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WRHCC > Water Trail > Corridor Members Corridor Members

Adams County
Allen County
Carroll County
Cass County
Fountain County
Gibson County
Huntington County

Jay County
Knox County
Miami County
Parke County
Posey County
Sullivan County

Tippecanoe County
Vermillion County
Vigo County
Wabash County
Warren County
Wells County

Adams County

Public Access Sites in Adams County

Site Location Type of Access
Linn Grove County Park ½ mile east of SR 116 near Linn Grove Handcarry only
Rainbow Bend East side of river (across from Limberlost County Park) and south of Covered Bridge Paved ramp

Berne
Berne Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 85
456 Hendricks St.
Berne, IN 46711
260-589-8080
http://www.bernein.com/

Decatur
Decatur Chamber of Commerce
125 East Monroe
Decatur, IN 46733
260-724-2604
http://www.decatur-in.com/

Allen County

In Allen County lies a spot at which the continent is said to divide. To a westward traveler 300 years ago it would have been a long, fearsome uphill battle to reach that spot from Lake Erie and the Maumee River. The prospect of a downhill run, whether in slender canoe or heavy piroque, would be dampened by the need to complete the nine mile portage, literally dragging everything you needed to survive, and to push through a wetland labyrinth, searching for the sluggish westward flow. A little more than 40 kilometers in a beeline, la Petite Riviere, later the Little or Little Wabash River, was a short, shallow and slow waterway. It was, nevertheless, the beginning of a water highway to New Orleans, as important as any in the United States.

Begun by a monumental flood the likes of which has never been seen by modern man, the ancient Little River meandered a valley scoured out by water breaking through the divide and draining the glacial Lake Maumee. As the transportation needs of the growing United States dictated, the river saw its importance as a canoe route eclipsed by the construction of a great canal stretching from Toledo to Evansville. With the coming of the railroad, then the "interurban" and, finally, the highway, the huge swamp which filled the valley was viewed as an impediment to "good" use. Armed with a court-approved contract, over the objections of many landowners, an association of residents straightened the river, blasted away impediments and completed the ditching of the entire valley during the late 1880's.

Today the flat Little river valley, from the portage summit to Huntington, is a geometric crazy quilt of wetlands, wet forest and neighboring fertile fields broken by arrow-straight streams fed by drainage pumps lifting water from the fields over earthen dikes. The earth, accustomed to geological time, periodically asserts its superiority with flooding and waits for the thrumming of the pump engines to cease.

County Commissioners:
Edwin J. Rousseau, Linda K. Bloom, Jack C. McComb
Room 200, City-County Bldg., 1 E. Main Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802-1893
ph: 219-449-7555
Fax: 219-449-7568

Allen County Parks/ Fox Island:
Ron Zartman, Naturalist
7324 Yohne Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
ph: 219-449-3186
Fax: 219-449-3181
email: FoxIsland@mail.fwi.com

Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Fort Wayne/Allen County CVB
1021 S. Calhoun St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
1-800-767-7752
http://www.visitfortwayne.com/

Railroad Historical Society Fort Wayne homepage
http://www.steamloco765.org/
http://ft-wayne.com/

Carroll County

Public Access Sites in Carroll County

Site Location Type of Access
French Post Park Take CR 900 N, 3.7 miles west of Burrows to CR 275 W, then one mile north to the bridge at French Post Park. Paved ramp

Delphi Historic Trails:
Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc.
1030 N. Washington St.
Delphi, IN 46923
765-564-6572
www.carlnet.org/canal/trail.html

Historical Society:
Carroll County Historical Society
P.O. Box 277
101 W. Main St.
Delphi, IN 46923
765-564-3152
www.dcwi.com/~cchs

Chamber of Commerce:
Delphi Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 178
Delphi, IN 46923-1538
765-564-3034

Sycamore Audubon Society:
http://www.mdn.com/~audubon

NICHES Land Trust:
http://www.mdn.com/~audubon/niches.html

Cass County

Public Access Sites in Cass County

Site Location Type of Access
France Park 3.2 miles west of Logansport on US 24, then 1.6 miles south on Georgetown Rd. Paved ramp
NEW!!!
Little Turtle Waterway		 Logansport, E. Melbourne Ave. and 5th Street Paved ramp for Canoes,
"John" Boats

Places to visit

  • Little Turtle Waterway Plaza and Trail was constructed and established in 1999. It has become the focal point of many community activities in downtown Logansport. In addition to the activities, residents and visitors may enjoy the Wabash River from anywhere along the 5-block long trail. The confluence of the Eel and the Wabash Rivers gives bird watchers a wonderful place to view ducks & geese, bald eagles, and osprey. Click on this link to view the latest edition of “The Confluence”, a publication about the activities and stories of the Little Turtle Waterway Corporation.

