Randy Bosma

Hello All,

Last Sunday I rode the Oak Savannah Trail from it's west trailhead in Oak Ridge Park (Griffith) to the current east trailhead at Wisconsin St. in Hobart, Indiana. The good news is that a 1/2 mile segment between Wisconsin St. and Lake Park Ave. is marked with surveyors flags, apparently in preparation for construction. This will connect the OST with the existing trail fragment from Lake Park Ave to Indiana 51 (Main St. / Lincoln St.).

https://www.geocities.com/huffmun/R9_Hobart.html

Since my group stopped at the DQ on Main St. and reversed direction after refueling, I can't say if the remainder of the proposed connector trail east of Indiana 51 to the Prairie Duneland Trail was also ready for grading.

Rail-Trail progress in Northwest Indiana

Randy Bosma

Observed on the 4th of July at Wisconsin Street in Hobart, IN. I wonder if it's done yet? Maybe I'll just have to take another ride there...

Scummer

That would be neat. I use that trail for FTP and 1 min. power training since the street crossings are not very frequent.

Scummer

The trail is connected now from Wisconsin on going east. Nice new pavement. I rode it yesterday on my way up to Muskegon, Michigan.
But the path right now is interrupted because of a tunnel construction which will go underneath Broadway St. once it's finished.

Randy Bosma

Since your post on August 30, construction is nearly complete in Gary and Hobart.

First two pix at the new Broadway Street underpass. First, looking west; second, looking east. The wheelchair users still cross at the nearest traffic signal, about 500' south on Broadway.

It will be done Real Soon Now. Sweet!

Randy Bosma

And here are a few pix from that extension taken 25 Oct 2009.
1) the new view eastward at Wisconsin St.; already quite well used.
2) new pavement between Wisconsin and Lake Park.
3) an older section at Water and 8th Streets. No sprints here.
4) the new crossing at Main Street, IN 51, in Hobart. (Note: Only 1 block north to the DQ. )
5) take a rest here only a few hundred feet from the end of the trail.
6) Trail's End at 5th Street. The on-street connection to the Prairie Duneland Trail is much shorter now- only 1.2 miles of mostly residential or light commercial streets, and two railroad crossings.

More Oak Savannah Trail to Enjoy!

Doug28450

A while back I went out for a quick short ride one afternoon and got caught at the Broadway tunnel by a large mound of dirt. I knew something was up and expected a bridge to carry the trail over Broadway based on the mound of dirt. I'm glad the tunnel is finished. It will make that route much nicer.

Scummer

Sweet that Broadway is almost done. We use that trail on our weekend group rides to get to the Ogden Dunes for hill repeats.

Doug28450

Now you just have to get through Hobart and Portage. Hobart isn't too bad, at least from my house to the trail or my route down 130 to Valpo. It seems like Portage to OD could be a pain though.

Scummer

First time today going under Broadway. Cool!

Torgrot

That is so cool. Now if the would finish the Pennsy Greenway the south side would just rock.

torgrot

Doug28450

When any of you are headed through Hobart, let me know in advance. Maybe we can hook up for a few miles. I'm kind of stuck out here and looking for some riders to ride with.

Scummer

We go Saturday's and Sunday's and normally start from the Starbucks on Main St and US-41 in Highland and make an adhoc decision where to go from there.
Sometimes it's Hobart, especially when we go Ogden Dunes for hill repeats, but most of the times it's going south to Cedar Lake and further.

ChiTownCyclist

I'm going to be in Hammond this coming weekend, and seeing that the forecasters are predicting a nice day, I'm thinking about riding this trail. My question is...what kind of fee, if any, is there to get into the park to get to the trailhead? Free altogether? Free entry to locals only? Out-of-staters get charged an arm and a leg?

Thanks in advance for any info anyone may be able to provide.

Scummer

I don't think there is a fee. There is a little entrance station but I've never seen it occupied.

ChiTownCyclist

Thanks.

Randy Bosma

Out of state cars, $7. In-state cars $? In-county cars $?
Human on bike: $mile & wave.

How to save $: Start your ride on the Erie-Lackawana Trail near the corner of Kennedy Ave. & Ridge Road. (There is a municipal parking lot behind the gas station on the southwest corner of this intersection. The trail runs through the back side of the lot.)
Here's a ride I've taken that shows you how to get from the EL in Highland to the OS in the park and eastward continuing on through Hobart streets to the PD that ends in Chesterton: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3303854 - 25 miles one way. Watch the street crossings and Enjoy your Ride!

Scummer

Or Erie Lackawanna trail and Colfax St. has a free parking lot right at the bike path as well. You can then take Colfax St. to the Park.

Randy Bosma

Good point, and a lot closer to the park entrance too. There's another small parking lot on the trail at the 45th St. crossing.

Doug28450

There are several locations that offer free parking along the trail. As indicagted Highland and Griffith both have them. There are locations in Hobart and Portage as well.

Give us an idea of where yuo will be in NW Indiana and we can provide additional guidance.