1. Starting at mile marker 00.0 at the Winamac depot at Main & Logan Streets, travel south on Panhandle Pathway to mile marker 2.2 located just past the south edge of the Tippecanoe River Bridge. Note: Mileage to Nickel Plate trail is approximately 25 miles.
2. Approximately 250 feet past mile marker 2.2, turn left (east) onto a short, paved driveway. Stop and carefully exit out onto and over U.S. Hwy 35. Caution: High speed traffic in both directions.
3. Follow U.S. Hwy 35 north about 200 feet to Pulaski County Road 200 S.
4. Turn right (east) and follow County Road 225 S. east to the “T” at C.R. 225 E. Note:
225 S. turns into 200 S.
5. Turn right (south) and follow C.R. 225 E. a quarter of a mile to C.R. 225 S.
6. Turn left and go east on C.R. 225 S. C.R. 225 eventually changes into C.R. 250 S. after going through a series of short winding curves in the road.
7. Continue on C.R. 250 S. to and through the small town of Kewanna. C.R. 250 S. is Main St. in Kewanna. Mileage from Winamac to Kewanna is approximately 9.5 miles.
8. Continue east through Kewanna on C.R. 250 S. (Main St.) to Fulton C.R. 850 W. A small cemetery will be on your right.
9. Turn left (north) on C.R. 850 W. and proceed north a mile and a half to C.R. 100 S.
10. Turn right onto C.R. 100 S. and proceed east to Meridian Road.
11. Take a left and go north on Meridian Road about 1 miles to IN State Road 14.
12. Turn right (east) onto S.R. 14 and go over the U.S. 31 hwy overpass. Caution: High speed traffic.
13. Continue east on S.R. 14 to the traffic light in Rochester. S.R. 14 is also 18th
Street in Rochester.
14. Continue straight ahead (east) on 18th Street. After an “S” curve, 18th
Street will change into Mitchell Drive.
15. Follow Mitchell Drive a short distance to the Nickel Plate trail. Welcome. The Trailhead is on the north side of
Mitchell Drive.
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Trail Talk: Issue 28
Trail Expansion to France Park
With the north end Phase 1 expansion in Winamac nearing completion, focus now turns to taking the Panhandle Pathway through to the entrance of France Park. The Panhandle team continues to work towards the vision of “Park to Park.” When completed, one should be able to follow the Panhandle Pathway from Tippecanoe River State Park on the north end to France Park on the south and never leave the trail. All of the Panhandle friends who continue to back these efforts are appreciated. This is not possible without your help.
The Guys Go Out for a Ride
Alan Nies, area resident and avid bicycle rider, had a recent memorable experience of riding the trail with his three grandchildren.
Fun time for all: Ages 3 to 64. As they discovered, bike riding on the Panhandle Pathway is more than a bike ride. There is so much to see and explore and no two trips are exactly alike. It is an adventure every time.
On this day’s ride they encountered a garter snake sunning on the asphalt. Riley, the 3-year-old, rode his bike right up to investigate. The older two wanted grandpa to check things out first. Next came a large trail side groundhog hole—all looked inside and discovered—no one was home! Just an empty hole.
Alan is no newcomer to bicycle riding and had to explain to the grandkids that a trip to Mud Creek is something that their mothers enjoyed doing when they were little. Back then, of course, it was railroad tracks and not a recreational trail.
As with any long trip out and back, everyone got a little thirsty, and Riley had to sample grandpa’s water bottle drink. He had to explain that grandpa’s drink tasted a little funny. Grandpa said the water was a sports drink and had electrolytes in it. “It gives you energy!” After that conversation, Riley was back out and leading the pack again.
The 7-year-old, Ezra, and the 5-year-old, Jonah, enjoyed wearing their new bicycle helmets. Riley and grandpa put new stickers on Riley’s helmet. By the end of the day, all were tired, ready to go home and agreed that they certainly had fun.
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Park to park will be terrific… can’t wait 😊🚴🏻
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