Spectacular Places to Cycle in Bloomington, Indiana

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The B-Line Trail is a popular outdoor, urban trail that cuts through the heart of Bloomington. This trail extends for a total of 3.1 miles, spanning from Adams Street up to Country Club Drive, where it eventually meets up with the Bloomington Rail Trail. This trail is ideal for cycling any time of day, since it’s well lit with LED lights from sunset to sunrise. It’s also completely paved, offering a smooth, comfortable biking experience.

This gorgeous rural trail is actually a rail trail, located between Tapp Road and the Bloomington Rail Trail entry point on Church Road. It’s an asphalt trail with a smooth surface, making it perfect for cycling and even mountain biking. The route spans a total of 2.4 miles and offers some incredibly scenic sights of Bloomington’s natural beauty.

Bloomington is lucky enough to have entry points to Indiana’s second-largest state forest: Morgan-Monroe State Forest. This outdoor wooded area features a variety of hiking and biking trails, though the Low Gap and Three Lakes Trails are some of the most popular. Both are looped trails and span a total of 10 miles each. Expect terrain to be a little rougher than paved trails, but perfect for bikers who love a challenge.

If mountain biking is what you prefer, Bloomington has a gorgeous outdoor mountain biking park full of incredible sights and a unique biking track. Enjoy five miles of rolling dirty, single-track trails located along this 46-acre park. Wapehani was the very first official mountain bike park in Indiana and is still regarded as a favorite for many mountain bikers. Bikers will need to bring helmets and sign a waiver before riding on this trail.

Indiana University is a huge part of Bloomington and one of the best places to enjoy a leisurely bike ride. From heavily trafficked trails and paths around campus to more rural and natural settings along the campus’s outdoor spaces, the university allows bikers to see incredible architecture and urban sights, as well as serene natural settings.

Kerst Farm Park is a popular outdoor retreat for families and it also offers a charming trail, perfect for walking, jogging, or biking. This 3.5-mile trail offers a sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of busy Bloomington life, and eventually connects to the popular Heritage Trail that begins in nearby Ellettsville. This paved trail offers an easy ride through a quiet neighborhood park in the city.

This distinct rail trail intersects with the Clear Creek Rail Trail, running from Church Lane to W. Country Club Drive. This two-mile trail is made up of both concrete and crushed stone, offering a natural and somewhat bumpy bike ride through a suburban wooded area. This biking trail is recommended for more experienced riders, due to the slightly rougher terrain. It also showcases some unexpected rural sights, from lush trees to hidden creeks.

Of course, there are also plenty of local parks and neighborhoods you can cycle on, as well as warm-weather biking races held in Bloomington. Bike downtown or explore the wild outdoors all in one, unique city.