Eagle Creek Park
Managed by Indy Parks
4,723 acres42.9 mi of trail
Red TrailOrange TrailBlue TrailRed & Blue Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainBOutdoors
Outdoors in Indianapolis
6% of Indianapolis’ land is conserved: 12,964 acres
The biggest trail networks: Eagle Creek Park (42.9 mi), Southwestway Park (9.4 mi), Town Run Trail Park (6.2 mi). 167 miles of mapped trail cross Indianapolis, 0.5 per square mile of land. 13,012 acres are parks and preserves, 15 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 61% of U.S. towns · #116 of 593 in Indiana State. What drives it
Conserved land
6%
12,964 acres · of 366.6 sq mi of land
Trails
167 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
13,012 ac
15 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
61%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
322 mi
94 mi lanes · 196 mi paths
Highest peak
791 ft
Mann Hill
Lakes & rivers
49
7 beaches · 19 boat launches
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Indianapolis have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Indianapolis is ahead of 61% of U.S. towns, #116 of 593 in Indiana State. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
B
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Indianapolis’ overall grade.
Conserved land6% of the land · typical IN town 2% · U.S. 4%BTrails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (167 mi) · IN 0.1 · U.S. 0.4BPark land15 acres of park per 1,000 residents (13,012 acres) · IN 10 · U.S. 13BParks close to home61% of residents within a half mile of a park · IN 51% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 61%
LessMore
Indiana State towns of 2,500+ (593)Ahead of 81%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Indianapolis ranks #321 on Outdoors.
Few Indiana State towns conserve much land (a typical one, 2%; the U.S., 4%), so Indianapolis’ 6% is ahead of 82% of Indiana State towns, while its trails per square mile lead 79% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be B. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Eagle Creek Park, with 42.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Southwestway Park
Managed by Indy Parks and Recreation
558 acres9.4 mi of trail
Lenape (Mountain Bike Trail)Mann Hill LoopHidden Lakes LoopCockrum+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Town Run Trail Park
Park
127 acres6.2 mi of trail
Town Run TrailSkills Loop
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
White River State Park
Park
220 acres3.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Holliday Park
Managed by Indy Parks
96 acres3.3 mi of trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab
Park
73 acres3.2 mi of trail
Crooked CreekTurtle HauntNorth LoopJensen South Shore+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
The Viginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
Park
100 acres3.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Garfield Park
Park
126 acres2.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 209 parks & preserves
Eagle Creek Park4,723 acres · 42.9 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsSouthwestway Park558 acres · 9.4 mi of trail · Indy Parks and Recreation
DirectionsTown Run Trail Park127 acres · 6.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWhite River State Park220 acres · 3.6 mi of trail
DirectionsHolliday Park96 acres · 3.3 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsNina Mason Pulliam EcoLab73 acres · 3.2 mi of trail
DirectionsThe Viginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park100 acres · 3.1 mi of trail
DirectionsGarfield Park126 acres · 2.9 mi of trail
DirectionsMarott Park and Nature Preserve97 acres · 2.9 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsRiverside Adventure Park140 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · Indy Parks and Recreation
DirectionsLilly Recreation Park274 acres · 1.9 mi of trail
DirectionsSoutheastway Park181 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsNewfields162 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
DirectionsFranklin Township Community Park90 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · IndyParks
DirectionsPaul Ruster Park88 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBroad Ripple Park63 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsRhodius Park26 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsChristian Park79 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRaymond Park115 acres · 1 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsRotary Park Space at IUPUI9 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsKrannert Park24 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsSkiles Test Nature Park81 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsEllenberger Park37 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsPerry Park20 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
Blickman Trail Park18 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsRoche Diagnostics Employee Park58 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSargent Road Nature Park29 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsWillard Park11 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSouth Street Square Park4 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBrookside Park104 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsSahm Park56 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsGlenns Valley Nature Park33 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Indy Parks
