Five years ago, I moved to Indianapolis and became a runner in a new city. Running in a new place is always an adventure—with new roads and routes to map. But nobody knows the trail system better than a local.

Lucky for me, I was fortunate enough to learn about the November Project on social media, so I already had a gateway to community and exercise. I just had to show up! 

November Project is a free fitness group that meets every week, across the globe, and outside no matter what. Here in Indy, we meet at the Indiana War Memorial every Wednesday at 6 A.M. and other various locations every Friday at 6 A.M. The workouts are thirty minutes long and consist of short distance running combined with body weight exercises. 

Through this group, I was able to connect with other like-minded runners who helped me navigate the running scene in Indy. I had so much fun my first few years as a new runner, exploring different trails and coming across various running groups. Now, I’m confidently running around Indy, and I hope this article can help you find the right trail or group to meet your running needs.

1. Indianapolis Cultural Trail

As a downtown dweller, I quickly learned about the most well-known multi-use trail in Indy—the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. This world-class trail is a vibrant walking path that now spans 10.6 miles through cultural districts and neighborhoods of Indianapolis. 

This is my favorite trail to run because I feel like I’m immersed in the city as I’m passing by restaurants, hotels, parks, and markets. You never know what you’re going to see on the Cultural Trail! Some days you might come across live music, a festival, or even a race. The Cultural Trail is a great, safe way to explore the heart of downtown Indianapolis by foot or bike. 

If you’re an early bird, I encourage you to meet up with Naptown Run Club at the Athenaeum on Mondays at 5:45 A.M. and Saturdays at 6:45 A.M. to run the Cultural Trail around the city. But if you prefer to run later or on your own, the trail is easy to navigate. Just pull up a map to find your starting point and follow the pavers! Pro Tip: if you made a pit stop for shopping or simply don’t have the energy to run back, find a Pacers Bike Share station and quickly ride home.

2. The Monon Trail

While the Cultural Trail stays centered in Indianapolis, The Monon is the most popular trail that goes beyond the city limits. This 27-mile paved trail runs north to south, beginning at 10th Street in downtown Indianapolis, traveling through Broad Ripple, going to Carmel and Westfield, and ending in Sheridan. It also connects to other trail systems I’ll be highlighting here, like the Fall Creek Greenway, the Nickel Plate Trail, and more. 

The Monon is one of the most used trails in Indy for a reason. It’s a stunning nature trail that connects you with many parks, restaurants, art installations, and shops along the way. Pro Tip: if you’re running through Carmel, you’ll have easy access to restrooms and water fountains. But otherwise, you’ll need to plan accordingly!

There are also lots of races that take place on the Monon throughout the year. The Grand Run Half Marathon in Westfield has a segment on the Monon, part of the Carmel Marathon follows the Monon, and if you’re up for a challenge, the Full Mo is an annual 50k race that begins in Sheridan and finishes at the end of the Monon in downtown Indianapolis. 

If racing isn’t for you, you can join a run with the Monon Track Club, which meets Tuesdays around 6 P.M. at Half Liter and Saturdays at 8 A.M. at O’Bannon Old Northside Soccer Park. If those times don’t work for you or you live further north, you can also check out the Carmel Runners Club. They meet every Wednesday at 6 P.M. at Union Brewing Company and every Saturday at 8 A.M. at Java House in Midtown.

3. Central Canal Towpath 

One of my favorite trails to run is the Central Canal Towpath, which extends 7.7 miles along the Central Canal from Indianapolis to Broad Ripple. The trail is made of crushed gravel, so it’s easy on the knees—and offers beautiful views the entire way. The best time of year to run the Towpath is during peak fall foliage. You’ll be so distracted by the beauty of the trees that the next thing you know, you’re wrapping up your run!

There are plenty of other trail users on the Towpath throughout the year, and depending on the season, you might even catch yourself running alongside Butler University athletes! You’ll also likely see cute ducks and turtles in the water, but keep an eye out for wandering geese.

Pro Tip: If you plan to drive to the Towpath, I recommend parking at Virginia B Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. When you head out, you’ll get a glimpse of the Newfields museum on the east side of the canal. And as you’re on your way back, you can cool down on the trail around the 100 Acres Lake or take a walk around the park admiring art installations like Funky Bones and Park of the Laments.

For racers who love the Towpath as much as I do, the 8-Hour Dream Endurance Race might be for you. This race starts late morning in the middle of the summer and you go all day—8 hours! You can do this on your own, but most people pair up with a team and take turns running laps from Butler University’s campus to the Towpath. It’s hot, it’s hard, but it sure is fun!

