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Every kind of trail activity is represented in the listing of designated NRTs. Besides hiking and bicycling, the system includes water trails, motorized routes, snow tracks, greenways, and equestrian paths. The NRT program showcases the diversity of trails across America, from our cities and suburbs to the deserts, waterways, and high mountains.

Rivergreenway, Fort Wayne and New Haven, Indiana

This 23-mile linear park within the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven in Allen County, IN is located along the banks of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers.

photo of runners and bikers on trail

The Rivergreenway offers natural vistas and scenic overlooks within an
urban environment

Before the popularity of trails and greenway corridors, Fort Wayne residents had access to a fledgling trail system along its rivers beginning in the mid-1970s. Now the robust 23-mile trail network traverses several miles along the St. Joseph, St. Marys and Maumee Rivers connecting the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven within Allen County, Indiana.

This seminal network of trails is considered the backbone of an even greater trail network within the County that consists of more than 200 miles of trails in development or proposed. In the near future, the Rivergreenway will be connected to a series of trails being developed in southwestern Allen County, providing users with 40-miles of continuous trails as an east/west corridor across the County.

The continued development of the Rivergreenway network and many additional trails within Allen County, Indiana, have been made possible through the grassroots efforts of three greenway advocacy groups— the Greenway Consortium, Aboite New Trails and Northwest Allen Trails. These three groups have partnered with the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven and Allen County to plan and develop a safe, interconnected, multi-use trails network.

photo of bikers on trail

Bicyclists use the Rivergreenway for recreation and
transportation

The Rivergreenway originates at the confluence of the three rivers in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Like spokes on a wheel, it branches out in three directions following the natural corridor along each river. The St. Joseph Pathway is 3 miles in length and delivers trail users into Johnny Appleseed Park. Future plans will extend this trail an additional 3 miles to yet another popular city park, Shoaff Park.

With this future development, along the way users will also be able to safely access the campuses of Indiana University and Purdue University of Fort Wayne, and nearby Ivy Tech Community College. This pathway also boasts an additional mile of trail located on top of a floodwall that runs along the east side of the St. Joseph River and makes a great surface for rollerblading while providing a scenic view of downtown Fort Wayne.

The St. Marys Pathway is almost 9 miles in length. Users can easily access several of the city’s parks along this trail, most notably Headwaters Park and the Historic Old Fort in downtown Fort Wayne as well as Foster Park and Tillman Park on the city’s south side. Headwaters Park boasts many of the city’s summer festivals and provides cool summer fun for kids in its public fountain.

The Historic Old Fort is a replica of the 1816 fort that acts as an education center offering a representation of life in the untamed "west." Foster Park includes a two-mile loop around its popular public golf course and stunning floral gardens. Also located along the St. Marys Pathway, near the Old Fort, are a series of six murals that were completed by youth within Fort Wayne and sponsored by organizations which serve underprivileged youth. Branching off the St. Marys Pathway in Swinney Park is the Yarnelle Trail which runs one mile to the nearby Rockhill Park.

photo of runners and bikers on trail

The Maumee Pathway provides access to both Fort Wayne and New Haven

The Maumee Pathway is nearly nine miles in length and provides trail users with access to the cities of both Fort Wayne and New Haven. Almost three miles of this serene pathway are maintained by the New Haven-Adams Township Parks and Recreation Department and the balance is maintained by Fort Wayne. This sizeable trail provides users with an opportunity to escape the urban landscape with much of the trail concealed behind large plots of land, including a golf course and driving range as well as the City of Fort Wayne’s Biosolids Facility. Future plans will link the Maumee Pathway through New Haven with Fort Wayne’s south side via the Six Mile Creek Trail, which will connect to the existing St. Marys Pathway providing a looped system consisting of 26 total miles.

For more information:

City of Fort Wayne
One Main Street, Room 740, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Phone Number: (260) 427-6002
www.fortwayneparks.org

New Haven - Adams Township Parks and Recreation Department.
1125 Hartzell Street, New Haven, Indiana 46774
Phone: (260) 747-2212
www.newhavenin.org

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Related Pages:

Featured National Recreation Trails

Rivergreenway, Fort Wayne and New Haven, Indiana