West Side Hiking Trails

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

West Side Hiking trail

West Side Hiking Trail

A Project Core to Who we are

The West Side Hiking Trail Project has been central to the Eagle Creek Park Foundation’s mission since its inception. First envisioned by John Pankhurst in the 1980s, the trail was included in the 1997 Eagle Creek Park strategic plan as a vital step toward enhancing access to the park’s natural beauty. From the beginning, John and his team recognized how this project embodied the Foundation’s core values of protecting, enhancing, and connecting people to the park’s natural environment.

In 2014, the Foundation formally committed to bringing this vision to life, launching a multi-year effort to secure funding. Years of planning and fundraising culminated in 2018 with a transformative $2.6 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, turning the dream of a West Side trail into reality.

Working closely with Indy Parks and the trail design team, construction began in 2019 and persevered through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2022, the trunk trail and ADA-accessible loops were completed, providing new opportunities for visitors of all abilities to explore the park. In 2024, final touches were added, including automatic gates, signage, and a dedicated podcast to enrich the visitor experience.

Today, the West Side Hiking Trail stands as a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing Eagle Creek Park and creating meaningful connections between people and nature.

Promote

Since the park’s founding in 1972, Eagle Creek Park has managed the West Side, a hidden gem within city limits. Despite its abundance of wildlife, serene forest canopy, and remarkable solitude, this area remained virtually unknown to visitors for decades. The West Side Hiking Trail Project seeks to change that by inviting park guests to explore and appreciate the stunning beauty that stretches from Bear Overlook in the south to Eagle’s Crest in the north.

Preserve

By the early 2010s, the natural beauty of the West Side faced a looming threat. Development or sale by the city became a growing concern for the Eagle Creek Park Foundation’s Board of Directors and Executive Director. This sense of urgency motivated the Foundation to act, leading to plans for a sustainable trail system that would secure the West Side within the park’s boundaries and preserve its ecological treasures for future generations.

Protect

For years, unsanctioned “rogue” trails on the West Side allowed visitors to enjoy the area, but at a cost. These user-made trails unintentionally disrupted sensitive ecological zones, threatening rare and endangered plant and animal species, and caused harmful erosion. The West Side Hiking Trail Project addressed these issues by providing a safe, sustainable trail system, ensuring that recreation aligns with the park’s conservation goals.

Enhance

The West Side Hiking Trail is a true standout in Indianapolis. Featuring a moderately challenging 5-mile trunk trail and ADA-accessible loops at both the north and south ends, the trail system offers something for every visitor. Additionally, it connects the Scott Starling Nature Preserve to Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve and the broader park trail network.

Using data from the popular runners’ app Strava, the Foundation found that between 2022 and 2023, most visitors shifted their activity to the newly constructed trunk trail, reducing traffic on the unsanctioned trails. This shift ensures that the West Side will remain pristine, offering recreation and natural beauty for years to come.