It’s been an hour since I licked the last hints of mint chip off my lips. Rides like this aren’t quite right without an ice cream detour. We found one at Oberweis in Schererville, a one-mile side quest, and then kept trudging along. That sweet motivation keeps us going on our mission to pedal across a state line via the Great American Rail Trail. It’s America’s cross-country bike trail that will one day connect the United States from Washington, D.C. to Washington state. We’re ticking off pieces of the trail all across the Midwest, hopefully embedding my kids with core memories of growing up biking in every state. This stretch of the Great American Rail Trail we biked is known as the Pennsy Greenway, a family-friendly rail trail in Indiana.
Where This Rail Trail in Indiana Is and What Makes It Unique
The Pennsy Greenway, a rail trail in Indiana, is a 14-mile path following the former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It’s a small section of the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail, and is an easy, scenic, paved trail free of cars, winding through urban areas, small towns, and rural landscapes. I love the Pennsy Greenway for the seamless urban-to-nature experience, with the option to park and hop on anywhere between bustling Crown Point (at Rohrman Park, as I did), and Lansing (Illinois) in the Chicago suburbs. It’s one of the best trails in Indiana, offering an abundance of trailside amenities via charming small businesses and cafes in Munster and Schererville, plus a handful of parks with picnic areas and playgrounds. We even biked through a few miles of city-free scenery, too, a blissful glimpse of rural America before winding back to the other side of suburbia.
What You’ll See Along the Way
This Pennsy Greenway is one of the most scenic bike trails in Indiana, and it takes just a few moments careening down the asphalt ribbon to understand why. It’s all bushy, green trees, quirky concrete tunnels, wooden fences, picturesque neighborhoods, and sweet little parks popping up along the way. A few worth pausing for include ballgames and concessions at Rohrman Park in Schererville; playgrounds, concerts, and fairs at Peter G. Reder Memorial Park; and tennis courts at Plum Creek Park. But my favorite is Centennial Park in Munster with a bridge crossing a Hallmark-esque duck lake, quirky public art, and vibrant gardens.
Tips for Visiting
The great thing about this easy outdoor trail in Indiana is that it’s somehow never busy. No matter when you hop on the Pennsy Greenway, it’s always quiet and peaceful, but never deserted either. There’s always a friendly neighbor eager to chirp hello, and another happy face strolling or biking along the route. It’s quite fun to pause and ask them for local recommendations; that’s how I learned about the Oberweis ice cream shop in Schererville. Thanks to its urban vibe, you really don’t need much beyond two wheels, sunscreen, cash for grub, and a water bottle to refill along the way.
Biking or walking the Pennsy Greenway is an idyllic Indiana day trip to get outdoors and explore the green spaces along the Indiana-Illinois border. My kids always say trails like this are far better than most hikes, because we cover more distance, get ice cream and pizza along the way, don’t have to wear bug spray, and can easily duck out of the heat or rain if need be. So even if you don’t love to hike, you might give this paved rail trail a try.
If you’re traveling the country and prefer to hike, discover the best hiking trails in the U.S…