The Hawpatch Trail Project

• LaGrange County Trails launches with a bold mission: build a network of hiking and biking trails that connect communities across the county.

• Initiates negotiations with Norfolk Southern Railway to secure critical corridor access.
• Trails secures $1.5 million from the Major Moves Fund, fueling early-stage development.

• The Foundation secures $5 million from Lilly Endowment.
• Trails sign land purchase, kicks off survey work, and starts the process of obtaining easements and legal approvals (6+ months).

• Finalize land acquisition and launch trail design, clearing the path for physical development.

• Break ground on construction, turning plans into progress.

Hawpatch Trail

The Hawpatch Trail is all about bringing our communities closer – safely. This ADA-compliant path will give walkers, runners, and cyclists a safe, scenic way to travel between Millersburg, Topeka, and Wolcottville. The Hawpatch Trail will be built to the highest engineering standards, ensuring safety for both pedestrians and motorists. Once complete, it will open up new opportunities for recreation, community connection, and a healthier LaGrange County.

The planned Hawpatch Trail will link into a growing network of regional trails, offering even more ways to explore northern Indiana by bike or on foot. The route sits just 7.5 miles southeast of the Pumpkinvine Trail, which runs from the City of Goshen to the Town of Shipshewana. It’s also only 2.5 miles north of the Fishing Line Trail, connecting Wolcottville to the City of Kendallville.

LaGrange County Trails is developing this 17-mile path along the former Wabash Railroad corridor in southwest LaGrange County. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, following this year’s land purchase. Once complete, the Hawpatch Trail will connect the communities of Topeka, Millersburg, and Wolcottville—creating new opportunities for recreation, safety, and regional connectivity.

How Hawpatch Got Its Name

The Name Hawpatch: The name “Hawpatch” originates from an area in northern Noble County and southern LaGrange County near Topeka. Originally, this region was covered with dense timber-walnut, sugar, and elm trees. The trees were tall, and the ground was carpeted with flowers and black haw bushes. Early writers described the Hawpatch as resembling the prairies of northern LaGrange County, except for the presence of forests. Black and red haw bushes and hawthorn trees grew among the virgin hardwood timber, hence the name Hawpatch. Since this area was unique to Indiana and the entire country, and was known as the Hawpatch by early settlers, we felt it was appropriate to name the trail with a unique name that honors our history and pays tribute to the native ecosystem we inhabit.