The Longest Section of Indiana’s newest rail-trail is now open
This summer, embark on Southern Indiana’s newest adventure for cyclists, walkers and runners. The Borden section of the Monon South Trail is now open! Wind through Southern Indiana’s quaint small towns and picturesque countryside with views of the Indiana knobs, forests and farmland along the state’s newest rail trail. The Borden section of the Monon South Trail, which celebrated its ribbon cutting in May, stretches over 5.5 miles from Deam Lake State Recreation Area through Borden. Trail users can now also continue to the hamlet of New Pekin for a few extra miles (10.6 miles from Deam Lake to New Pekin).
The Monon South, when complete, will span nearly 60 contiguous miles of multi-use trail from the Floyd and Clark Counties line to Mitchell, Indiana. Dubbed as one of America’s fastest-growing rail-trail projects, the path is being built on a former CSX railroad corridor that was previously served by The Monon Railroad, a Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway.
Today, trail users are free to explore the Borden section! I’ll be your guide to this cycling and pedestrian gem.
What to expect riding or walking the Monon South
The trail is a mixed surface. Users in the town of Borden and also New Pekin, if you choose to extend your journey, are greeted by smooth paved asphalt. Once you leave the town center in Borden or New Pekin, you experience a completely different surface, crushed aggregate. It’s a surface that frequent Indiana trail users may be unfamiliar with. While some may refer to crushed aggregate as “gravel”, it’s actually a hard packed crushed stone that provides an all-season terrain accessible to wheelchairs, strollers and even road bikes.
This section is mostly open to direct sunlight with a few green tunnels (under the tree canopy) so be sure to bring sun protection and plenty of water. Northwest-bound users will experience a slight incline, which also means you get to go downhill when you return.
On-trail restroom facilities are not quite complete yet, but there are porta-potties in a few sections and town amenities are nearby. Borden Community Park has porta-potties near the trail next to the Borden Youth League Baseball Complex.
Where to start the Monon South in Borden
If you prefer to ride or walk the 1.5-mile paved Borden section, I recommend parking at the Borden Community Park. You can also extend the ride or walk to New Pekin on the crushed aggregate trail. If you are looking to avoid riding on any roads, the Borden Community Park is also a great option. Entering from Indiana Highway 60, proceed to the rear of the park where there are several parking lots. The trail is at the very edge of the park.
Those looking to add to the adventure and views, go to Deam Lake State Recreation Area. It is part of the Indiana State Park system, so you can use your Indiana State Park Annual Pass to enter. The daily entrance fee is $7 for those with Indiana license plates and $9 for out-of-state plates. Park at the gravel lot at the entrance or go to the beach area or visitors center parking lots. This option includes hills and cycling down a country road (Deam Lake Road) with local and recreational vehicle traffic for about a mile until you reach the perpendicular crushed aggregate trail. Head Northwest toward Borden. Note: Campsites and cabins are available at Deam Lake.
What to see and do on the Monon South Trail in Borden
Expect to see beautiful wildflowers lining the trail, rolling farm fields and grasslands. Don’t forget to survey the landscape, basking in views of the surrounding tree-covered Indiana knobs. There are plenty of benches along the route to stop and take in the splendor.
Say “hi” to the animals and woodland creatures along the way, including horses, cows, goats, llamas, peacocks, donkeys, deer, turtles, chipmunks and more.
Take in historic structures like the Borden Museum/Old Borden Tavern. The Victorian building was completed in 1900. Its rare collection vanished, but today it functions as a community events center. You’ll also notice a historical marker for the Borden Institute, opened in 1884.
As you ascend northwest, you will be taken back in time to when the hillside was blasted away for the railroad corridor, leaving behind stunning rock cliffs.
Where to eat and drink on the Monon South in Borden
Now, let’s talk food and beverages. Snack time calls for a stop at Norma Jean’s Ice Cream on Indiana Highway 60. The walk-up window ice cream shop has a variety of both soft serve and hand-scooped ice cream for cones, sundaes and milkshakes, as well as burgers, hot dogs, fries and more.
Looking for caffeination? Head to My Cup Runneth Over Coffee & Charcuterie Cafe at 105 Market Street to get your fix of espresso drinks, smoothies, breakfast and lunch items and desserts.
Want a home-cooked meal? Try Buckboard Diner and Pizza at 110 S. West Street. The local diner serves country-style breakfast, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, chicken and weekly specials.
In a little red and white building on the trail in front of the Borden Jr/Sr High School, there is also a 24-hour Trail Snacks & Drinks coming soon.
While you are in the area, plan a stop in charming Starlight and Huber’s Orchard & Winery featuring Huber Winery, Starlight Distillery, U-pick produce and more.
Small sections of the Monon South in Salem, Campbellsburg, Orleans and Mitchell are also open and ready to visit. Even in the early Phase I of the Monon South Trail development, there’s plenty to experience on this one-of-a-kind rail trail. Spend the day or the weekend exploring all that the Monon South has to offer.
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.
Dogs are also welcome on the trail, as long as they are leashed!
