Wabash Heritage Trail, Section 3 of 3

The Wabash Heritage Trail, Section 3 of 3, is the longest and most challenging trail section along this trail. It begins on the south side of West Lafayette, Indiana. You can access the trail on the east side of the parking lot of Fort Ouiatenon, a historical landmark and museum. It takes over for Wabash Heritage Trail Section 2 of 3, which runs through the city. Though you'll find only mild inclines in Section 3 of 3, it's 13 miles long. This turns into 26 miles when you consider that you're going to have to walk back the way you came, unless you made other arrangements at the end of this point to point trail. That's a marathon! 

This path is a mixture of paved and unpaved road. When you're journeying through West Lafayette and Lafayette, the trail is an asphalt trail. This makes for easy walking, though the heat can make it tough on paws! Once you leave the towns behind, you'll also be leaving behind paved road. Don't worry about getting lost, however. The hard packed dirt path is easy to follow, and stands out from the foliage surrounding the path. 

Your dog has to be on leash while you're exploring the trail. There's a very practical reason towards the beginning of this section. Bikes are allowed on the path wherever its paved. The flat road makes for an easy ride, and keeping your down close can help avoid collisions. Once you step off the paved road, the reason to keep your dog leashed changes to conservation. You want to leave the area as beautiful as you found it. From local wildlife to seasonal fauna, there's a lot to preserve about this gorgeous path! 

Roughly halfway through your 13 mile hike, the path moves away from the Wabash River. Take a break to splash in it before it's gone! From there, you'll be hiking away from it, towards the end of the line. You'll come to a few trail crossings as you go, but these will be clearly marked, and it will easy to stay on Wabash Heritage Trail! 

Wabash Heritage Trail, Section 3 of 3 is a gorgeous way to spend the majority of your day on a hike!