Seasons on the river: Spring blossoms beside the Zoo; a summer storm over downtown; late day autumn canoe trip to Rocky Ripple; and winter sunshine at Broad Ripple Park.

White River travels 27 miles, north to south, through Marion County.

Cross-county connections

White River is the longest "greenway" in Marion County, and it makes a winding path through the city from the northeast corner to the southwest. Wapahani is its native name, and it is home to dozens of species of fish, small mammals, and invertebrates, as well as some red fox, coyote and deer. Blue heron, wood ducks, osprey, golden eagles and varieties of hawks nest along its wooded shore, and a pair of bald eagles have hatched young near the river in Southwestway Park. The White River watershed drains most of Central Indiana.

The White River Wapahani Trail is now about five miles long, from 38th Street south to White River State Park, with several more miles planned, and it will eventually connect to many of our other trails. Currently, it links with the Central Canal Towpath, the southern segment of the Fall Creek Trail, and the Downtown Canal Walk, and it will eventually link to the Eagle Creek Trail and possibly the Pleasant Run Trail. Trail users can also get to the Monon Trail via the Towpath or a crosstown connection on St. Clair Street.

A new section of the trail is under construction on the top of the levee along Riverview Drive. When complete, the Levee Trail will be a pleasant walking and jogging trail between Kessler Boulevard and College Avenue.

One river, many uses

The White River Canoe Route is 16 miles long, with launch areas in Town Run Trail Park at 96th Street, Broad Ripple Park, Cornell Avenue next to the Monon Trail, Friedmann Park at Kessler Boulevard, and Riverside Park below 30th Street. This route passes through dense woods and residential sections, and has become a favorite of canoeists and kayakers.

Wheelchair accessible platforms overlook White River from the northwest corner of Broad Ripple Park and from the southeast corner of Meridian Street and Arden Avenue. And at the northern edge of Marion County, Town Run Trail Park is an extraordinary mountain bike park with miles of trails and wonderful views of the river.

Below: Surrounded by a city of a million people, a lone angler works a seemingly remote fishing spot near 64th Street.

Photo tour: Select a photo icon below to view pictures in a new browser window or download a printer-friendly trail map in PDF format (1.6mb).