Panhandle Pathway and Nickel Plate Trail Connector Routes

Panhandle to Nickel Plate Trail

  1. From the Panhandle Pathway at the Kenneth Trailhead proceed east on Cass CR 50 N to CR 500 W. 
  2. Turn left onto CR 500 W and proceed north to CR 150 N.
  3. Turn right at CR 150 N and proceed east over US 35 to the “T” at Indian Creek Rd.
  4. Turn right (south) at Indian Creek Rd. and proceed to Northern Ave.
  5. Turn left (east) at Northern Ave. and proceed to Clifton Ave.
  6. Turn right (south) at Clifton Ave and proceed to Jackson St.
  7. Turn left (east) at Jackson St. and proceed to Meadlawn Ave.
  8. Turn right (south) onto Meadlawn Ave. and proceed to Michigan Ave.
  9. Turn left (northeast) on Michigan Ave. (S.R. 25) and proceed about 1 block to Smith Street. 
  10. Turn right (east) onto Smith Street and proceed to Huston Park and the Huston Park Trail.
  11. Take Huston Park Trail southwest to the River Bluff Trail.  Huston Park Trail dead ends into River Bluff Trail at the Eel River.
  12. At the River Bluff Trail turn left (east) and proceed about 500 feet to the Cole Bridge.
  13. Turn right onto the Cole Bridge and cross the Eel River to the Riverside Park Trail.
  14. Turn right (west) and proceed on the Riverside Park Trail to Race St.
  15. Continue west onto Race St. to 7th St.
  16. Turn left (south) at 7th St. and proceed to North St.
  17. Turn right (west) on North St. and proceed to the “T” at 4th St.
  18. Turn left (south) on 4th St. and proceed to Melbourne Ave.
  19. Turn left (east) on Melbourne Ave. 
  20. Follow Melbourne Ave. to Wabash Ave.
  21. Turn right (south) on Wabash Ave. to the Little Turtle Waterway Trail.
  22. Turn left (east) onto the Little Turtle Waterway Trail and proceed to 18th St.
  23. Turn right (south) onto the 18th Street bridge and proceed over the Wabash River.
  24. On the south side of the bridge turn left (east) onto Wabash River Road. 
  25. Wabash River Road changes names to South River Road at 24th St. 
  26. Continue going east on South River Road.
  27. South River Road changes names to CR 150 S at CR 500 E.
  28. Continue going east on CR 150 S to the “T” at CR 600 E.
  29. Turn left (north) and proceed about one quarter of a mile on CR 600 E to CR 125 S.
  30. Turn right (east) on CR 125 S and proceed to CR 700 E.
  31. Turn right (south) on 700 E. and carefully cross the four-lane highway, US 24, also known as the Hoosier Heartland Highway. Caution: High speed traffic. Proceed to CR 250 S.
  32. Turn left (east) and proceed on CR 250 S. CR 250 S curves down and around to the right and turn into CR 800 E.  Caution: Steep hill.
  33. Follow CR 800 E south to the Pipe Creek Bridge. The bridge will be on your left.
  34. Turn left onto the Pipe Creek Bridge, crossing over to CR 825 E.
  35. Turn left (north) on CR 825 E and proceed around the curve to the right onto CR 200 S.
  36. Take CR 200 S. east.  Note:  200 S. turns into South River Road.
  37. Follow South River Road east.  The Wabash River is on your left.
  38. South River Road turns into West River Road at the Miami-Cass County Line.
  39. Follow West River Road east to the stop sign at Business US 31. 
  40. Turn right (south) on Business US 31 and proceed a short distance to South Wallick Rd.
  41. Turn left (south) onto South Wallick Rd and proceed a short distance to the Nickel Plate trail on your left.

Ride with GPS map

Print Directions

1.  Starting at mile marker 00.0 at the Winamac depot at Main & Logan Streets, travel south on Panhandle Pathway to mile marker 2.2 located just past the south edge of the Tippecanoe River Bridge.  Note:  Mileage to Nickel Plate trail is approximately 25 miles.

2.  Approximately 250 feet past mile marker 2.2, turn left (east) onto a short, paved driveway.  Stop and carefully exit out onto and over U.S. Hwy 35.  Caution:  High speed traffic in both directions.

3.  Follow U.S. Hwy 35 north about 200 feet to Pulaski County Road 200 S. 

4.  Turn right (east) and follow County Road 225 S. east to the “T” at C.R. 225 E.  Note:
225 S. turns into 200 S.

5.  Turn right (south) and follow C.R. 225 E. a quarter of a mile to C.R. 225 S. 

6.  Turn left and go east on C.R. 225 S.  C.R. 225 eventually changes into C.R. 250 S. after going through a series of short winding curves in the road.

7.  Continue on C.R. 250 S. to and through the small town of Kewanna.  C.R. 250 S. is Main St. in Kewanna.  Mileage from Winamac to Kewanna is approximately 9.5 miles.

