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The Sweetser Switch
The Sweetser Switch trail is a
three-mile long paved trail that extends from Sweetser in both
directions. There is ample parking at all of the intersecting main
roads. This award- winning trail is landscaped and is the ultimate
trail that you should put on your “bucket list”. Travelers near and far
enjoy the outdoors and wonderful views with two covered bridges on the
trail. Part of the trail is even lighted east of downtown Sweetser for
that evening walk.
In 2010 a golden spike was driven
when the Cardinal Greenway connected to the Sweetser Switch Trail. The
Governor of the state of Indiana (Mitch Daniels) was there for the
ribbon cutting ceremony. This now creates a total of 13.5 miles of
paved trail in Grant County. The Cardinal Greenway is the longest paved
bike trail in the state of Indiana and much of it is a continuous
connection. The future expansion lies to the west as the Converse
Junction is proposed to hook up to the Sweetser Switch Trail and extend
another 5.5 miles.
Major attractions on the trail are
two passenger railcars and a caboose that have been renovated and are
used for meetings and classrooms. A statue of Garfield is near the
train as part of a Grant County project to commemorate Garfield’s
originator, Jim Davis, who grew up nearby. But for the most part you
will see walkers, joggers, in-line skaters and wheelchairs; these
participants enjoy the beauty of the trail. The trail has sections that
are even open to equestrian use.
This trail goes through a small
rural town of Sweetser that is about 5 miles west of Marion Indiana.
When hiking the well-groomed trail, you will see bird boxes, various
picnic shelters, an old fashioned hand water pump, and two beautiful
covered bridges over Pipe Creek. An amazing part of this trail’s
history is that the first mile was constructed entirely on donations,
and from the planning to the final paving only took one year. This kind
of progress has never happened with trail development. Take the time to
enjoy this trail; it is one of the best trails in the Midwest.
To learn more about the Cardinal
Greenway that attaches to the Sweetser Switch:
http://www.squidoo.com/bike-trail-indiana
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