With a break in the heat it was time to hit the trails today. But with nearly two inches of rain in less than two days we knew it would likely be muddy so I decided to find a paved trail. The challenge was finding a new one since we’ve been on several in the area – Fishing Line, Nickel Plate, Pufferbelly, Pumpkinvine, and Reike trails. After a little searching I found the River Greenway Trail in Fort Wayne, IN.
The River Greenway is a network of nearly 50 miles of trails in Fort Wayne and New Haven, IN. It connects attractions, neighborhoods, parks, and waterways throughout the area. Because of the vast area that the trails encompass, there are many different ways to access the trails. We selected the River Greenway boat dock parking near Kreager Park.
Our Adventure
We arrived at the parking area and checked out the boat ramp which gave a nice view of the Maumee River. Then we started our hike by turning right onto the trail. At the beginning the trail is through an open area of grass, but soon comes to a boardwalk over the river. This section parallels North River Road and passes the entrance to Kreager Park. Near Kreager Park the trail veers to the right, continuing to follow the river.
It is at this point that the trail enters a wooded area with trees on both sides. This makes it much more shaded and serene. As you walk you also get some views of the river.
We continued along the trail and passed some “rest areas” and benches. At one point we found a trail down to the river so we decided to check it out. Sunny loved getting close to the water.
We continued on the trail and came to an area with trees and other vegetation that blocked the view of the river. And then a short distance later we found another spot to get a closer look at the river. We continued down the trail and came to a second boardwalk and rest area 3. At this point we had hiked over 2M and decided it was time to turn around.
Most of the trail felt like a walk in the woods with a view of the river, but there was a cornfield that came into view in several areas reminding us that we were near homes and farms. I joked with Sunny that only in Indiana could you go for hike and see cornfields, beautiful trees, and a river while being near the city.
Sunny’s Perspective
The start of this hike was pretty unremarkable, but once we walked over the boardwalk and into the wooded area it was really nice. I liked getting down to the water and catching views of it along the way. There weren’t any squirrels or other critters that ran across the trail, but there were some great smells. We had to share the trail with a few people on bikes, but everyone was nice and let us know they were coming up on us. All in all this was a nice hike and didn’t take long to get to.
Our Rating
Sunny and I give River Greenway 3 out of 4 paws up. It’s a nice rail trail type of trail with wooded areas and views of the river. Parking is easy and plentiful. The main downside for us, is the trail is popular with cyclists so you have to be a little more alert with riders approaching from behind. All in all it’s a great option when you want a paved trail in the Fort Wayne area.
For additional information about the River Greenway check out these websites.
How Do I Get There?
From I-69 take exit #315 – I-469E/US-30E and continue for about 2M. Take exit #29B and merge onto Maplecrest Road. Continue for nearly 5M, then turn left on Lake Ave which turns into North River Road. The parking lot is less than half a mile on the right.