Everything you need to know before joining us on the trails

Trail Information

Trail Maps

Connected Trails

Pumpkinvine Trail Map

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, the Maple City Greenway and the MapleHeart Trail are a regional network of trails that connect Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. The interactive map below is intended assist you when visiting these trails.

Trail Map PDF

Pumpkinvine & Connected Trails

Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana are connected by three trails totaling 25 miles: MapleHeart Trail, Wilden Avenue Trail and Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. Currently one half mile of trail, between Middlebury and Goshen is on county road.

The trail surface is asphalt except for 1.75 miles of packed limestone surface from SR 5 to CR 28 northeast of Goshen. Four public parks, Oak Ridge Park, Ox Bow Park, Abshire Park and Krider Garden, along the trails provide parking and restrooms.

Trail Etiquette

General Trail Rules & Etiquette

Trail is open sunrise to sunset.
No unauthorized motor vehicles, mobility assisted devices are authorized.
Stop and look for cross traffic at intersections.
Leave plants and wildlife in their natural settings.
No hunting or trapping.
No weapons; with the exception of firearms that may not be discharged.
Horses are prohibited.
Pets must be on a leash (maximum six feet), clean up pet waste.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
No littering or disposing of refuse.
Fireworks are not allowed.
No fires and camping.
Stay on the trail and respect the rights and privacy of adjacent neighbors.
Walk and ride on the right and pass on the left after sounding an alarm.
Walkers and runners have the right-of-way.
Be cautious and stay to the right on curves, underpasses, bridges and intersections.
Do not block the trail.

The trail speed limit is 15 miles per hour.

Mobility Devices & ADA Policy

VIEW PDF

Electric Bicycle Policy

Class 1

Allowed on Trail

Class 1 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the operator is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.

Class 2

Allowed on Trail

Class 2 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and ceases or to provide assistance when it reaches a speed of 20 miler per hour.

Class 3

NOT allowed on Trail

Class 3 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the operator is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour.

Trail Access

Ox Bow Park is located on County Road 45 adjacent to the MapleHeart Trail between Elkhart and Goshen. If you are on U.S. 20 turn south onto U.S. 33 and proceed 2.4 miles to Ferndale Road, the fourth stop light not including the two stoplights at the U.S. 20 exit. Turn left across the railroad tracks and the entrance to Ox Bow Park will be straight ahead. There are several parking lots in the park. There are also trails that lead out of the park to the MapleHeart Trail.

If you turn south on the MapleHeart Trail you will reach the Maple City Greenway within two miles. This route will take you to downtown Goshen, 4.9 miles, and then to Middlebury, 15.9 miles, and Shipshewana, 22.7 miles.

Turning right from the park entrance onto the MapleHeart Trail will take you to Elkhart at Hively Ave., three miles. There you can take the Sterling Ave. on-street bike path further north into Elkhart.

Get Directions

There several public parking lots on Fifth St. in Goshen north of Ind. 4 (Lincoln Ave). From the parking lots go west one block to Main St and turn north. Cross the Norfolk & Southern Railroad tracks and watch for a safety island in the middle of the street. The trail crosses through the island. A left turn will take you to the MapleHeart Trail at 3.2 miles, Ox Bow Park at 5.9 miles and Elkhart, at eight miles. A right turn will take you onto the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail toward Middlebury, 10 miles, and Shipshewana, 16.8 miles.

Get Directions

U.S 33, Ind. 15 and Ind. 4 intersect on Main St. in Goshen near the county courthouse. Turn east on Ind. 4, Lincoln Ave., and proceed across the Norfolk & Southern Railroad tracks. Continue an additional three blocks to find Abshire Park on the right side.

Departing from the trail head in Abshire Park you can turn left on the main trail and go to downtown Goshen, one mile, the MapleHeart Trail, 4.2 miles, and then Elkhart, nine miles.

A right turn from the trail head will take you to Middlebury, 10 miles, and Shipshewana, 16.8 miles.

Get Directions

You should park at the Middlebury Town Hall for access to the trail in Middlebury. The town hall is on the east side of Ind. 13 immediately north of the Dairy Queen (see the map on your right).