8.  Continue east through Kewanna on C.R. 250 S. (Main St.) to Fulton C.R. 850 W.  A small cemetery will be on your right.

9.  Turn left (north) on C.R. 850 W. and proceed north a mile and a half to C.R. 100 S.

10. Turn right onto C.R. 100 S. and proceed east to Meridian Road.

11. Take a left and go north on Meridian Road about 1 miles to IN State Road 14.

12. Turn right (east) onto S.R. 14 and go over the U.S. 31 hwy overpass.  Caution:  High speed traffic.

13. Continue east on S.R. 14 to the traffic light in Rochester.  S.R. 14 is also 18th
Street in Rochester. 

14. Continue straight ahead (east) on 18th Street.  After an “S” curve, 18th
Street will change into Mitchell Drive.

15. Follow Mitchell Drive a short distance to the Nickel Plate trail.  Welcome.  The Trailhead is on the north side of
Mitchell Drive.

Print Directions

Nickel Plate Trail to Panhandle

  1. Leave from the west side of the Nickel Plate Trailhead and follow Wallick Road northwest to the stop sign at Business US 31. Turn right onto Business US 31 and travel a short distance to West River Road. 
  2. Turn left (west) onto West River Road and proceed. When you cross into Cass County, West River Road changes names to South River Road.  Continuing west on South River Road, the name changes again to CR 200 S.  Continue west on Cass Co. Rd. 200 S.
  3. 200 S. curves left (south) and changes to CR 825 E.  Follow 825 E. south to Pipe Creek Bridge.  Turn right (west) and cross Pipe Creek Bridge. 
  4. Once on west side of the bridge, turn right and go north on CR 800 E.
  5. CR 800 E curves up and to the left (west) and becomes CR 250 South. Caution: Steep hill.
  6. Follow CR 250 S west to CR 700 East.
  7. Turn right (north) and proceed on CR 700 E to the four-lane highway, US 24, also known as the Hoosier Heartland Highway. Caution: High speed traffic.
  8. Carefully cross the four-lane highway, US 24, and turn left (west) on CR 125 S.
  9. Proceed on CR 125 S. to the “T” at CR 600 E.
  10. Turn left (south) and proceed one quarter of a mile on CR 600 E to CR 150 S.
  11. Turn right (west) and proceed west on CR 150 S.
  12. CR 150 S changes names to South River Road at CR 500 E.
  13. South River Road changes names to Wabash River Road at 24th St.
  14. Follow Wabash River Road west to the “T” at 18th St.    
  15. Turn right (north) on 18th St. and proceed across the 18th Street Bridge.
  16. On the north side of the bridge, immediately turn left (west) onto the Little Turtle Waterway Trail.
  17. Follow the trail west and turn right (north) on Wabash Ave.
  18. Proceed on Wabash Ave. across the railroad tracks and turn left (west) on Melbourne Ave.
  19. Turn right (north) on 5th St. and proceed to North St.
  20. Turn right (east) on North St. and proceed to 7th St.
  21. Turn left (north) on 7th St. and proceed to Race St.
  22. Turn right (east) on Race St. and proceed to the entrance of Riverside Park. 
  23. Follow the Riverside Park Trail east next to the Eel River to the Cole Bridge.
  24. Turn left (north) onto the Cole Bridge and over the Eel River.
  25. On the north side of the Cole Bridge, turn left (west) onto the River Bluff trail.
  26. Follow the River Bluff trail west approximately 500 feet.
  27. Turn right into the Hervey Preserve/Huston Park trail.
  28. Follow this trail through Huston Park and out onto Commerce St.
  29. Follow Commerce St. north one half block to Smith St. 
  30. Turn left (west) and proceed on Smith St. to Michigan Ave. 
  31. Turn left (southwest and proceed on Michigan Ave a short distance to Meadlawn Ave.
  32. Turn right (north) and proceed on Meadlawn Ave. to Jackson St.
  33. Turn left (west) and proceed on Jackson St. to Clifton Ave.
  34. Turn right (north) and proceed on Clifton Ave. to Northern Ave.
  35. Turn left (west) and proceed on Northern Ave. to Indian Creek Road.
  36. Turn right (north) and proceed on Indian Creek Road to CR 150 N.
  37. Turn left (west) and proceed on CR 150 N across US 35 to CR 500 W.
  38. Turn left (south) and proceed on CR 500 W to CR 50 N.
  39. Turn right (west) and proceed on CR 50 N to the Kenneth Trailhead.       