Lions Club Park20 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMartin Luther King Memorial Park19 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsThompson Park13 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsOscar Charleston Park17 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHighland Park4 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsDollar Hide Creek Park55 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Gray Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Beckwith Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsNational Raod Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Cumberland Parks and Rec
DirectionsSmith Mall2 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsTaggart Riverside Park90 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsDouglass Park69 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWildwood Park9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsFaculty Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsShelton Heights Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsGeorge Washington Park125 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCarson Park23 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRiverwood Park16 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsSpades Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsMilitary Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHaughville Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsChapel Hill Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPatricia Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Indy Parks
DirectionsHawthorne Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCummins Meadow2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEdna Balz Lacy Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsParamount School of Excellence Greenspace2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMonument Circle1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsGrassy Creek Regional Park282 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsNorth Westway Park114 acres
DirectionsBen Davis Park75 acres
DirectionsEnsign Graham Edward Martin Park67 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsRobey Park59 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsWolf Run Park55 acres
DirectionsDisc Golf Course55 acres
DirectionsPogue's Run Art and Nature Park52 acres
DirectionsJuan Solomon Park50 acres · IndyParks
Kitley and Troy Park47 acres
Indianapolis World Sports Park47 acres
DirectionsWes Montgomery Park39 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsWright's Fields37 acres · Indy Parks
St. Francis Soccer Club35 acres
DirectionsWoolens Gardens Natural Resource Area31 acres · Indianapolis Dept. of Parks and Recretion
DirectionsLappin Way Park31 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsPennsy Trail Park26 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsGerman Park26 acres
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza26 acres
DirectionsReverend Mozel Sanders Park24 acres
DirectionsDubarry Park23 acres
DirectionsAJ Thatcher Park22 acres
DirectionsDaubenspeck Nature Reserve22 acres
Stable Chase Nature Sanctuary22 acres
Chuck Klein Softball Complex19 acres
DirectionsActon Park19 acres
Bethel Park19 acres
DirectionsCloverleaf Conservation Area18 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsBertha Ross Park18 acres
DirectionsBowman Park15 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsFriedman Park15 acres
DirectionsEagle Highlands Neighborhood Park15 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsColumbia Park15 acres
DirectionsArsenal Park15 acres
DirectionsForest Manor Park14 acres
DirectionsFox Hill Manor Park14 acres · IndyParks
Bel Aire Park13 acres
DirectionsStout Field Park13 acres
DirectionsGardner Park13 acres
DirectionsBlue Heron Nature Preserve13 acres · Mud Creek Conservancy
Watkins Park12 acres
DirectionsWish Park12 acres
Gustafson Park11 acres
DirectionsGateway West Park11 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsFort Harrison State Park10 acres · Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Griffin Woods10 acres · Indy Parks
Roselawn Park10 acres
Bluff Park10 acres
DirectionsTarkington Park10 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsHolcomb Gardens10 acres
DirectionsJames T.V. Hill Park10 acres
DirectionsBruiser Memorial Park10 acres
Colorado and 29th Park10 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsRidenour Park9 acres
DirectionsO'Bannon Old Northside Soccer Park9 acres
DirectionsJake Greene Park9 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsGilmer Canine Companion Zone9 acres
DirectionsAmerican Legion Mall9 acres
DirectionsSargent Barn Nature Preserve9 acres
DirectionsSandorf Park9 acres
DirectionsWindsor Village Park8 acres · IndyParks
DirectionsSouthside Park6 acres
Batnan Park6 acres
DirectionsShambaugh Park5 acres
DirectionsBellamy Park5 acres · Indy Parks
Indy Urban Acres5 acres · Indy Parks
Retherford Park5 acres
Kitley Woods5 acres · Indy Parks
Stamm Park5 acres · Indy Parks
Moreland Park4 acres
DirectionsSouthport Presbyterian Park4 acres
Riley Park4 acres
DirectionsMax Bahr Park4 acres
DirectionsMiller Park4 acres
Barton Park4 acres
University Park4 acres
DirectionsClayton And LaSalle Park4 acres
Directionsball park4 acres
Hohlt Park4 acres
Wahpihani Park4 acres
DirectionsBrien Park4 acres
Emhardt Park4 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsElwood & Mary Black Park4 acres
DirectionsCanal Walk4 acres
DirectionsPeace Park3 acres
DirectionsCentennial and Groff Park3 acres
DirectionsRev. Charles R. Williams Park3 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsDan Wakefield Park3 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsHighway Parcel 153 acres