After parking at the town hall you need to go south about 500 feet on Ind. 13 to the Dairy Queen parking lot. The trail is on the south side of the driveway into the Dairy Queen.

Traveling east on the trail will take you to Shipshewana, 6.3 miles. The southwest direction will take you to Krider Garden, 0.5 mile, and Goshen, 10.5 miles.

Get Directions

Bike Rentals

The following businesses rent bicycles for use on the Trail.

Lincoln Avenue Cycling & Fitness

Goshen, IN

430 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, IN 46526

574.533.7425

Rent: bicycles

Store Hours

Monday-Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday: closed

Pumpkinvine Cyclery

Middlebury, IN

413 N. Main St. Middlebury, IN 46540

574.825.2252

Rent: bicycles, tag-alongs, and kids carts

Store Hours:

Tuesday-Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday & Monday: closed

Lodging & Tourist Information

Elkhart and LaGrange Counties have numerous hotels, motels, inns, bed & breakfasts and campgrounds in or near Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. These two counties are popular tourist destinations featuring quilt gardens, traditional country life, crafts and foods. The following websites have extensive listings of lodging opportunities.

Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau

3421 Cassopolis St., Elkhart, IN 46514

800.262.8161

LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

350S. Van Buren, Suite H, Shipshewana, IN 46565

800.254.8090

Trail Management

Managing Agencies

Presented below are the Local Parks Departments & Municipalities that manage and maintain the Pumpkinvine and it's connecting trails.

The trail systems managed by these agencies are:

MapleHeart Trail
Maple City Greenway
Ridge Run Trail
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

The responsibilities of the managing agencies are:

Review and approval of events along the trail.
Implementation and enforcement of trail rules and regulations.
Maintenance of the trail and trail amenities.
Maintain adequate liability insurance.
Volunteer recruitment.

Pumpkinvine Advisory Committee

The managing agencies above and Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail have formed an oversight committee, the Pumpkinvine Advisory Committee, to carryout the following objectives:

Build consensus on how the trails will be managed and maintained.
Provide an outlet for communication and evaluation of issues related to the trails.
Develop consistent approaches and policies for management and maintenance of the trails.
Identify needed and available resources to manage and maintain the trails.
Advise and recommend approaches to managing and maintaining the trails.
Review requests for funding and provide recommendations to the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail for funding trail projects.

Managing Agencies Responsible for Various Sections of the Trail

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is managed collaboratively by four local park departments. Mile markers are color coded to help identify the respective managing agency. Use the contact information below for inquiries relating to specific segments of the trail.

Jurisdiction Map PDF

Goshen Parks & Recreation

SR 4 to CR 28

Tanya Heyde

574.534.2901

goshenparks@goshencity.com

Middlebury Park Department

US 20 to York Dr.

Tom Enright

574.825.1499

parks@middleburyin.com

Elkhart County Parks

CR 28 to US 20 & York Dr. to Elkhart Co. Line

Nick Steele

574.535.6458

nsteele@elkhartcounty.com

Town of Shipshewana

Elkhart/LaGrange Co. Line to 850 W

Bob Shanahan

260.768.4743

townmanager@shipshewana.org

Please use the color bars above to identify the trail jurisdictions on the map below:

Plan a Trail Event

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is managed by Goshen Parks and Recreation Department, Elkhart County Parks, Middlebury Parks Department and the Town of Shipshewana. These agencies together with Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail constitute the Pumpkinvine Advisory Council (PAC) which forms policy and management practices for the trail. The trail is a public facility for use by individuals and groups and governed by the trail rules and etiquette.

Scheduling Your Event

Download the Event Guidelines Checklist.
Read section 2.0 Applicability & Event Requirements in the Event Guidelines Checklist to determine whether you need to obtain PAC approval for your event.
If you need PAC approval, check the list of scheduled events below on this page to avoid a possible conflict with another event.
Follow the instructions in the downloaded document to seek PAC approval. If you need approval for your event, complete the Pumpkinvine Event Registration Form.

Purpose of Trail Event Guidelines

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is open to the public and operated for the benefit and enjoyment of all users. Occasionally, groups or individuals may wish to hold a special event on the trail that could reduce the full enjoyment of the trail by others. The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Event Guidelines and Application outlines the requirements for holding Trail Events.