The Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers now connects to Indianapolis. On February 27, 2026, Fishers and Indianapolis officials cut the ribbon on the 96th Street pedestrian bridge. That bridge joins Fishers' segment to Indianapolis' at the Marion–Hamilton county line. Indianapolis had already finished its own section four months earlier, so on paper the trail runs from Noblesville to Midtown Indianapolis.
In practice, the route south from downtown Fishers ends well short of the State Fairgrounds. Greater Indy Trailways reports that the trail is closed between 75th Street and 82nd Street while the Interstate 465/69 interchange is rebuilt. That work is scheduled to finish at the end of 2026. The bridge made the Nickel Plate a regional trail. The interchange project means the full ride waits until 2027.
Fishers Was Always the Middle Section
Most downtown Fishers residents know the Nickel Plate as the stretch past the amphitheater and the library. Fishers Parks describes the city's portion as five miles, from 96th Street to 146th Street. Greater Indy Trailways lists the whole trail at 17.1 paved miles. It runs from S. 3rd Street and Vine Street in Noblesville to E. 42nd Street and Winthrop Avenue in Midtown Indianapolis. That makes the Fishers piece the middle of the trail, not the whole trail.
| Segment | Length as reported | Where it reaches | Open hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noblesville | 2.7 miles | S. 3rd St. and Vine St., with links to the Midland Trace Trail and White River Greenway | Dawn to dusk |
| Fishers | 5 miles | 96th Street to 146th Street | Dawn to dusk |
| Indianapolis | 10.3 miles | County line at 96th Street to the Indiana State Fairgrounds | 24 hours |
The three numbers in the table add up to more than the 17.1-mile total. That's because the sources measure to different endpoints. The Reporter described the connected route as more than 19 miles across the two counties. Greater Indy Trailways uses 17.1 miles. Either way, someone starting at the Hamilton East Public Library has more trail to the south than the whole Fishers segment.
The south end matters most. Greater Indy Trailways describes the State Fairgrounds as the spot where the Nickel Plate, the Monon, and the Fall Creek Greenway meet. At the bridge ceremony, Fishers Engineering Director Hatem Mekky told Current in Fishers that the Nickel Plate is part of a 40-mile loop that includes the Monon Trail. The loop only works if every link along it is open.
South of 96th Street, the Trail Stops at an Interchange
The Indianapolis section opened with a ribbon cutting on October 21, 2025. The Reporter described it as a 10.3-mile run northeast from the Fairgrounds to the county line. Current reported that it connects the Fairgrounds, the Fall Creek Trail, the Monon, and Castleton, with spurs at 62nd Street and at 86th Street toward Sahm Park.
For a rider coming from Fishers, the first stretch south of the bridge goes past the 86th Street spur and on toward the interstate. At 82nd Street the trail closes. Greater Indy Trailways says it resumes just north of 75th Street and Binford Boulevard, at Knue Road. The trail page posts no official detour through the gap, and its September 10, 2026 update gives the end of 2026 as the scheduled completion date.
That gives you three options this fall:
- Ride to the gap and turn around. From downtown Fishers you can cross the 96th Street bridge, ride into Castleton, and reach the 86th Street spur to Sahm Park.
- Start south of the closure. The Indianapolis section below 75th Street is open to the Fairgrounds, where the Monon and Fall Creek Trail meet.
- Save the full ride for 2027. The continuous Fishers-to-Fairgrounds run depends on the interchange work finishing on schedule.
What the Bridge Changed at 96th Street
Before the bridge, 96th Street was the obstacle at the south end of Fishers' trail. Now it's a crossing over traffic. At the ceremony, Mekky called the bridge "a very safe passage across 96th Street." Current reported that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources contributed a $4.5 million Next Level Trails grant to the project.
Speakers on both sides of the county line treated 96th Street as a corridor with a future. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness pointed to Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters to the south and, as Current reported, said the north side "is going to be the new headquarters for Formula One." Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett told the crowd, "Indianapolis has been a little slow in getting here, but we're finally here." He added that about 100,000 Indianapolis residents live within a mile of the trail.
That last figure describes the Indianapolis side only. Still, it shows how many people live within a mile of a trail that now lines up with downtown Fishers, even though the interchange closure breaks the ride until the work is done.
The Fishers Segment Is Still the Best-Equipped Stretch
Fishers' five miles get most of the trail's built-out amenities. Here's what you pass riding north from the bridge, using the city's own descriptions and recent reporting:
- 96th Street bridge. The county line and the link to Indianapolis.
- The 106 Plaza at 106th Street. Opened in summer 2025, it has a lawn, seating, swings, a fire pit, boardwalk connections, public restrooms, and water refill. It ties the trail to Hub & Spoke, Fishers Parks headquarters, and Maker Playground. The city's plaza page also lists Niyyah Coffee there. Greater Indy Trailways lists Hub & Spoke as a place to get refreshments and use the restrooms.
- The 116th Street tunnel. A mural and colored lighting under the road, plus the Key to the City artwork nearby in downtown.
- Café Patachou to Hamilton East Public Library. The patio at 8654 E. 116th St. and the library at 5 Municipal Dr. marked the two ends of this year's seventh annual Harvest Fest on September 13. More than 70 artists, artisans, and authors set up in seven "art fields" along the trail.
- Delaware Township trailhead near 131st Street. A walking connection, fire pit, all-ages swings, water fountain, and game areas.
- 146th Street and on to Noblesville. The Fishers segment ends here, and 2.7 miles of Noblesville trail continue north.
Les Reinhardt, executive director of the Fishers Arts Council, told Current that moving Harvest Fest from Heritage Park at White River to the Nickel Plate Trail "has added so much to the experience." The downtown stretch now hosts events as well as through-traffic.
Daylight Sets the Limit in Fall
The interchange gap isn't the only constraint. Greater Indy Trailways lists different hours on each side of the county line. The Marion County portion is open 24 hours, while the Hamilton County portion is open dawn to dusk. As days get shorter, a late-afternoon ride to Castleton has to get back across 96th Street before dusk to stay within Fishers' posted hours.
So the fall rides that fit best stay close to downtown and start earlier in the day. An out-and-back from the library to the 106 Plaza takes in the 116th Street tunnel and the plaza. A northbound ride to the Delaware Township trailhead ends at a fire pit and swings. A southbound ride to the 86th Street spur adds Castleton without reaching the construction zone.
On the downtown calendar, Boo Bash is set for Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Fishers Parks lists free family activities, costumes, and booths from local organizations. That's two months before the interchange work is scheduled to finish and reconnect the trail south to the Fairgrounds.
If you own a home near the Nickel Plate and want to know how the new Indianapolis link affects your plans, The Molife Group can walk you through what nearby sales show and give you a clear, no-pressure comparison of a quick cash sale and a full listing. Get your no-obligation offer whenever you're ready to talk it over.
