eastern one in Greenfield for a complete trail between both cities in the future, but those plans seem on hold for now. This trail has a lot of potential. If you're looking for a longer trail, check out the Monon Trail in Indy.

Hello... I ride all 3 Pennsy Trails... each has things I lkje and things I dont like.

the Cumberland Trailh is the best of the Pennsy Trails --- far and Away the best.

The Pennsy Trail in Greenfield, IN is a mostly linear trail as would be expected with a rail-trail. The in-town portion of the trail passes by light manufacturing and warhousing areas as well as a few neighborhoods. There are not too many cross streets to deal with and there is a safety gate at the busiest intersection at State Road 9.

The east and west sections outside of the downtown area are fairly similar with trees on both sides of the trail, but no real canopy over the trail. The western leg does curve north around a large business compound and skirts near US 40 for a short while and then jogs back south to bick up the old rail line again. This is a welcomed diversion from the otherwise straight trail. The rural areas offer some views of farm fields and open fields, but in many places the views are blocked by the trees on both sides in the summer months. However, the trees do block some businesses that front US 40, so the lack of view on this side of the trail is a good thing. The eastern leg passes by a mature stand of trees on the south side, which did offer afternoon shade on the trail in late summer. This section also passes over Brandywine Creek.

There are parking lots at each trailhead and a fairly spacious one at the trailend on CR 150 W. The trailhead at CR 400 E also has a port-o-let.

All in all, this is a very nice trail that is well marked and maintained. The 5.3 mile distance makes it a nice biking option since it is over 10 miles roundtrip. The trail is not particularly scenic, which is why I rated it a 3 instead of a 4. However, don't let this discourage you from using the trail. It is a very nice trail and I would recommend it.