The Pumpkin vine path is one of the best. It is fairly level, wanders through peaceful, natural countryside. You can ride for a few miles or lengthen your trip into the next towns along the way. Stop for breakfast or lunch, ride at a leisurely pace or more aggressively. The trails are paved most of the way, clearly marked, a wonderful way to incorporate exercise. It feels safe for a lone walker or rider.
This is a 16 mile paved trail from Goshen,to Middlebury and ending in the tourist town of Shipshewana. The trail is mostly flat, shady and is a scenic ride thru Amish country, including farms and schoolhouses. This trail deservedly made the 2014 Midwest Living list of 14 great Midwestern bike trails. In Middlebury, the trail passes by Krider Garden and one of the Quilt Gardens. Middlebury also has a Dairy Queen and another ice cream store conveniently located next to the trail. There is a section between Goshen and Middlebury where you have to travel on county roads for about a mile before resuming on the trail. Aside from that, this is a great trail that almost everyone should enjoy.
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is absolutely fantastic! I don't know what more can be said. The country side is beautiful, the trail is awesome, the people are friendly. There are ample places to take a break. The trail heads have good parking available or there are places to park near by. We live in the area and love to visit often. Both Middlebury and Shipshewana are wonderful destinations. Remember your trail etiquette, (warn people that your coming up behind them, stop or at least slow down at road grade crossings, etc) and smile at everyone you meet. (hence the need for a bag full of smiles.) Have fun!
One of several trails in the Middlebury area and a great place for a morning walk. Once we got on the trail, we did find it difficult to know how far we'd gone. Ended up at another entry point and had to walk in the buggy lane of a busy road to get back to our hotel.
A beautiful paved trail that provides a great experience of the Midwest small town and farming communities in the area. A portion of the trail requires the use of roads to continue the trail to form Goshen to Shipshewana. Amish farms and buggies visible along the trail with wild flowers along the way. The trail has both tree covered shaded area and open areas. Parking is available at the Middlebury Town Hall if you prefer to start the trail there.
We traveled to Shipshewana on business and brought our bicycles to ride on the this trail. What a great trail! Many of the converted rail to trails are not paved for miles like this one. Much of the trail is tree-lined. If you go in the fall as we did, the fall colors are so enjoyable.Gives you opportunity to see what the farming and Amish community looks like from a different viewpoint than a road. It was so enjoyable!I loved seeing so many people take advantage of the trail. We rode on the weekend. Saturday there were many Amish families biking and picnicking along the trail. Sunday morning traffic was much lighter on the trail.If you are in the area, this to me was the top attraction for miles around to see and experience!
The trail winds through farms, small towns and back yards and is beautifully maintained. I would walk or ride on it everyday if I lived nearby,
Amazing. Wonderfully kept paved trail. Over hanging trees looks like an enchanted forrest. You are free to walk, run or bike. I was captivated by a glimpse into the real amish life. Moms walking their babies in strollers, morning walker/ joggers all day bike riding. The quiet is enough to hold on to you all day. They tell me the trail can be taken from the amish shopping district of shipshewana all the way over to Middlebury. A beautiful town that brings the past back to the present with shoping, antiques and all things amish. The trail is free the sight seeing a must and well hopefully after a day of shopping there is a little money left over for one of many Amish restaurants
The smooth wide path is great for walking, jogging or biking and can accommodate both. The changing seasons experienced up close and personal. The path is nicely shaded in the hot weather, yet sheltered from the wind in the cooler weather. Such a relaxing way to spend an hour or several exploring part or all of the path! Food and parks along the way make it an excellent way to spend the day.
The trail is well-maintained. It is paved with wide dirt shoulders. Trees are found in abundance along the trail, providing shade. The Pumpinvine is part of a regional network of trails that allow one to walk or bike to Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. We walked into Middlebury from the Country Victorian Bed and Breakfast and had a delightful, relaxing experience that connects the environment and the small-town atmosphere of the Amish countryside.