Trail Building & Maintenance

The Hoosier Hikers Council is dedicated to both improving existing and creating new single-use hiking trails in Indiana. Our current trail building efforts are ambitious. We have recently completed some projects, but we currently have several ongoing and new projects.

We also support affiliated groups at specific properties.

Volunteer Work Schedule

HHC Volunteer trail work crews meet regularly on the third Saturdays of every month. For information, call the HHC at 765/349-0204 to hear about the location of the next work site. Or send an e-mail request to hikers@scican.net. We will get right back to you!

Trail Building Projects

We have broken down our trail work into six pages so that you can better understand where we are focusing our energy and how you can help:

1. The 140-Mile KT Expansion and the Original Knobstone Trail: Envisioned in the 1970s, the Knobstone Trail was to follow the Knobstone escarpment between Louisville and Indianapolis. A 45-mile section was completed in 1981. We are working to make the original vision a reality. The Southern section of the trail is referred to simply as the Knobstone Trail.
2. Tecumseh Trail: More than 40 miles of new trail, nearing completion by the HHC in 2001. With a national forest component, one day it will serve as the northern third of the 140-mile Knobstone Trail.
3. Pioneer Trail: The future 30-mile central section of the 140-mile Knobstone. It was named by the HHC in 2001, when the HHC began its work in support of the completion of the central section.
4. The Adena Trail: A challenging, 20-mile loop around Brookville Lake with an 11-mile roadless backcountry section. The HHC completed a walkable 20-mile trail in 200l. We will continue to improve it by replacing the paved (former scenic drive) multi-use trail section on the developed side of the reservoir with a footpath.
5. HHC'S Hoosier National Forest Hiking Trail Plan
6. Other Trails: We are working hard maintaining and creating new hiking trails in other parts of the state. Does a trail near you need help? Or do you need a trail near you?

Adopt-a-Trail

The HHC has set up a Knobstone Trail Monitoring System modeled after the Appalachian Trail system. We need your help! Other trails all over the state need friends too. The HHC will help you get connected with local people involved in forest and park trail improvement projects near you.

Adopt-A-Road

The HHC has adopted a section of S.R. 446 for litter collection. To aid in publicity for the Hoosier Hikers Council, the HHC has signed up with the INDOT to do roadside trash clean up twice a year on a section of Route 446. This section is at the entrance to Deam Wilderness, just south of Monroe Reservoir, in between Bloomington and Nashville. If you live near Bloomington and would like to help, contact the HHC.