  • A primary attraction of Logansport & Cass County is the Dentzel Carousel located at Riverside Park on the Eel River. In 1949, the Cass County Dentzel Carousel was dismantled at Spencer Park, and moved & re-assembled in Riverside Park. It's home was in what is now the old carousel pavilion until 1995. At that time, it was moved to its current home in the McHale Community Complex. The Cass County Dentzel Carousel has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Camping, fishing, hiking? France Park is all this and more! Located 4 miles west of Logansport on US 24, Indiana residents have come to know and love the outdoor recreational facility, France Park, for its scenic trails, waterfall, clear swimming lake, quiet fishing areas, and spacious camping facilities. The 7-10 miles of trails are active all year long with hiking, mountain biking, and winter-time cross-country skiing. The swimming lake is an abandoned spring-fed quarry that attracts SCUBA divers from far away. France Park offers the camping enthusiast both primitive and modern camping with bathrooms, showers, water and electrical hook-ups.

  • The River Bluff Trail provides trail users a 1.3 mile, handicap accessible paved trail, with three bridges, picnic area, rest stops and a canoe/kayak launch. Two entrances with plenty of parking. Owned by the Logansport Memorial Hospital and located along the north bank of the Eel River.

  • The Depot building is home to the Iron Horse Museum, which displays very unique train memorabilia donated by local railroaders.

    400 E Melbourne Ave
    Logansport, Indiana
    Phone: 574-722-4766

Things to do

Resources for information

Fountain County

Public Access Sites in Fountain County

Site Location Type of Access
Ouibache Park & Wabash Heritage Trail In Attica, two blocks west of US 41, then north on Monroe St. Paved ramp
Five Crossings West end of Washington St., Covington Paved ramp

Chamber of Commerce:
Fountain County Chamber of Commerce
100 South Brady St.
Attica, IN 47918
765-762-2511

Sycamore Audubon Society:http://www.mdn.com/~audubon

NICHES Land Trust:http://www.mdn.com/~audubon/niches.html

Gibson County

Public Access Sites in Gibson County

Site Location Type of Access
Patoka Island Access Site South of East Mt. Carmel and SR 64 on River Rd. to Patoka Island. Paved ramp

Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau
P.O. Box 1056
303 East Broadway
Princeton, IN 47670
1-888-390-5825
http://www.gibsoncountyin.org/

Huntington County

Public Access Sites in Huntington County

Site Location Type of Access
Elmwood Park William St., Huntington; Little River access. Handcarry only
Historic Forks of the Wabash 3010 W. Park Dr., Huntington Handcarry only
J. Edward Roush Lake Paved Access 517 N. Warren Rd., Huntington Paved ramp & handcarry

Visitor Bureau
Huntington County Visitor & Convention Bureau
407 N. Jefferson St.
P.O. Box 212
Huntington, IN 46750
1-800-848-4282
http://www.visithuntington.org/

County Homepage
http://www.huntington.in.us/

Jay County

Portland Chamber of Commerce
411 N. Meridan St.
Portland, IN 47371
260-726-4481

Knox County

Public Access Sites in Knox County

Site Location Type of Access
Kimmell Park Vincennes Paved ramp
Ouabache Trails Park Vincennes Handcarry only
Clarks Landing Beal Paved ramp
George Rogers Clark National Historical 401 South Second St., Vincennes Handcarry only

George Rogers Clark National Historic Park:
http://www.nps.gov/gero

Convention & Vistors Bureau:
Vincennes/Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau
102 North Third St.
P.O. Box 602
Vincennes, IN 47591
1-800-886-6443
http://www.vincennesonline.org/

Miami County

Public Access Sites in Miami County

Site Location Type of Access
Omer Cole Wabash River Access site Near the junction of Wabash Rd. and the Miami-Wabash County line Paved ramp

Peru Daily Tribune:
http://www.miamicountylife.com/

Chamber of Commerce:
Peru/Miami County Chamber of Commerce
13 East Main St.
Peru, IN 46970
765-472-1923
http://www.miamicochamber.com/

Parke County

Public Access Sites in Parke County

Site Location Type of Access
Montezuma Wabash River Access Site Corner of Washington St. and C St., south of US 36 in Montezuma Paved ramp
Waterman Access Site 0.8 miles east of Cayuga, south of the SR 234 Bridge Paved ramp

Parke County Convention & Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 165
401 E. Ohio St.
Rockville, IN 47872
765-569-5226
http://www.coveredbridges.com/

Posey County

Public Access Sites in Posey County

Site Location Type of Access
Harmonie State Park Route 1, Box 5A New Harmony Paved ramp
Dogtown Ferry Wabash River Access SR 62 west of Mt. Vernon to Raben Rd., then two miles on CR 450 S Paved ramp
June Barrett Park South of toll bridge, New Harmony Paved ramp

Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce
915 E. Fourth St.
P.O. Box 633
Mount Vernon, IN 47620-0633
812-838-3639
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce

Historic New Harmony
P.O. Box 579
New Harmony, IN 47631
1-800-231-2168
Historic New Harmony

Sullivan County

Public Access Sites in Sullivan County

Site Location Type of Access
Merom Access Site Off of Bluff Rd. in Merom Paved ramp

Chamber of Commerce:

Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce10 S. Court St.
P.O. Box 325
Sullivan, IN 47882
812-268-4836
http://www.sctb.net/

Tippecanoe County

Public Access Sites in Tippecanoe County

Site Location Type of Access
Tapawingo Park West Lafayette Handcarry only
Shamrock Park Lafayette, off Wabash Ave. Paved ramp
Mascouten Park West Lafayette Paved ramp
Fort Ouiatenon South River Rd., West Lafayette Paved ramp
Granville Bridge Park Adjacent to Grainville Bridge off South River Road, South of West Lafayette Paved ramp
Tecumseh Trails Park SR 43 north of West Lafayette Handcarry only
Davis Ferry Park Five miles north of Lafayette on North 9th Street Rd. Paved ramp

Convention & Visitor Bureau:
Greater Lafayette CVB
301 Frontage Rd.
Lafayette, IN 47905
1-800-872-6648
http://www.lafayette-in.com/

Lafayette homepage: http://www.city.lafayette.in.us/

Wabash River Cycle Club:http://members.iquest.net/~billcul/wrcchome.html

Sycamore Audubon Society:

http://www.mdn.com/~audubon

NICHES Land Trust:
http://www.mdn.com/~audubon/niches.html

Vermillion County

Public Access Sites in Vermillion County

Site Location Type of Access
Riverfront Park Northwest side of SR 163 bridge in Clinton Paved ramp

Chamber of Commerce
Clinton Chamber of Commerce
292 N. 9th St.
P.O. Box 7
Clinton, IN 47842
765-832-3844

Vigo County

Public Access Sites in Vigo County

Site Location Type of Access
Michael Kearns Public Access Site Six miles northeast of Terre Haute on Pottsville Rd. Paved ramp
Fairbanks Park Dresser Dr., Terre Haute Paved ramp

County Commissioners:
Judith A. Anderson, Wm. Bill Bryan and Paul Mason
121 Oak St., County Annex Building
Terre Haute, IN 47807

The Indiana State song, by Vigo County’s own:
“On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”, Written and composed by Paul Dresser

'Round my Indiana homesteads wave the cornfields,
In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool.
Oftentimes my thoughts revert to scenes of childhood,
Where I first received my lessons, nature's school.
But one thing there is missing in the picture,
Without her face it seems so incomplete.
I long to see my mother in the doorway,
As she stood there years ago, her boy to greet.

[CHORUS]

Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,
From the fields there comes the breath of new mown hay.
Through the sycamores the candlelights are gleaming,
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

Many years have passed since I strolled by the river,
Arm in arm, with sweetheart Mary by my side,
It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her,
It was there I begged of her to be my bride.
Long years have passed since I strolled thro' there churchyard.
She's sleeping there, my angel, Mary dear,
I loved her, but she thought I didn't mean it,
Still I'd give my future were she only here.

Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau
643 Wabash Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47807
1-800-366-3043
http://www.terrehaute.com/

Vigo County Historical Society:
http://web.indstate.edu/community/vchs/

Wabash County

Public Access Sites in Wabash County

Site Location Type of Access
Wabash Access Site Off of Smith St. in Wabash Paved ramp

Convention & Visitor Bureau:
Wabash County Convention & Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 746
Wabash, IN 46992
1-800-563-1169
www.wabashcountycvb.com/

Chamber of Commerce: www.wabashchamber.org/

Wabash County Information: http://www.wabashcountylife.com/

Plain Dealer Newspaper: http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/

Warren County

Public Access Sites in Warren County

Site Location Type of Access
Water St. Public Access Site Williamsport Paved ramp

Warren County Historical Society Museum
P.O. Box 581
21 Monroe St.
Williamsport, IN 47993

Cicott Park: http://home1.gte.net/wdillon/index.htm

Sycamore Audubon Society: http://www.mdn.com/~audubon

NICHES Land Trust: http://www.mdn.com/~audubon/niches.html

The Warren County Advantage: http://www.warrenadvantage.com/

Wells County

Public Access Sites in Wells County

Site Location Type of Access
Huntington Reservoir & Access Site Markle Unpaved ramp
Kehoe Park 400 S. Main St., Bluffton Handcarry only
White's Bridge East of Bluffton on River Rd. Paved ramp

Wells County Chamber of Commerce
128 E. Market St., Suite 201
Bluffton, IN 46714
260-824-0510
http://www.blufftonwellschamber.com/