central canal

The canal is an Indianapolis landmark, which for many years was neglected and in a "not so good' area. With the downtown expansion and millions of dollars invested in the past 20 years; the area now is home to Victory Field, The NCAA, Eiteljorg Museum, high rise hotels (Marriott, Westin, Hyatt) and upscale housing. Only drawback is all the kids hanging out on the weekends. Mischief and crime sometimes accompany. Be aware of your surroundings on weekends. Indy is hiring 150 more police officers. Maybe that will help.

Beautiful place to take a stroll and too see firsthand what Indy had to offer. Fun for couples or the entire family to enjoy the paddle boats food and scenery .

If you loop all the way around the canal, it's about 3.5 miles. The first day we walked along the canal, it was frozen on the north end, but mostly thawed on the south. It is very clean, including the water itself and the brick sidewalks around the edge. There are also a few grassy areas if you have your pet with you and they need to "explore". We walked along the canal twice a day, and enjoyed it each time.

The historic 1830s barge canal ran from Broad Ripple on the north through the center of Indy to the White River. After almost a century of neglect, it was revitalized. The downtown section now meanders among fountains, ponds, monuments, condos, shops and restaurants. It runs from about 10th Street through the heart of the city to White River State Park. The cobblestone-like paved walk completely around is about 5 km and is a favorite for strollers and runners alike. In the summer, you can cruise up and down it in paddle boats or a gondola.The old northern section (Broad Ripple to about 30th Street) now serves as a reservoir for much of Indy's water system. The old tow path is now a running/biking/walking trail. It's mostly packed fine gravel with some paved sections. It is an extremely popular route for the city's runners. It is tree lined and, even, forested--so much so that in the summer you can almost forget you are in a city at all. The canal and tow path run through the shopping/restaurant village of Broad Ripple, the Holcomb Gardens of Butler University and the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art whose "100 Acres" recreation and modern sculpture area make an interesting side jaunt. The Canal Tow Path Trail is about 5.5 miles end to end, but with plenty of places to park along the way, you can pick up any section(s) you like for a pleasant mile or two stroll.

Great walking/biking paths around the canal and awesome views of the skyline. You will find that it gets pretty busy during the warm months but still a fun place to hang out and get outside.

We walk the canal quite often and it's a very enjoyable trek. We usually park at the zoo and go thru the back gate beside the zoo, over the White River Bridge and to the start of the canal. There are several very nice monuments if your just on a leisurely stroll. Also, several crossover bridges if you do not want to walk the entire loop. There is one small cafe, a nice restaurant at the turn around in an old renovated church or all of the museums along the way have a least one cafe or food court. We do avoid the south side around the government building as this is where the employees go to smoke. You can go into the Indiana State Museum and use the restrooms, get a drink etc. it is really one of the nicest areas in the city to just be outside. Very clean and neat. Nice art work and landscape. I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe there.

The Canal in downtown Indianapolis is such a relaxing, enjoyable walk. We took a little ride with the pedal boats and the girls (aged 4 & 5) loved it. A lot of very nice town homes, condos and the sights around the canal are very nice.

Nice well kept area can easily be done as a add on to the culture trail walk ,easy walking in pleasant surroundings .But you do need a culture trail map . We got ours online but would think they are available from tourist centers ,if you can find onew.

The city has done a spectacular job of providing beautiful and interesting strolling--or more vigorous activities. The canal walk is beautiful. There is great public art along the way--in fact in many areas--and interesting architecture to look at. A feeling of complete safety all over the downtown adds to a great experience

The Central Canal is a downtown Indy "must-do". There is ample parking all along the "canal loop" (from Washington St. to 10th St.). The loop is 2.5-3 miles...perfect for a walk or run...and a lot of people watching. Along the canal are several other outdoor sites you can see if you have the time: USS Indianapolis Memorial, 9/11 Memorial (on the top of the hill at Ohio St.), and US Medal of Honor Memorial. If you're downtown and looking for something active to do that's free (or to sit and people watch), this is it. HINT: The best place for a downtown Indy photo-op is on the "St. Clair Bridge" over the Canal.

This was one of my favorite parts of my trip! It was so beautiful. This is a must see if you are in Indy!

The canal was a lovely place to run. Many people were biking, running, long boarding or strolling along the canal. Wide and roomy pathways and the art in public place was a nice addition. The living areas that dotted along the canal were neat tidy and the whole area clean...considering there were ducks and geese.

We love to walk and bicycle on the canal. Paddleboats are available as well. The area is kept clean, and the people are friendly. It feels safe there, at least during the day.There are only one or two restaurants or cafe's along the two-mile round trip, and I have yet to find a restroom. Bicycles are available for rent.The view of the city from the canal is awesome.

This was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip, if you visit Indianapolis..you must do the canal walk.

The canal area is a great place to walk, jog, or take in one of the activities such as a segue ride or a paddle boat ride. The buildings along the canal are beautiful and there are several fountains and monuments along the canal. It is one of our favorite destinations in Indy!