Hiking Club
Hikes typically last about two hours and are 2-3 miles in length. Please dress accordingly for the weather and bring a water bottle for the hike. At this time of year it is encouraged to bring a change of shoes/socks for after the hike since the trails are often wet and muddy. Email Tom Easterday – teasterday@laddinc.org to register.
Our next ILADD Hiking Club hike is scheduled for Sunday, April 19th at 1:00 p.m. on the Central Canal Towpath in Indianapolis. This will be an “urban hike” out and back along a scenic stretch of the Central Canal Towpath going from the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Preserve at Newfields (a/k/a Indianapolis Museum of Art) to the Holcomb Gardens at Butler University. A portion of the towpath goes between the White River and the old Central Canal. The total hike will be about three miles along the relatively flat path that horses used to travel on when they towed boats down the canal. This will be the third time we have done this hike (the first was on April 24, 2022). It should be a fun hike! Please park in the parking lot in front of Newfields (a/k/a Indianapolis Museum of Art) and we will meet in front of the large fountain (Sutphin Fountain) and walk together down to the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Preserve. The entrance to Newfields is on the west side of Michigan Road just north of 38th Street. There is no fee for parking.
ILADD Hiking Club is for adults (age 18 or over) with developmental/intellectual disabilities who can walk at least 2-3 miles, up and down hills, on uneven ground, on unpaved trails. All hikers should bring their own water bottle. It is recommended that everyone bring a change of shoes and socks for after the hike because it may get muddy if it rains within a day or two prior to the hike. Also, make sure to bring a hat and jacket if cool or rainy weather conditions are forecast, or a hat and sunscreen if sunny weather is forecast. Since it is mid-April, be prepared for wet weather and dress accordingly. If we need to postpone the hike due to excessive rain or severe weather, we will try to email or call you two hours or more before the hike is set to commence.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: The hike will be limited to the first 20 registrants. It is very important that you let us know you will be participating, so we can notify you if we need to change our plans due to bad weather or other circumstances. Register by emailing us at teasterday@iladdinc.org of your intent to go on the hike by April 16, 2026. If you have not previously completed the registration forms for the ILADD Hiking Club, you must complete and submit those forms by April 16, 2026. For registration information and forms, please contact Erika Thomison, ILADD’s Program Director at ethomison@iladdinc.org. There is no ILADD fee for this hike.
DIRECTIONS: (from Zionsville) The easiest route from Zionsville is to take Michigan Road south to the entrance to Newfields (just north of 38th Street on the west side of Michigan Road). If you take I-65 south, take the 38th Street exit and proceed east on 38th Street to Michigan Road. Turn left (north) on to Michigan Road and then turn left (west) into the entry for Newfields (4000 North Michigan Road). It takes about 20 minutes from Zionsville.
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