Paved rail-trail linking Indianapolis, Fishers, and Noblesville and multiple other trailways and offering smooth, scenic miles that blend shaded corridors with easy access to vibrant downtown stops.

Length:
17.1 miles
Surface Type:
Paved
End Points:
S. 3rd St. and Vine Street (Noblesville), E. 42nd Street and Winthrop Ave. (Midtown)
Open Hours:
24 hours (Marion County), Dawn til dusk (Hamilton County)
Suited For:
  • Bike-Friendly
  • Pedestrian-Friendly
  • Skate-Friendly
  • Wheelchair-Friendly
Amenities:
  • Benches
  • Food & Drink
  • Restrooms
  • Shopping Retail
  • Trash Can
  • Water Access
  • Water Station

Trail Map

Local Highlights

  • Indiana State Fairgrounds

    Website
    The Indiana State Fairgrounds is located at the convergence of the Monon Trail, Nickel Plate Trail, and Fall Creek Greenway, making it easily accessible by bike or foot. It hosts year-round events and the annual State Fair, offering entertainment, food, and exhibits just minutes from nearby neighborhoods and downtown Indianapolis.
    • Benches
    • Food & Drink
    • Restrooms
    • Shopping Retail
    • Trash Can
    • Water Access
    • Water Station

  • Nickel Plate District

    Website
    As an Indiana Cultural District, the downtown village for Fishers honors an historic relationship to the Nickel Plate Line railroad. The Nickel Plate District brings together the state-of-the-art Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, access to the Nickel Plate Trail, and plenty of shopping, dining, and living spaces.
    • Benches
    • Food & Drink
    • Restrooms
    • Shopping Retail
    • Trash Can
    • Water Access
    • Water Station

  • The 106 Plaza + Trailhead

    Website
    This trailhead sits at at the intersection of The 106th and the Nickel Plate Trail. It features a courtyard with public tables and seating, fire pits, open green areas, swings, and enhanced access to the Nickel Plate Trail. Restrooms and refreshments are available inside the Hub & Spoke building.
    • Benches
    • Food & Drink
    • Restrooms
    • Shopping Retail
    • Trash Can
    • Water Access
    • Water Station
Explore more on trail map

The Nickel Plate Trail is closed between 75th Street and 82nd Street for Interstate 465/69 interchange reconstruction, which is scheduled to be complete at the end of 2026.

About the Nickel Plate Trail

The Nickel Plate Trail is a paved, multi-use greenway built on the historic Nickel Plate Railroad corridor, and it’s quickly becoming one of central Indiana’s most satisfying rides.

What you feel on the trail is a steady rhythm of city-to-neighborhood-to-nature. You’ll glide through stretches that are pleasantly shaded and tucked away from traffic, then emerge near lively commercial areas where it’s easy to hop off for a snack, a coffee, or a quick stroll. The trail starts in Indy at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where it links into the Monon Trail. It’s smooth and flat path continues through suburban neighborhoods and small pockets of retail activity before arriving in the Fishers Nickel Plate District, a contemporary village built around the trail where you’ll find trailside public art, shops and restaurants as well as a park with amphitheater and a library. From there the trail returns to a suburban feel before arriving in Noblesville where it connects to the Midland Trace Trail and White River Greenway for connections into downtown Noblesville or west to Westfield and is a cornerstone of the HamCo Hubway trail network.

However far you ride, the experience is the same: smooth miles, frequent “hop-off” opportunities near downtowns, and enough wooded and creek-side scenery to make it feel like a green escape even when you’re still in the heart of the metro.

Helpful to know

  • There is a gap in the Nickel Plate Trail while the Interstate 465/69 interchange is under construction. The trail picks back up just north of 75th and Bindford at Knue Rd.

Intersecting trails

Travel Monon Trail Monon Trail logo

Monon Trail

A scenic trail that spans through lush landscapes, charming neighborhoods, and vibrant cultural districts, offering a world-class outdoor experience for explorers of all kinds.

Total Distance:
28.5 miles
Region:
Central, North
View looking down a tree-lined trail with a sign in the foreground that reads "106 Plaza." The 106 Trail Logo

The 106

The 106 stretches from Zionsville to Fishers along 106th Street, offering a smooth, tree-lined route perfect for walking, running, or cycling.

Total Distance:
15.2 miles
Region:
North
group of people riding bikes in Noblesville Midland Trace Trail logo

Midland Trace Trail

The Midland Trace Trail follows the former Central Indiana Railway corridor as it links Westfield and Noblesville, passing through woodlands, open fields, parks, and neighborhoods.

Total Distance:
9.4 miles
Region:
North
two cyclists on Potter's Bridge White River Greenway logo

White River Greenway (North)

The White River Greenway (North) is a scenic ribbon of trail along the White River in two areas of Hamilton County, connecting the communities of Carmel and Noblesville with nature, history, and outdoor adventure.

Total Distance:
6.9 miles across two segments
Region:
North