Nothing says get up and move like a beautiful trail. One glance and inertia falls away, opening up a world of fresh air and motion. Whether with walking, running, and biking friends, furry pals, or by oneself, Kosciusko County’s nearly 200 miles of bikeways, greenways, and mountain bike trails test fitness while unveiling history and nature. So go ahead—max your muscles and saturate your senses!
Winona Lake Heritage Trail
The two-mile Heritage Trail is part of Warsaw’s larger Lake City Greenway. From the beach through a lovely wooded tract with clear brook, and through the former Chicago Boys Club, the trail meanders by sculptures from the Heritage Trail Art Project. You’d be pressed to find a nicer spot to contemplate these artworks, with the added bonus that the proximity to the lake rolls a swim and exceptional playground into a bike ride or walk with the kids.
Dogs on leash enjoy a brief release when owners set them free for a splash in the brook, which has sandy little bends where some place a chair for cooling hot feet. A scenic bridge provides a nice overlook for the wandering water and splashing canines.
Parking is available at both trailheads at Winona Avenue and Roy Street, as well as mid-way through at Winona Lake Park on Park Avenue. The asphalt trail provides another option in Heritage Trail 2, a 5.64-mile route in Winona Lake itself.
Winona Lake Mountain Bike Trails for bikers, runners, walkers
Winona Lake boasts ten miles of expertly designed and maintained mountain bike trails. Riders of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy the trails, which are marked by colors. Many green trails are beginner-friendly, and the level of difficulty ranges up to black and double-black trails, like skiing symbols.
Mountain bikers follow the green and black arrows, while walkers, hikers, and trail runners follow the yellow arrows – going against bike traffic, so each trail user can be seen. Right of way is given to mountain bikers since hikers and runners can step off the trail more quickly and safely. Some black sections may not be open for hikers and runners, as designated by trail markings and signage.
Trails are single tracks in a system including beginner and expert trails, with jumps, crosses, rock formations, and a just-established expert trail called Snake Farm. Many are beginner, with hills, rocks, fallen trees and short, steep uphills and downhills with two creeks.
Parking is at 309 Boys City Drive, on the left. If the lot is full, try Trailhouse, the local bike shop, in the Village at Winona at 1001 E. Canal St. There’s also a lot on the south side of the trails off Roy Street.
Complete the Greenway: Beyer Farm and Chinworth Bridge trails
After exploring the Heritage Trail, completing the Lake City Greenway triad is a must. Beyer Farm Trail and Chinworth Bridge Trail encompass 4.9 miles of asphalt and boardwalk trails showcasing wetlands, two historic bridges, canoeing, picnic shelter, and iron bridges to delight the eye while the other senses absorb the sounds, scents, and exhilaration of exercise.
Warsaw’s Beyer Farm Trail, a 2.66-mile walk with endpoints at Provident Drive, Linberg Drive, and Sheridan Street, has a total ascent of 5.66 feet and a maximum elevation of 845.18 feet. The Beyer Trail Volkswalk 6 KM, a 3.7-mile route, adds a loop to the Beyer Farm Trail. That route has a total ascent of 93.88 feet and a maximum elevation of 847.15 feet.
The Chinworth Bridge Trail, with endpoints at West Old Road 30 and North Zimmer Road, features the Chinworth Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail begins at the park on Old U.S. 30, with parking, a picnic shelter, and a canoe launch. It stretches 1.9 miles and connects the City-County Athletic Complex to the west side of Warsaw.
Syracuse-Wawasee Trail System
Here’s an opportunity to explore the shoreline of Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee, Indiana’s largest natural lake. The trail takes in over 11 miles of walking/bicycle trails connecting Syracuse, Syracuse Lake and the northern part of Lake Wawasee. The just-finished Conklin Bay Boardwalk and Trail expansion allow south-side Lake Wawasee visitors to walk, jog and ride bikes safely to town. It also connects with the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s (WACF) Levison-LaBrosse Education Center, where walkers can explore three trails through preserved and reclaimed wetlands.
Enter Conklin Bay on Harkless Drive, where the trail spans a third-mile of Rolland Wetland Conservation Area via boardwalk. Four overlooks and a large observatory take walkers and bikers more deeply into the wetlands. Benches invite rest, contemplation, and enjoyment of the surrounding lake ecosystem. Continuing south, two-thirds mile of concrete sidewalk runs along S.R. 13 and WACF nature preserve, ending at North Grandview Drive.
The original 11 miles of trail starting on North Shore Drive, with a parking lot and history museum at the Community Center. The scenic route around Syracuse Lake has trailheads at Cornelius Road and Pickwick, which leads to Mud Lake with two boardwalk sections, an overlook, and a resting bench. The library and a beach are also accessible off the trail.