Trailblazing Progress: Milestones Along the Monon South Trail

Southern Indiana is amid a remarkable transformation, thanks to the Monon South Trail: a visionary 58-mile multi-use greenway connecting eight communities across Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties. This rails-to-trails initiative is more than just a path for walking, biking, and rolling; it’s a regional investment in connectivity, recreation, and economic revitalization.

A New Life for a Historic Corridor

The trail repurposes a former railroad corridor into what will become Indiana’s longest continuous recreational trail. Designed with both crushed aggregate and paved surfaces, the trail offers sweeping views of Indiana farmland and access to nearby parks and outdoor destinations. Its thoughtful design and community-oriented planning are rooted in a comprehensive visioning study, shaped with input from nine towns across five counties.

In July 2024, the community gathered at Borden Community Park to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase 1.

Connecting the Communities

Mitchell & Orleans

The Monon South Trail officially welcomed its first users in December 2024, when the 1.27-mile paved segment through downtown Orleans opened. Shortly after, in January 2025, Mitchell unveiled 2.4 miles of trail — 1.6 miles paved, and the remainder surfaced with crushed aggregate. While the two towns’ segments remain disconnected in Phase 1, their early adoption signaled growing momentum for the corridor.

Borden, New Pekin, & Clark County

A major portion of the trail, nearly 10.5 miles from New Pekin through Clark County, is rapidly coming to life. Crews began grading the Borden segment in late September 2024, followed by paving in October. In May 2025, more than 5 miles of trail, spanning from Borden to Deam Lake Road, opened to the public.

This stretch includes over 3 miles of paved trail through Borden and New Pekin, with the remaining 7.4 miles surfaced in crushed aggregate. A ribbon-cutting ceremony in June 2025 marked the opening of 3.6 miles of the New Pekin segment, celebrating the town’s integral role in the growing trail system.

Salem

Salem’s 2.7-mile paved segment opened to the public in late May 2025. Earlier that year, on February 21, the town hosted a dedication of the Salem Boxcar landmark, reinforcing its identity as a key waypoint on the trail. The segment’s completion was officially recognized with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in May 2025, marking another step forward in connecting Southern Indiana.

Campbellsburg & Saltillo

Trail development through the 3.5-mile Campbellsburg and Saltillo segment is progressing on schedule, with a 2.3-mile stretch completed and celebrated with a ribbon cutting in June 2025. While most of this section features crushed aggregate, nearly 1 mile of paved portions runs directly through the towns, creating accessible, walkable connections for residents and visitors.

Cumulative Progress

As of mid-2025, the Monon South Trail has opened or is completing the following segments:

Orleans – 1.2 miles
Mitchell – 2.1 miles
Borden, New Pekin, and Clark County – 10.5 miles (ribbon cutting for New Pekin held June 2025)
Salem – 2.7 miles (ribbon cutting held May 2025)
Campbellsburg & Saltillo – 3.5 miles (ribbon cutting held June 2025)

Total completed or nearly completed by summer 2025: Over 20 miles, with more progress underway throughout the corridor.

Project Manager: David Wichman, PE

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