Heritage Trail

4.6

(110)

•

4.5

(15)

4.6

(110)

•

4.5

(15)

Hiking area

Nature & Parks

Hiking Trails

About

The Heritage Trail in Madison is a popular paved pathway for various outdoor activities such as jogging, walking, biking, and hiking. It connects downtown Madison with the hilltop overlooking the Ohio River. The trail offers beautiful natural scenery with wildflowers and plants along the way. It provides a good workout uphill and takes about 20 minutes to reach the top where you can enjoy views of the woman's prison and state mental hospital.

Why you should go

Explore the abandoned railroad tracks along the trail

Experience the incline railway and hilltop views of the Ohio River

Visit historic sites like old Madison State Hospital land

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Highlighted reviews

Slide 1 of 3

This is a lovely, peaceful trail. At one end, it runs along the abandoned railroad tracks. In the middle, it splits with part going up to the hilltop and the old Madison State Hospital land. The other branch runs to Clifty State Park.

Very nice walking trail with plenty of places to sit down along the river

This trail has plenty of parking and is free and has at least one portable bathroom. For me the central attraction besides the Ohio River is the incline railway. It is a sight to see. If you are like me, the first thing you'll want to do is to get on the railroad tracks and walk up the incline. But that is a verboten. But there are any number of scenic and historic walks to be taken in Madison.

Very nice walking trail with plenty of places to sit down along the river

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Address

Madison, IN 47250, USA

Website

http://www.heritagetrailconservancy.org/

Madison, IN 47250, USA

http://www.heritagetrailconservancy.org/

Know before you go

Visit early in the day or during weekdays to avoid crowds
Bring water and snacks as there are limited facilities on the trail
Be prepared for uphill sections that provide a good workout
Check weather conditions before visiting as overgrown vegetation may affect certain areas after heavy rain

Reviews

The Heritage Trail in Madison is a peaceful and scenic pathway that offers various attractions along its route. Reviewers mention the abandoned railroad tracks, incline railway, hilltop views of the Ohio River, old Madison State Hospital land, and Clifty State Park as highlights. The trail provides a good workout with shaded paved paths and opportunities to enjoy nature with wildflowers and plants. While some reviewers note overgrown vegetation hindering parts of the trail, overall it is praised for being well-maintained and suitable for dogs and kids.

4.6

out of 5

Wonderful

110 reviews

From Google

4.5

out of 5

Few reviews

15 reviews

From Tripadvisor

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

5/5John K

5/5Jeff R

Very nice walking trail with plenty of places to sit down along the river

5/5Best B

5/5Kelly R

The trail gives you a good workout up hill. Took 20 minutes to get to the top. It is mostly shaded and all paved. About halfway up you'll arrive at a clearing to take in the views. At the top you'll see the woman's prison and if you walk to the right, the state mental hospital. It is a peaceful trail and a great little hike for getting out of the house. Great for dogs and kids. Too steep for wheelchairs.

5/5Erin H

Aug 14, 2025 from

Google

Heritage Trail of Madison offers a blend of history (old railroad grade), physical challenge (steep hill), and incredible river views — ideal for scenic hikes and historical exploration. Short (about 2 miles one way), but packs a lot in — river views, history, and a steep climb on the old “incline” railroad grade.

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I will never travel to Starlight without this app again

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What's the weather like in Starlight?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Starlight for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.