Stately walkway between Meridian and Central.

The Dr. Beurt SerVaas Bridge marks the meeting of the Fall Creek and White River Trails.

The Fall Creek Trail is our vintage greenway and will eventually connect downtown Indy with northeast Marion County.

Construction update: Expect to see new trail open this summer between 56th Street and Skiles Test Park.

Mixing old and new

A classic parkway -- winding road, wide forested corridor -- is home to the original Fall Creek Trail for three miles. It is a quiet pathway, often brushing against the creek.

Its northernmost two miles share the roadway with light auto traffic while still enjoying the solitude of the riparian corridor. Thanks to a federal Transportation Enhancement grant awarded in December 2003, construction may begin and be complete in 2005 to extend the off-road trail surface those two miles from 56th Street to Skiles Test Park.

The southern two mile section is new in 2003 and its wide path clings to creek and forest much of the way to a junction with the Monon Trail. Trail users cross 38th Street with a flashing light and are encouraged to walk their bikes across the 38th Street Bridge over Fall Creek.

Opposite ends

To the northeast, the Upper Fall Creek Loop Trail is a separate section along Fall Creek Road, just south of 79th Street. Plans call for the Fall Creek Trail to extend that far north, making the Loop Trail a northern terminus.

Between Central Avenue and Meridian Street, a new walkway follows a path created by turn-of-the-century architect George Kessler.

Farther downstream, a short section of the trail connects to the White River Wapahani Trail where Fall Creek flows into White River. There, the suspension-style Dr. Beurt SerVass Bridge crosses Fall Creek to allow access to and from the IUPUI campus, White River State Park and other downtown destinations. Planners are now studying how to extend the main Fall Creek Trail those few remaining miles to the lower sections and complete another connection in the Indy Greenways network.

Photo tour: Select a photo icon below to view pictures in a new browser window or download a printer-friendly trail map in PDF format (1.3mb).