Monon South Trail Groundbreaking marks the start of construction on Indiana's soon-to-be longest rail trail.
Southern Indiana is known for its rolling hills, deep Hoosier National Forest, vast farmland and Ohio River communities. In the heart of this landscape lies a former CSX railroad corridor that is currently being converted into The Monon South, nearly 60 contiguous miles of multi-use trail.
This summer, we celebrated the Monon South Trail Phase 1 Groundbreaking Ceremony in Borden, Indiana, which will be an important regional trailhead. Community leaders, trail organizers and state and local representatives came together to mark the beginning of the first phase of construction, which will complete 20 miles of multi-use rail-to-trail segments in the communities of Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Orleans and Mitchell.
Where is The Monon South?
Just north of New Albany, Indiana at the Floyd and Clark County lines will be the southern terminus of The Monon South Trail. It will continue northwest rolling through Washington, Orange and Lawrence counties passing through the communities of Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Campbellsburg, Orleans, and Mitchell. Parts of the trail will parallel Indiana Highway 60 with many sections venturing off into idyllic farmland and woodlands.
A Short History of The Monon South
The Monon South Trail is named for The Monon Railroad, also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway that went by the tagline “The Hoosier Line.” The line was in operation from the 1890s until 1971. CSX was its last operator with its final runs on the line in 2008.
The name “The Monon” may already sound familiar as Indianapolis and its northern suburbs have benefited from The Monon Trail since it was completed in 1999. The paved trail spans more than 25 miles and sees over one million users annually. While the Monon South Trail is not affiliated or connected to the Indianapolis trail, it shares the history of the Monon Railroad.
What we know about The Monon South
The development of the Monon South Trail is fluid. There are several phases to be constructed before we have a completed Monon South Trail. Here is a few things we know about the trail right now:
According to a Radius Indiana release, the design and initial construction of phase 1 of the trail began in 2023, with phase 1 construction expected to wrap-up in 2025. The focus of phase 1 is completing sections that lie within communities along the trail, which will serve as trailheads offering trail users restroom facilities and parking.
Inside the designated trailhead towns, the trail surface will be paved. The remaining stretches are expected to be a hard-packed crushed aggregate.
The trail will also be in close proximity to other Indiana natural resources, including Hoosier National Forest, Spring Mill State Park, Cave River Valley Natural Area, Twin Creek Valley Nature Conservancy, Jackson-Washington State Forest, Deam Lake and Clark State Forest.
Future regional development includes a linked corridor to New Albany’s South Monon Freedom Trail, which would extend the corridor to New Albany and the Ohio River. Connecting to the existing Ohio River Greenway, this would provide direct trail access to the Monon South from Clarksville, Jeffersonville and Louisville, Kentucky.
Explore more about The Monon South Trail.
Local Trails to ride right now!
While we patiently await the arrival of The Monon South, there are plenty of beautiful multi-use trails to enjoy in the Kentuckiana region.
This recreational corridor is the crown jewel of the Ohio River waterfront, connecting the communities of Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany. The 15+-mile round trip river corridor provides picturesque views of the area and plenty of opportunities to explore Southern Indiana. Check out a map of the greenway.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork
A short drive to the Southeastern corner of neighboring Louisville, Kentucky lies a 4,000-acre linear park made up of over 60 miles of hiking, biking and paddling trails, including the seasonal Silo Center Bike Park in Turkey Run Park. Learn more about The Parklands.
The Louisville Loop
The Louisville Loop is an estimated 100-mile trail system that will eventually encircle the city of Louisville. Nearly 50 miles of the system is currently complete with 19 miles of the Louisville Loop residing in The Parklands. Another 23-mile stretch is part of The Ohio River Valley Section, which goes through Waterfront Park, historic Shawnee and Chickasaw Parks, Rubbertown, Riverside Gardens and Farnsley-Moremen Landing. Learn more about the Louisville Loop.
The 1/2-mile long Big Four Bridge is an attraction that you will want to ride across. Get great views of Southern Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. From the Big Four, you’ll have direct access to the Ohio River Greenway, Louisville’s Waterfront Park and the Louisville Loop.
Lewis and Clark Bridge
The 1.4-mile (one-way) path over the Lewis & Clark Bridge near Jeffersonville’s River Ridge next to Interstate-265 is a beautiful ride. There are also several routes in the area to continue the ride near the scenic Ohio River.
Find other great cycling routes in the area in Cycling in Southern Indiana — A Bike Ride for Every Cyclist.
