Reviewed by: Fett ,  Cross Country Rider , from Columbus IN

Summary:
I have read the reviews and the the comments people have posted after Merri Taylor's comments. I am not sure when the "Southwestway community" decided this, and who makes up that community. It very well could have been at past public meetings regarding park usage.

I do know that if you do want to have a say in the how access is given to mountain bikers in mountain bikers in the future, there are going to be 2 community meetings coming up that will help shape how the park will look in the future. The first one is March 3rd, 2003 at Decatur High School at 7:00 and the second is at Decatur Middle School March 23rd at 7:00. If you truly want to see a change made, the community needs to see that there is popular support and that the mountain bikers are a viable and responsible user group. Please make plans to attend. If you want to have access to the trail, this is the right way to go about getting it. As a much newer user group than the equestrian and hiker groups, we need to show that we are good citizens, who will be good stewards of the land. I hope to see a large number of cyclists at the meetings. I know Indy Parks is more receptive to mountain bikers since Town Run Trail Park has been created and has been a resounding success. The hard work of those people have made it easier for us if we show the determination to make it happen.

Recommended Route:
One other thing to note is that the description of the trail above sounds as if it was written by some thrill seeking downhiller, and also mentions going down unauthorized trails. This is the exact situation that got enforcement against cyclists stepped up. There were some hikers on a couple of separate occasions who were about run over by someone flying a trail that was not an official trail that crossed over another trail. Don't encourage the type of behavior that will get cyclsts banned from the trail.

Reviewed by: Justin , from Greenwood

Summary:
I just heard of the closure of this trail and i hate to be this way, but i'm pissed. I have picked up garbage from that park and think of myself as a responsible mtn biker, ie, i acknowledge multi-use trails! i endure the excessive erosion caused from horses not to mention the manure left behind we as mtn bikers deal with and never seem to bitch about. If a person (walking on the trail) is the next thing to spook a horse, will they (people) too be restricted!? i don't know the specific reasons why the park community decide to close this trail, but nonetheless, it was a decent place to ride, close to home. granted this trail system had it's problems,(excessive scree, erosion, multitude of trail offshoots) but i think it was more due to mismanagment. mtn bikers are usually more than happy to make concessions to keep a trail open, i don't know if they were ever given the chance in this case. This sounds like another example of horse back riders winning out! Simply because the decision was unilateral. i hope to see the proposed expansion bring about more trails and/or opening up the existing ones. Justin

Recommended Route:
all

Reviewed by: Drew , from Indy

Summary:
one word: NETTLES! Be careful if you're here now, it's that time of year, and you can't ride the bottoms without getting into those stinging plants.
A good ride, very technical with a lot of climbs/drops on roots and off-camber trail. Doable for any experience level, but beginners may have to walk it some. From downtown Indy, only a 20-25 minute drive.

Recommended Route:
just make it up, it's all twists and turns

Other recommended trails in the same area:
96th street/avon for afternoon trips; go down south to brown/Monroe counties for a real day trip.