Walking & Biking trails
- admin791943
- May 13
- 5 min read
Hike, Bike, Walk, or Run the Trails of Noble County!
Explore Noble County by walking, running, or biking! With a diverse range of trails offering both challenging terrain and smooth paved paths, Noble County boasts over 40 miles of routes, catering to all skill levels and abilities.
Chain O' Lakes State Park
Named the Best Attraction in Northeast Indiana by local readers, Chain O' Lakes State Park offers miles of trails traversing 2,718 acres of preserved land through which lakes formed when massive ice sheets advanced over and then melted some 16,000 years ago. The lakes in this chain are kettle lakes formed when the glaciers were still huge blocks of ice.
Noble Trails - Fishingline Trail
Explore the Fishing Line Trail connecting Rome City and Kendallville, the first of what Noble Trails envisions to be several that will connect Noble County and neighbors across Northeast Indiana.
Community Trails
More walking and biking trails can be found in Kendallville at Bixler Lake; Ligonier at Kenney Park; and in Albion at Hidden Diamonds Park.
Trails by Difficulty Level
Plan your next hiking trip by the difficulty or ability level you are seeking!
If you are interested in learning more about one specific trail, make sure to expand the dropdown to learn more.
For Everyone
The trails below are generally easy and are a good hiking experience for everyone in the family! These trails usually are paved or are gravel or turf, and are generally flat.
Trails 3, 5, 7, 11 - Chain O' Lakes State Park
Ranging from 1.3 to 4 miles, trails 3, 5, 7, and 11 at Chain O'Lakes State Park are a great option for all ability levels to explore the beautiful scenery Chain O'Lakes has to offer, from Sand Lake to the historic Stanley Schoolhouse.
Chain O'Lakes State Park also offers a motorized wheelchair that can be taken on trails and facilities around the park.
Trail 1 - Bixler Lake Park
Enjoy a scenic 1.5 mile paved trail, starting at the park entry gate parking lot.
Trails starting at Learning Center Trailhead - Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Starting at the Learning Center, there are ample flat trails that can be enjoyed by anyone of all ability levels! For more information, take a look at their detailed trail map.
Before you start your hike, be sure to check out the Learning Center, which has amazing resources to help enrich your experience. It is open Monday - Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Noble Trails
All of the trails in the Noble Trails system are friendly for everyone! They are generally on flat terrain and are either paved or gravel.
Ligonier Parks Department Trails
The Ligonier Parks Department offers a variety of paved trails throughout their parks system. Stop by the Martin Kenney Park and walk the 1 mile walking path around the park, and stop by the Jennie Thompson Gardens near the entrance for additional scenery.
They also offer the Elkhart Riverwalk, which is a 1-mile paved path along the banks of the Elkhart River. The best access point for this path is near Woodlawn Park.
Trails at Hidden Diamonds Park - Albion Parks Department
Everyone can enjoy the two miles of trails at Hidden Diamonds Park in Albion! The trails are wooded, gravel, and grass trails that wind through wooded areas, wetland, and a meadow. These trails are especially great for bird-watchers!
For more information, check out the Trails page on the Albion Parks website.
Intermediate
Upping the challenge slightly, the intermediate trails are still pretty easy and relaxed, but may have a few bumps or inclines/declines along the way.
Trails 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 - Chain O'Lakes State Park
Upping the difficulty slightly, the intermediate trails at Chain O'Lakes State Park range from 1 to 5.7 miles. These trails will take you throughout the park and are a great way to explore!
Chain O'Lakes State Park also offers a motorized wheelchair that can be taken on trails and facilities around the park.
Lloyd W. Bender Memorial Forest - ACRES Land Trust
Explore thriving wetlands by trekking through the 1.1 miles of trail in the Lloyd W. Bender Memorial Forest.
You can find more information on the Lloyd W. Bender Memorial Forest page on the ACRES Land Trust website.
Lonidaw Nature Preserve - ACRES Land Trust
Lonidaw is a 0.8 mi trail that offers a rich wildflower display and a great diversty of birds to see and hear on your hike.
You can find more information on the Lonidaw Nature Preserve page on the ACRES Land Trust website.
Trails K, R, S, T, U, V - Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Trails R, S, T, U V near Kesling wetland offer a scenic hike around the wetland, with some bumps and declines/inclines in the terrain to add some difficulty.
Trail K offers a slightly more challenging hike that leads towards Luckey's Landing.
For more information, take a look at their detailed trail map.
Rugged
Looking for your next hiking challenge? The trails below offer a more rugged & difficult hiking experience to add adventure to your next hiking trip.
Trail 9 - Chain O'Lakes State Park
Starting at the historic Stanley Schoolhouse, this 1.3 mi rugged trail travels through the Henslow's sparrow restoration field, through a wetland, and around Kreiger Lake.
Edna W. Spurgeon Woodland Reserve - ACRES Land Trust
Rated a 4/5 difficulty level by ACRES Land Trust, the Edna W. Spurgeon Woodland Reserve is a beautiful 1.2 mi trail adorned with wildflowers in the Springtime.
Directions from ACRES Land Trust website: "From the parking lot, head east through a young forest before entering a mature forest of beech, sugar maple and tulip trees, among the largest in the state."
Trail 2 (Bixler Lake Wetland Nature Area) - Bixler Lake Park
While Bixler Lake Park has a combination of easy and harder trails, Trail 2 is described as 1.7 mi of hilly woodlands ideal for wildlife viewing. For an additional challenge, it is possible to hike the loop around all of Bixler Lake, totaling in 3.1 mi without backtracking.
Enhance Your Day
A variety of locally-owned small businesses are waiting to meet you and help make sure your visit in Noble County is unique and memorable. Consider enhancing your day of walking and biking by browsing local shops and indulging in the local food scene by exploring some of the establishments in our small business community! You can explore these locations at SHOPNoble.
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