DirectionsHendricks Park3 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsFall Creek Greenway3 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsOlin Park2 acres
Watson Road Bird Preserve2 acres
DirectionsRoss Claypool Park2 acres
DirectionsBrown's Corner Park2 acres
DirectionsLentz Park2 acres
DirectionsKelly Park2 acres
DirectionsChessington Grove Park2 acres
DirectionsJohn Ed Park2 acres
DirectionsDoris Cowherd Park2 acres
Christina Oaks Park2 acres
DirectionsDenver Park2 acres
DirectionsAndrew Ramsey Park2 acres
DirectionsRichard G. Lugar Plaza2 acres · Indy Parks
DirectionsCanterbury Park2 acres
DirectionsStringtown Park2 acres · Indy Parks and Recreation
DirectionsAl Polin Park2 acres
DirectionsMcCarty Triangle Park2 acres
DirectionsOrange Park2 acres
DirectionsRichard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park2 acres
DirectionsFall Creek Place HOA park2 acres
DirectionsCraig Kids Memorial Park2 acres
DirectionsPresidential Place Park2 acres
DirectionsOpti Park1 acres
DirectionsFall Creek and 30th Park1 acres
DirectionsSchwitzer Park1 acres
DirectionsHudnut Commons1 acres
DirectionsMid-North Greenspace1 acres
DirectionsMother Mary Park1 acres
DirectionsIndianola Park1 acres
DirectionsAlice Carter Park1 acres
DirectionsRed Maple Park1 acres
Belmont Beach1 acres
DirectionsGeorge E. Kessler Park1 acres
DirectionsHonors Park1 acres · Cumberland Parks and Rec
DirectionsChapel Glen Club1 acres
DirectionsBicentennial Unity Plaza1 acres · Indiana Pacers
DirectionsTaylor Courtyard1 acres
DirectionsFrank Young Park1 acres
DirectionsMeridian Woods Park1 acres
University Heights Pocket Park1 acres
DirectionsArt’s Center Canoe Launch1 acres · Indy Parks and Recreation
DirectionsLittle Valley Park1 acres
DirectionsFinch Park1 acres
DirectionsCottage Home Community Park1 acres
DirectionsAshland Neighborhood Grass Park1 acres
Baumann Park1 acres
DirectionsBroadway & 29th Park1 acres
DirectionsHighwoods Park1 acres · Indy Parks
Idle Park1 acres
DirectionsSpringdale Community Park1 acres
Fall Creek Place Arboretum1 acres
DirectionsGrace Tuxedo Neighborhood Park1 acres
DirectionsSt Clair Place Community Park1 acres
DirectionsNora Corners Community Pocket Park1 acres
DirectionsUnity Park1 acres
DirectionsSpark on the Circle1 acres
DirectionsEnglewood CDC Playspace1 acres
DirectionsFall Creek Place Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
12,964 conserved acres
6% of Indianapolis’ land. Who manages Indianapolis’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city6,797 ac
County4,038 ac
Private owners1,428 ac
Other state land363 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits228 ac
State natural resources138 ac
Joint54 ac
Local Park · 7,753 acState Recreation Area · 2,424 acPrivate Park · 1,259 acState Conservation Area · 639 acLocal Conservation Area · 290 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 154 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 271 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Creek Park Local Park | County | 3,914 | Open |
| Eagle Creek Golf Course State Recreation Area | Town or city | 497 | Open |
| Eagles Crest Nature Preserve State Conservation Area | Town or city | 290 | Open |
| Indiana State Fairgrounds State Recreation Area | Other state land | 214 | Open |
| Southwestway Park Local Park | Town or city | 195 | Open |
| Winding River Golf Course State Recreation Area | Town or city | 176 | Open |
| Greenway - Fall Creek State Recreation Area | Town or city | 175 | Open |
| Southeastway Park Local Park | Town or city | 171 | Open |
| Sahm Golf Course State Recreation Area | Town or city | 168 | Open |
| Country Club of Indianapolis Private Park | Private owners | 167 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
624 places to go in Indianapolis
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Indianapolis
7 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Indianapolis
Gustafson Park PoolIn Gustafson Park
DirectionsWolf Run Community Pool
DirectionsPlus 7 public pools without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Indianapolis
Adventure PlaygroundIn Ben Davis Park
DirectionsColts Canal Playspace
DirectionsDagne Assefa Park PlaygroundHours: sunrise-sunset
DirectionsKey Stadium Playground
DirectionsNora Elementary Playground
DirectionsOpti Park Playground
DirectionsSENSE School Playground
DirectionsSchool 60 Playground
Directions1 more playground
Westlake Elemantary Playground
Directions524 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Indianapolis
Broad Ripple Dog ParkIn Broad Ripple Park
DirectionsDog Henge
DirectionsOld School Dog Park
DirectionsSmock Dog Park
DirectionsThe Dog Park at Immanuel
DirectionsPlus 7 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Indianapolis
Boat Ramp
DirectionsCanoe Launch
DirectionsCanoe/Kayak Access to White River
DirectionsPublic Acess to White RiverIn Wahpihani Park
DirectionsPlus 15 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Indianapolis
2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Indianapolis
1 scenic view without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Indianapolis
Mann Hill791 ft elevation · In Southwestway Park
DirectionsMars Hill699 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Indianapolis
Picnic Area
DirectionsPicnic Area 13In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 1In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 10In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 11In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 12In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 15In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 16In Eagle Creek Park
Directions16 more picnic areas
