Tried the Big 4 Rail Trail Yet?

Strava knows where the trail is!

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a line on the Google Maps "biking" layer that I'd not noticed before. If you've read this blog before, though, you know the folks at Google can't be trusted when it comes to that layer; but I figured what the heck: I'd check it out. That line ran from Lebanon to Thorntown, a distance of about ten miles. Google had even given the line a label - "Farm Heritage Trail" - and told me it was a dirt trail. FWIW, Strava knows it's there (see left)...

A little research disproved most of what GoogleMaps said: first, the trail runs from Lebanon to Colfax, an additional six miles; second, the trail is paved for (almost) all of its length; and third, the name of the trail is now the Big 4 trail. And you wondered why I didn't trust what I saw on the map...

A friendly member of Friends of Boone County Trails set me straight on the current status, so we put the bikes on the hitch rack and trucked over to Lebanon to check things out. We started at the Sam Ralston Road trailhead near the intersection of I-65 and IN 32, a couple hundred yards north of the local Menards. There's a paved parking lot, a couple of picnic tables, and a statue of a basketball player (through the number's incorrect for Rick Mount, the pride of Lebanon). The trail heads generally northwest toward Thorntown, where it gets lost in the streets for a couple of blocks before heading on to the Clinton County town of Colfax. At the Lebanon end, the trail extends another half mile before turning into an oversize sidewalk along Main Street. Eventually, plans are to hook up the trail to existing sections further southeast in Whitestown and Zionsville, and in the other direction to Lafayette.

We rode on a late summer Friday, about the same time local school started. That may have been why we saw at most six other cyclists and a couple of walkers along the trail. Then again, maybe the trail's been kept a secret...

My notes on the trail are as follows:

• Downtown trailhead to paved trail terminus at Patterson Street (0.6 miles): double-wide concrete sidewalk along lightly-travelled streets. I decided to use the street.
• Patterson Street to Sam Ralston trailhead (0.6 miles): asphalt in good condition
• Sam Ralston Trailhead to 250W (1.7 mi): paved, but in deteriorating condition. Some root humps have been shaved down and the remaining tall humps are marked with paint. 
• 250W to Thorntown (6.8 miles): Alternating freshly-paved and some older pavement, mostly in good condition. Porta-potties and a bench have been provided at Hazelrigg near the middle of the section. 
• Thorntown to Sugar Creek bridge (1.2 miles): You'll have to use surface streets to find the continuation of the trail at Church and Pearl Streets. Once you're back on the trail, the next mile or so is testament to the power of roots to disturb pavement. In case you aren't aware, by the way, this is the same Sugar Creek that's a central Indiana floating favorite in Turkey Run State park.
• Sugar Creek Bridge to Colfax terminus (4.8 miles): Smooth sailing, although the lack of signage at road crossings is a little disconcerting. On this particular day, the trail margins were almost overgrown with wildflowers such as Queen Anne's lace, chicory, and dame's rocket (among many others). We had an interesting encounter with a couple of curious fawns just outside Colfax. The trail ends at a gazebo with picnic tables for another rest stop in the shade. Ice cream riders have told us that there's a pizza joint in Colfax that serves a mean milkshake...

What's to like: Fresh pavement (summer, 2023) is a delight. Gravel road crossings have been paved as well. Wildflowers and wildlife are abundant. The trail was definitely lightly travelled when we were there. For the most part, the trail is flat and shady. What's not to like: Getting through Thorntown. Parting thoughts: A nice trip for a hot summer day: nothing too strenuous and nice and shady. We'll definitely be back!

Compare to: Cardinal Greenway, Nickel Plate, and Pennsy rail trails.

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