About The Three Trails
The White River Greenway
The White River Greenway in Muncie is a paved 5½ mile trail, open to all non-motorized travel modes. Although somewhat hilly in parts, it is handicap accessible. Its track along the White River offers many beautiful natural views. Trail-goers can view herons, geese, turtles and other riverside wildlife along the trail and from its five river overlooks. It also passes parks and other attractions along the way.
At its easternmost terminus, the Greenway connects with the recently installed Kitselman Trailhead abridge. It then journeys past the John J. Craddock wetlands, which has its own walking trail. The Greenway then continues past River View Park, the River View overlook. and along a relatively flat, and very scenic, path to McCulloch Park, Muncie’s largest -- home to ball fields, a Frisbee golf course, a playground, and picnic facilities. Just past McCulloch Park, the Greenway intersects with the 62-mile Cardinal Greenway trail (see below). The White River Greenway then climbs up from the river and makes its way through Minnetrista’s forty-acre campus. Minnetrista showcases gardens, outdoor gathering places, outdoor concert space, a nature area, art and exhibit galleries, the Orchard Shop at Minnetrista, and Minnetrista Boulevard Historic District. This portion of the White River Greenway is maintained by Minnetrista horticulturalists as it meanders past Oakhurst Gardens and the former homes of the Ball Brothers and their families. Minnetrista Boulevard Historic District was recently added to the National Register for Historic Places.
On its approach to Downtown Muncie, the Greenway adjoins the Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge, where one can find the lovely bronze sculpture, “Night Song,” in Riverbend Park. Tuhey Park, with its public pool and aquatic center, comes next, followed a few miles west by the newly-renovated Bicentennial White River Park and overlook and Westside Park, with its excellent picnic shelters, playground, ball field, and basketball and tennis courts. At its westernmost terminus, at the West Point Overlook, the Greenway faces the Miller Wildlife Area, a restricted nature sanctuary managed by Ball State University.
There are numerous benches along the trail and rest stops available at the various parks and overlooks along the way.
The Cardinal Greenway
Measuring sixty-two miles, the Cardinal Greenway, a State of Indiana Visionary Trail, is the longest paved rail-trail in Indiana. It crosses Grant, Delaware, Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties. A multi- use trail, it is enjoyed by over 250,000 walkers, runners, cyclists, nature lovers and others each year. Currently the trail passes through the Indiana cities of Marion, Gas City, Jonesboro, Gaston, Muncie, Blountsville, Losantville, Economy, Williamsburg, Webster, and Richmond. It will eventually link to other Indiana cities as well as to trails in Illinois and Ohio, as it will become part of the Great American Rail Trail stretching from Washington D.C. to Washington state.
Muncie is both the actual and metaphorical center of the Cardinal Greenway. The McCulloch Boulevard trailhead (at McCulloch Park) introduces trail users to the true Cardinal Greenway experience. In one direction, the trail passes through rural countryside, with picturesque farms, fields, and wildflowers lining the way. In the other direction, there are two bridges: to the right a historic trestle bridge, to the left a bicycle and pedestrian bridge crossing the White River. Less than one-half mile across the pedestrian bridge is the beautifully restored Wysor Street Depot. The Depot is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and houses the trail’s headquarters (Cardinal Greenways, Inc.) and gift shop. Old-fashioned cruiser bikes with big, cushy seats and large handlebars are available for free rentals (just leave your i.d.). As a public resource, Cardinal Greenways also offers education, wellness programs, environmental awareness, and recreation for a wide range of audiences.
For more information, please visit www.cardinalgreenways.org
The Muncie Arts & Culture Trail
The Muncie Arts & Culture Trail links four distinct areas of Muncie (Downtown, Minnetrista, Ball State University, and Heekin Park) that make up the larger Muncie Arts & Culture District. Wayfinding signs placed along the trail direct visitors along two broad loops, using city streets and the White River Greenway as pathways.
One loop follows Wysor Street from the Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge to Walnut Street which leads toward downtown Muncie, where you will find many art galleries, the Muncie Children’s Museum, and Canan Commons (follow the signs). Continuing on Wysor, the trail leads to the White River Greenway, with McCulloch Park and the Cardinal Greenway trailhead to the right and Minnetrista to the left. On its way through Minnetrista, the loop includes the Minnetrista Boulevard Historic District of former homes of the Ball family and returns along a cantilevered walkway over the river back to the Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge. A spur from the cantilever goes to Ball State University and its various attractions, including the David Owsley Museum of Art and the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass.
The second loop runs from the Wysor Street Depot (headquarters of Cardinal Greenway) down Hackley Street to Heekin Park. The park contains a Walk of Fame, Muncie’s Vietnam War Memorial, and historic cabins. Finally, the loop circles east onto Memorial Drive and connects to the Cardinal Greenway heading north toward Martin Luther King Blvd and back to the Wysor Street Depot.
The overall purpose of the Muncie Arts & Culture Trail is to link Muncie’s four cultural districts and their attractions. In addition, the trail connects neighborhoods throughout the city, and serves bikers and pedestrians, thereby offering another recreational opportunity to the citizens of Muncie and the surrounding area.
For more information, please visit www.munciearts.org
Trail Maps
Please click these links for PDF maps to download and print for yourselves!
EXPLORE THE TRAILS, ENJOY THE MUSIC