Picnic Site 17In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 18In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 19In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 20In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 21In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 22In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 3In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 5In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 6In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 7In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 8In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsPicnic Site 9In Eagle Creek Park
DirectionsRiverfront PavilionHours: Mon–Sun 5 am – 11 pm · In White River State Park
DirectionsSite AIn Southeastway Park
DirectionsSite BIn Southeastway Park
DirectionsSite CIn Southeastway Park
DirectionsPlus 5 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Indianapolis
Camp Dellwood Girl Scouts Camp
DirectionsGoldman Union Camp Institute
DirectionsJameson Camp
DirectionsDisc golf in Indianapolis
Sahm Park Disc Golf CourseIn Sahm Park · Indianapolis Parks
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Indianapolis
Cottage Home Community Garden
DirectionsGrowing Places Indy
DirectionsSharp Community Garden
DirectionsPlus 12 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 49 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 16.3 miHorses · 0.6 miUnpaved · 33.2 mi
Town Run Trail6.3 mi
Red Trail4.7 mi
Orange Trail1.7 mi
Lenape (Mountain Bike Trail)1.7 mi
Warfleigh Levee Path1.4 mi
Hidden Lakes Loop1.3 mi
Fall Creek Trail at Geist Dam1.1 mi
Mann Hill Loop1.1 mi
Blue Trail1.0 mi
Red & Blue Trail1.0 mi
15 more trails
Blickman Educational Trail
0.7 miWestview Hospital Fitness Trail
0.6 miCockrum
0.5 miRaymond Park Wooded Trail
0.5 miWinding River
0.5 miHidden Lakes
0.4 miWInding River
0.4 miRoaring Brook Trail
0.4 miCrooked Creek
0.3 miUpper Cottonwood
0.3 miSkills Loop
0.3 miJensen South Shore
0.3 miTurtle Haunt
0.3 miRaymond Park Bird Trails
0.3 miNorth Loop
0.3 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Arrowhead LakeBacon SwampBlue LakelakeCharlevoix LakelakeCollege Park LakelakeDawson LakelakeDead Dog PondpondEagle Creek ReservoirreservoirFlash PondlakeGlick FountainJens Jensen PondKeystone Crossing PoolpondLake KesslerwoodLake MaxinhalllakeLake ZondareservoirLilly LakeLilly Reflecting PondLux LakelakeMarina LakelakeMiddle Pogues PondpondPeyton LakereservoirPleasant RunRetention PondpondShiloh Creek PondpondSkating PondpondSpirit LakelakeSunset LakepondSunset PondlakeUpper Pogues PondpondWater Fowl SanctuarylakeWest LakelakeWhite River OxbowoxbowBean CreekCentral CanalCentral Indiana CanalDry RunEagle CreekEast Fork White Lick CreekFall CreekHaverstick CreekIndiana Central CanalIndiana Central Canal BridgeLick CreekLittle Eagle CreekPleasant RunPogue's RunSpring BrookWhite RiverWilliams Creek
Biking & sports
322 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
94 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
196 mi
off-road bike paths
32 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
566Tennis
262Baseball
203Basketball
121Soccer
66Football
65Pickleball
20Beach volleyball
15Multi-sport
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →261 places on the National Register, 8 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 42 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Our Savior Lutheran ChurchBuilding · listed 2018
About it249 more on the History page.
When to get out
August is the best month for walking in Indianapolis
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 36 | 40 | 51 | 64 | 73 | 82 | 85 | 84 | 78 | 65 | 52 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
February is the driest month (2.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 5.1 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Indianapolis →
Next door
Indianapolis and its neighbors
Indianapolis has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Indianapolis167 miPike Township48 miLawrence Township30 miLawrence22 miZionsville20 miPerry Township19 miFranklin Township5.7 miBrown Township0.6 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | 6% | 0.5 | 15 | 61% | B |
| Lawrence | 18% | 1.1 | 45 | 61% | A |
| Pike Township | 19% | 1.1 | 60 | 51% | A |
| Zionsville | 2% | 0.3 | 15 | 58% | B− |
| Lawrence Township | 10% | 0.6 | 23 | 56% | B+ |
| Brown Township | under 1% | under 0.1 | 3 | 60% | D |
| Franklin Township | 2% | 0.1 | 8 | 52% | C |
| Perry Township | 1% | 0.4 | 4 | 43% | C |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Indianapolis
Where can I hike in Indianapolis?
The longest trail networks: Eagle Creek Park, 42.9 miles; Southwestway Park, 9.4 miles; Town Run Trail Park, 6.2 miles; White River State Park, 3.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Indianapolis is conserved land?
6% of its land, against a typical 2% for an Indiana State town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Indianapolis’ trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Holliday Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Indianapolis?
322 miles of bike routes are on the map: 94 of painted or protected lanes, 196 of off-road paths and 32 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Indianapolis?
21,106 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Indianapolis or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 13,018 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Indianapolis have?
Ahead of 61% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #116 of 593 in Indiana State. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Indianapolis neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →