Hilly Runs in the Indianapolis area?

Im not much help to you. But im going to be in the Indy area for a weekend and was wondering if anyone knew of any good trails for some softer running?>

If you're looking in the city, pickings are slim. You're best bets in town are either Eagle Creek Park on the northwest side or Fort Benjamin Harrison on the northeast side. Both areas have gentle rolling hills, but nothing too challenging.

If you want something tougher, you need to travel further south such as to Nashville, IN and the Brown County area.

Indy for a Weekend wrote:

Im not much help to you. But im going to be in the Indy area for a weekend and was wondering if anyone knew of any good trails for some softer running?>

There is a gravel trail just north of downtown called the Canal Towpath. It hooks up with several paved trails in the downtown area and runs right past Butler University. There are some trail running also available in Eagle Creek Park and Fort Ben Harrison State Park.

The highest point in Marion county (Indianapolis) is in Crown Hill Cemetery. Enter at 34th and Boulevard Place. The hill isn't long, but it's steep. It might be useful when worked into some sort of hill workout. I run there at times. Kind of an interesting place. Lots of famous people buried there (John Dillinger, President Harrison, etc).

There's some nice rolling hills in Cool Creek park, located at 146th street kind of near the Wal-Mart where Carmel/Westfield come together. Fair warning, this park seems to be a homosexual hangout, so if it bothers you to see cars backed into spaces, and strange men ogling you, stay away.

For flat trails, the canal path can't be beat. Catch it on the north end in Broad Ripple (62nd/Broad Ripple Ave) and College. The south end terminates somewhere around 30th street, near the old Naval armory.

There's always the Monon for flat and good scenery. You can run this from downtownish all the way up to 146th street. Paved, but I usually run in the dirt/gravel alongside the path to save on leg wear and tear.

Eagle Creek is wonderful, if you're out that way (I'm usually not).

The canals downtown are kind of interesting, but you'd be pouding out on concrete and it's not terribly long.

Ask more questions if you have them...I've lived here 10 years and know the area pretty well.

Drive an hour south to Lake Monroe!

If you're "just North" of Indy, then you are probably in Hamilton County somewhere. As the others have said, there aren't a lot of monster hills around, but if you look hard enough, you can find some. There are also several loops around with plenty of rolling hills that will leave your legs suprisingly zapped the next day.

As far as trails go, the Canal Towpath is one of the nicer runs in the city. In addition to the true path, there are sveral little trails in the Butler area that kind of run parallel to it. Eagle Creek has lots of nice trails too, and you should be able to find someone to run with pretty easily too.

If you are interested in more details, post an e-mail, and I'll respond.

As someone who has run in and around the city for a decade, if you are looking for a hillier place to run about once a week, then drive the 20-30 minutes south to Eagle Creek Park on the westside. Butler has great places to run, but it isn't that hilly, so it might not be worth the drive. Fort Ben just isn't Eagle Creek, it's too small and has too many roads. The Monon, The Canal, Fall Creek, and White River are all great for workouts, but are flat.

When running at Eagle Creek, park at the water plant or Indianapolis Colts Complex on 56th street and sneak in through the trail one block west of the main gate. It's easy and you'll never get caught.

Everyone has given a fair description of the the Eagle Creek, Ft. Ben, Towpath, Monon, downtown Canal etc...

Bart must live up in Lebanon somewhere now since he drives SOUTH to Eagle Creek (what's up Bart? Hope all is well...) Eagle Creek is on the NW side of Indy. If you are planning on running in the evening, don't bother sneaking in. The gatekeepers close up shop around 5 pm and you're on your honor to pay once they are gone.

And if you are planning on running out there during the day and can't scrounge up the change under the seat of your car for the admission fee, go north on Lafayette Rd a bit and the following route (fair warning - it is all on the roads and there isn't much of a shoulder) will give you a few hills to enjoy. There is a church where Moore Rd Ts into Lafayette Rd where you can park:

South on Lafayette Rd to west on Traders Lane, west on Wilson Road (few rolling hills), south on Fishback (gradual hill), west on Maloney, north on 1050 E, east on Wilson (long gradual downhill), north on Fishback (steep uphill), east on 82nd St (steep hill), south on Preservation Way to wind you back to Traders Lane.

Morgan Monroe State Park is just 30 minutes south of Indy and that is where you will find the closest hills on trails. It is a lot of singletrack type stuff, but you can get lost out there for 2-3 hours if you want. It is between Indy & Bloomington off St. Rd. 37.

FYI Bart...

There's actually a really nice, and very hilly 5K loop that can be done on the streets in the Butler neighborhood. There are no mountains, but you'll feel it the next day.

Is the 5k loop marked somehow? It must involve the hill on 52nd street between Captiol and Boulevard Place. I run in that area a lot (live near there). I enjoy cutting aross the athletic fields to that trail on the white river, following it south, I got lost back in there once.

Doug E. wrote:

FYI Bart...

There's actually a really nice, and very hilly 5K loop that can be done on the streets in the Butler neighborhood. There are no mountains, but you'll feel it the next day.

I kind of curious what the 5K route is. I've run at Butler several times and agree there are some descent hills in the neighborhood and on campus (heading down to Holcomb Gardens and around the observatory). If you could give me directions of the 5K course, I'd appreciate it. Is it accurate?

Bart Phariss wrote:

When running at Eagle Creek, park at the water plant or Indianapolis Colts Complex on 56th street and sneak in through the trail one block west of the main gate. It's easy and you'll never get caught.

I would be careful with this one. I don't know if it was the same entrance of Eagle Creek, but I know someone who was stopped by police, given a very hard time, and fined extremely heavily for sneaking in on foot.

IndianaRunner wrote:

I would be careful with this one. I don't know if it was the same entrance of Eagle Creek, but I know someone who was stopped by police, given a very hard time, and fined extremely heavily for sneaking in on foot.

I also know of a couple guys who entered from the area west of the 56th entrance (near Dandy Trail) who were stopped and fined as well.

What's the fee if you enter on foot? I've only driven in.

Wait, you have to pay just to get into this Eagle Creek place? And how far is it from the west side of Indy, I will be around the Plainfield area.

Hook up with the indyrunners. There is a group that runs on sunday at Fort Ben (I believe on the golf course) I think this is a bit hilly.

Also running around Marian College has some hills and is near the Canal and Coffin Golf Course. For hill repeats the soap box derby hill is near Coffin as well.

Eagle Creek is on the west side, but it would be north of Plainfield. Go east out of Plainfield on 40/East Washingon or I-70, then north on I-465 to the 56th street exit, then left, park is about 1 mile down the road on the right (Colts practice facility on the left). Probably 20 mins or so, depending on where you are. I think the vehicle cost is either $2-$3 depending on what day you drive into the park.

IrunIndy wrote:

What's the fee if you enter on foot? I've only driven in.

I believe if you run/bike in the fee is 50 cents mon-fri and $1 on sat and sun.

IrunIndy wrote:

Eagle Creek is on the west side, but it would be north of Plainfield. Go east out of Plainfield on 40/East Washingon or I-70, then north on I-465 to the 56th street exit, then left, park is about 1 mile down the road on the right (Colts practice facility on the left). Probably 20 mins or so, depending on where you are. I think the vehicle cost is either $2-$3 depending on what day you drive into the park.

A quicker way there from downtown is to take I-65 north to the 71st street exit. The north park entrance off of I-65 will be west about 200 yards. It will take 10-15 minutes from downtown to get there. The bad thing about the north entrance is there really is no where to park outside if you want to run in, so you have to pay the vehicle fee.