Erie North Judson to Monterey Trail

The Erie Railroad which eventually became known as the Tippecanoe Railroad, then The JK line operated a 16 mile corridor between North Judson and Monterey. The railroad line ceased operations in the 1980’s and in 2004 the tracks were removed (except for 1 mile which was donated to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum (HVRM) and railbanked for possible future reactivation by the railroad.

 

For now, 9.6 miles of this 16 mile stretch has been converted into an asphalt rail-trail for walkers, hikers, horseback riders and bicyclists which begins at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson and runs southeast to US 35 near Bass Lake. The additional 8.5 miles of the 16 mile stretch will eventually connect to the Erie Monterey Trail.

 

Before heading out on the trail, perhaps a visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will fill your senses and mind of days gone by. Explore the history of the railroads of northwestern Indiana from photographs, artifacts and stories. Learn from the authentic locomotives and signal signs as well as a variety of equipment on exhibit, and imagine what it must have been like to be a passenger on a train and to see what they observed. Because there are no major roads and neighborhoods obstructing the view from the trail, one can absorb the beautiful rural atmosphere with scenic landscapes and diverse wildlife. Landscapes of oak groves, sand prairies, and Indiana farmlands painted with wild flowers, and tall grasses set the scene for nature lovers to observe, explore and enjoy. Butterflies, songbirds, deer and other wildlife fill the landscape with graceful movement only to enhance the experience.