Ride with GPS map

Print Directions

  1. From the North Nickel Plate trailhead in Rochester, leave the trail and follow the cross road, Mitchell Drive west. After a couple of turns, Mitchell Drive changes into 18th
  1. Continue ahead (west) on 18th Street to the traffic light. After this traffic light 18th is also Indiana State Road 14.  Caution:  High speed traffic.
  1. Continue ahead (west) on 18th /S.R. 14 to and over the U.S. Hwy 31 overpass.
  1. Once on the other side of the overpass, turn left (south) onto Meridian Road.
  1. Follow Meridian Road south about 1 mile to Fulton County Road 100 S.
  1. Turn right (west) at County Road 100 S. and proceed west to C.R. 850 W.
  1. Turn left (south) at C.R. 850 W. and go south about 1.5 miles to the “T” at C.R. 250 S.
  1. Turn right (west) onto C.R. 250 S. and proceed west to and through the small town of Kewanna. R. 250 S. is Main St.  Kewanna is about 15.5 miles from the Nickel Plate.
  1. Continue ahead (west) on C.R. 250 S. several more miles. After an “S” curve, C.R. 250 S. turns into C.R. 225 S.
  1. Continue west on C.R. 225 S. to C.R. 225 E.
  1. Turn right (north) onto C.R. 225 E. and go a quarter of a mile north to C.R. 200 S.
  1. Turn left (west) and go west on C.R. 200 S. to the “T” at U.S. 35 Hwy. Caution: High speed traffic.
  1. Carefully crossover U.S. 35 Hwy and turn left (south) and go about 200 feet.
  1. Turn right into a short, paved driveway.
  1. You have arrived at The Panhandle Pathway.
  1. Turn right and proceed north approximately 2 miles to Winamac, IN.
  1. Turn left and proceed south to Star City, Thornhope, Royal Center or Kenneth, the present south terminus of the Panhandle Pathway.

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Panhandle Pathway
February 20th, 7:01 pm
Panhandle Pathway

Trail Talk: Issue 42: 2025 Trail Highlights
As many of you may already know, the trail extension from Indiana State Road 14 to the new 17th Street trailhead in Winamac is complete. This newest section of trail is now open and has become popular with residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. For the truly adventurous, the trail now offers a continuous 23-mile non-motorized route south from 17th Street to Kenneth, Indiana—located near France Park along U.S. 24 in Cass County.
Work continues on the southern trail extension that will provide access to France Park. Land for the trail right-of-way is currently being acquired, and plans are underway to extend the trail approximately one mile to the park. The route has already been surveyed and laid out. If all goes as planned, this project is expected to be completed by years’ end.
Our popular bicycle ride, Moonlight Over the Tippy, will return again in 2026. Mark your calendars for Friday evening, June 5th. Registration information is available now at www.panhandlepathway.org/event/moonlight-over-the-tippy-2026/.
We extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who help keep the trail open, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. Maintaining more than 23 miles of trail requires consistent, dedicated effort. Positive comments such as “the trail is well maintained” do not happen by accident. Volunteers regularly mow, clear downed trees after storms, cut back overgrown brush, and remove stones, twigs, leaves, and other debris from the pavement. This ongoing work ensures a safe and pleasant experience for all trail users.
Anyone interested in helping with trail maintenance or clean-up efforts is encouraged to visit www.panhandlepathway.org/volunteer-2/ for more information.
Happy Trails! ... See MoreSee Less

Trail Talk: Issue 42: 2025 Trail Highlights As many of you may already know, the trail extension from Indiana State Road 14 to the new 17th Street trailhead in Winamac is complete. This newest section of trail is now open and has become popular with residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. For the truly adventurous, the trail now offers a continuous 23-mile non-motorized route south from 17th Street to Kenneth, Indiana—located near France Park along U.S. 24 in Cass County. Work continues on the southern trail extension that will provide access to France Park. Land for the trail right-of-way is currently being acquired, and plans are underway to extend the trail approximately one mile to the park. The route has already been surveyed and laid out. If all goes as planned, this project is expected to be completed by years’ end. Our popular bicycle ride, Moonlight Over the Tippy, will return again in 2026. Mark your calendars for Friday evening, June 5th. Registration information is available now at https://www.panhandlepathway.org/event/moonlight-over-the-tippy-2026/. We extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who help keep the trail open, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. Maintaining more than 23 miles of trail requires consistent, dedicated effort. Positive comments such as “the trail is well maintained” do not happen by accident. Volunteers regularly mow, clear downed trees after storms, cut back overgrown brush, and remove stones, twigs, leaves, and other debris from the pavement. This ongoing work ensures a safe and pleasant experience for all trail users. Anyone interested in helping with trail maintenance or clean-up efforts is encouraged to visit https://www.panhandlepathway.org/volunteer-2/ for more information. Happy Trails!
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  • Likes: 49
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Comment on Facebook

Thank you!!

It’s a beautiful trail

We are blessed to have such a beautiful trail to enjoy nature & get exercise!

My hope is one day that it will connect to Logansport and we can ride our bikes all the way from our small town out to the countryside!

You are welcome, I love taking care of it!

They surveyed the land at the south end of the trail at Kenneth quarry & are supposed to connect it near France Park. Work should start soon !

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