4. The Fall Creek Greenway

The Fall Creek Greenway is another lovely trail that runs from Ensign Graham Martin Park in Indianapolis all the way to my favorite park—Fort Harrison State Park in Lawrence. This winding, 13.9-mile trail system offers many things to do along the Fall Creek River, including fishing, canoeing, pick-up basketball games, and even events at the State Fairgrounds. 

This is another beautiful trail to run in the fall with the trees lining the creek, so while you keep trekking on your long run, don’t forget to look up and soak in the scenery! And if you’re looking for an official race through the park, sign up for the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben in early October. This race winds through the park roads and lets you see the beginning of the leaves changing their colors.

Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the trail through Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park to Geist Reservoir and the White River, stretching this trail to 22.6 miles in total. That means you’ll be able to practically run a marathon on this trail alone! However, there aren’t designated stops for bathrooms or water, unless you’re passing through the park. (Pro Tip: don’t forget your park pass!) 

5. Pleasant Run Trail

Next, we have Pleasant Run Trail, which begins in Ellenberger Park near Irvington and runs southwestward to Garfield Park. This 6.9-mile paved trail follows along Pleasant Run Creek, connects to the Cultural Trail, and has three convenient restroom stops along the way. They’ve also proposed an expansion to the trail that will run north toward I-70, wrap around through downtown, and connect to the White River Greenway.

Pro Tip: You can also travel east from Ellenberger Park along what used to be the Pennsylvania Railroad—and is now the Pennsy Trail. This mostly flat, paved trail is not entirely complete, but has finished segments stretching from Terre Haute to Richmond. Work continues to be done on the trail, but in the meantime, the Irvington segment still offers a direct path between Indianapolis and Cumberland in Hancock County.

6. The B&O Trail

What was once a bustling railroad is now one of the newest paved trails in the region—the B&O Trail! The former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corridor has recently been converted to a convenient multi-use trail for cyclists, runners, bladers, and walkers. It begins on Michigan Street on the near west side of Indianapolis and runs northwest through the town of Speedway and expanded into Brownsburg.

Pro Tip: This trail feels like one of Indy’s best-kept secrets (for now). So, if you want some solitude, it’s a great place for a quiet run. But if you live in Speedway and are looking for running buddies, the Speedway Running Club meets every Wednesday at 6 P.M. at Daredevil Taproom for a fun group run.

7. Nickel Plate Trail

Speaking of rail trails, the Nickel Plate Trail spans 27.1 miles across the old Nickel Plate Railroad, connecting Indianapolis to Hamilton County to the north. Beginning at 42nd Street and the Monon Trail, the Nickel Plate Trail runs through the heart of Fishers and Noblesville, offering a direct route straight through both cities’ downtown hubs.

In Indianapolis, the trail also has raised cross walks with traffic lights, which makes it an incredibly safe and pedestrian-friendly route north. And when you get into Fishers, you’ll find art installations, murals, gathering spots, pop-up events, and a soon-to-be pocket park right off the trail. Pro Tip: the mural inside the tunnel under 116th Street doubles as an artsy, projected light show, which makes it a fun spot to catch your breath.

If you live in Fishers and are looking for a running group, you can also join the Fishers Running Club. They meet at Athletic Annex on Wednesdays at 7 P.M. for a fun run and a weekend run on Saturdays at 8 A.M. at Heritage Park. But make sure to check their website for the most up-to-date meeting spots! 

8. The Big 4 Rail Trail

The Big 4 Rail Trail is another railway corridor that once connected Cleveland to Chicago and St. Louis. Now, this paved trail runs between Zionsville, Whitestown, Lebanon, and Colfax. While parts of the trail are still under construction, you can take advantage of over 15 miles of trailway today—and some day the expanded trail will span over 50 miles to Lafayette! 

Pro Tip: This trail is paved and 13-feet-wide, which makes it perfect for running with groups like Zionsville Run Club. They meet Tuesday morning and evening, Wednesday evening, and Saturday morning, giving you plenty of options to explore the northwest running scene. Whether you’re running with friends or by yourself, there are many different access points to hop along the trail, including Heritage Trail Park, Mulberry Fields, Jennings Field, and Carter Station.

Indianapolis is a city built for runners.

Whether you love shaded nature trails or bustling sidewalk routes, the Indianapolis region has hundreds of miles of trails just waiting for you to explore. 

There are many benefits to having access to such a robust trail system—beyond simple physical health. Trails improve quality of life for both local residents and cross-city commuters. They are also important for citywide and regional growth, as it connects our communities and fosters social connection.

I touched on a handful of popular trails around Indianapolis and the metro region, but there are many more trails—paved and dirt—with dozens of organized running groups across the city. If you’re new to Indy and looking to connect with our running scene, please don’t hesitate to reach out for more recommendations. I’d love to connect with you!